" My doctor set me up with StayWell, who granted us a condo for three months, complete with all the essentials. If not for StayWell, I would have been separated from Anna for over a month."
- Robyn Mills
Robyn was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in November 2021, a couple of hours after giving birth to her daughter Anna. T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is a fast-growing blood cancer. It affects the stem cells in the bone marrow that produce lymphoid cells. Treatment for this form of cancer must start as soon as the patient receives diagnosis due to the fast progression of the disease.
After going through a month of chemo at Sunnybrook, it didn’t put Robyn into remission as they had hoped. Robyn was recommended a Stem Cell Transplant at Princess Margaret Hospital in April 2022 and had opted for an “at-home” transplant so she could spend more time with Anna.
Residing near Alliston, Ontario, which is approximately 1 1/2 hours away from Princess Margaret Hospital, Robyn initially underestimated the distance. When her doctor stressed the significance of residing closer to the hospital in case of unforeseen complications, she found herself needing to make a decision. “I felt very unwell after my transplant due to all the chemo I had. It was nice to stay at the condo when I had to go to the hospital twice a week for about a month.” Given the timing during the COVID era, strict visitor restrictions were in place, preventing Anna, her daughter, from being permitted entry.
I found it difficult when I did have to stay in the hospital, I didn’t like the food at all. StayWell gave me a place to make foods I enjoyed and gave me a grounding place when I was able to return from the hospital
- Robyn
Fortunately, Robyn’s doctor informed her of StayWell’s services, and they were able to find a comfortable place to stay at a time when they needed it most:
StayWell is happy to have helped Robyn and her family and encourages others to donate and spread awareness so that we can continue to help those in need.
