Even in the darkest of days, Amy Croft still has a smile on her face.
The Langford resident is known for her sense of humour, vibrant smile and listening to funny podcasts. And that hasn’t changed, even with a recent diagnosis that has put her life on hold.
“We’re trying to laugh as much as possible,” her mother, Alison Lockhart said. “She’s knitting something that says ‘F**k cancer’ and she’s embellished it all and made it beautiful … She’s trying to keep lighthearted and hopeful.”
It all started on March 9, when Croft started complaining about pain in her knees and legs. That night the pain was so severe that her husband Joshua rushed her to the emergency room at Victoria General Hospital.
It was there, surrounded by her family, the 31-year-old was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of cancer that starts from the early version of white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow.
The leukemia was in the early stages and there is a cure. Shortly after the diagnosis, Croft was on a helicopter to Vancouver General Hospital to begin chemotherapy.
But her journey doesn’t end there. After her first round of chemotherapy, which is expected to take about a month, Croft will transition to outpatient status and will need to find a place to live in Vancouver as treatment continues over the next two years.
That’s why her sister, Alexis, has set up an online fundraising campaign to help. Money raised will go towards helping the couple with travel expenses, as well as accommodation. Thus far, more than $11,000 has been raised of its $20,000 goal.
“She just a vibrant, beautiful young girl,” said Lockhart, noting this isn’t the first time tragedy has struck the family. Eleven years ago, Lockhart lost her son, and Amy’s brother Rupert, who was epileptic, when he died in his sleep from a seizure.
For more information about the campaign visit gofundme.com and search Team Amy leukemia fundraiser.