More than one month after her daughter Chelsea was air-lifted to BC Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital for emergency surgery, Kara Kazimer still cannot find the words to express herself.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just been amazing how people have come together for us,香蕉视频直播� Kazimer marvelled, referring to the dozens of hot meals, provided by many of the parents of Chelsea香蕉视频直播檚 fellow members of Elite Rising Stars team at the Club, and gifts from her son香蕉视频直播檚 soccer club, bestowed upon the family over the past month.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e never been in this kind of situation before 香蕉视频直播� we香蕉视频直播檝e been overwhelmed with all the support.香蕉视频直播�

It started, she explained, with a stomach ache on Sept.17.

When it persisted two days later, Kazimer took her daughter to the emergency room where the nine-year-old Vernon girl remained for three days before being air-lifted to the in Vancouver and diagnosed with Hemolytic-uremic syndrome or HUS, a condition caused by what Interior Health later called 香蕉视频直播渁 very rare strain香蕉视频直播� of E-Coli that resulted in Chelsea香蕉视频直播檚 kidneys shutting down.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淪he was put on dialysis so they had to do surgery and put a tube in her stomach,香蕉视频直播� Kazimer explained. 香蕉视频直播淚nitially she was on dialysis for 20 hours a day, but her body responded really fast, and they were able to take it down to half the day on and half the day off. And then she was taken off it completely.香蕉视频直播�

In regard to how Chelsea came into contact with E.Coli, Kazimer said doctors have been unable to pinpoint a direct source, but that the team working on her daughter at BC Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital told her it is fairly common for children to carry E.Coli and not know it.

香蕉视频直播淪he could really have picked it up anywhere 香蕉视频直播� she could have touched something that somebody else (who carried the bacteria) touched. She could have eaten a cookie and not washed her hands,香蕉视频直播� Kazimer noted.香蕉视频直播淭here was no restaurant or food we could pick out. We just know her system couldn香蕉视频直播檛 battle it.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 never could have imagined there was that much kindness and generosity out there.香蕉视频直播� - Kara Kazimer

On Oct. 16, after roughly one month, Chelsea and her father Jason, who remained in Vancouver for the duration of her hospitalization, finally came home.

香蕉视频直播淚t was quite a long haul, but everything seems to be going in the right direction now,香蕉视频直播� Kazimer said, adding that while Jason had stayed with Chelsea, she had remained in Vernon to work and care for their son, Alex, who just started Grade 8, and travelled to the coast every weekend.

香蕉视频直播淲e consider the experience overall to be a positive because of how lucky we are that Chelsea is getting better, and that people were so supportive. I never could have imagined there was that much kindness and generosity out there.香蕉视频直播�

According to Camille Martens, Chelsea香蕉视频直播檚 instructor at the gymnastics club and the organizer of the , taking care of each other is 香蕉视频直播減retty normal.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just what we do,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲e all know how it feels to go through a tough time, and we consider ourselves a family香蕉视频直播攕o when someone in the family needs a hand, you just pitch in and help where you can.香蕉视频直播�

Martens said the concept of a Meal Train香蕉视频直播攁n interactive online calendar that helps friends coordinate the giving of food to help ease the burden (whether it be time or cost) of meal preparation, appealed to her because it香蕉视频直播檚 a useful and simple way to make a difference in someone香蕉视频直播檚 life when they香蕉视频直播檙e faced with a challenge.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just been an amazing thing for us,香蕉视频直播� Kazimer said of Martens香蕉视频直播� effort.

香蕉视频直播淲e didn香蕉视频直播檛 even know very many people at the gym because we had only been there for a little while so it was amazing how the Rising Stars family came together for us.香蕉视频直播�

And the hospitality didn香蕉视频直播檛 stop there, Kazimer added.

香蕉视频直播淢y son香蕉视频直播檚 soccer team gave us a gift basket filled with gift cards for places like M & M Meats ,Home for Dinner, and Papa Nick香蕉视频直播檚 (Global Cuisine) and my coworkers (at Okanagan College) purchased a tablet for Chelsea to use while she was in the hospital. And last week we were all invited to see the Whitecaps play in Vancouver. I still can香蕉视频直播檛 believe it. We香蕉视频直播檙e a soccer family and the Whitecaps are Chelsea香蕉视频直播檚 favourite. 香蕉视频直播�

As far as Chelsea香蕉视频直播檚 health, Kazimer says her little girl is currently back at school, in much better health and in great spirits.

香蕉视频直播淚t was a hard month for sure, but we have so many good memories that we will take from this,香蕉视频直播� Kazimer said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen we look back on this, we will remember more good than bad, and that香蕉视频直播檚 because of the community we live in.香蕉视频直播�

Erin Christie

Morning Star Staff

erin.christie@vernonmorningstar.com