Lucie Bertoli was only seven years old when she was diagnosed with childhood leukemia.
Now, at 15 years old, Lucie is back in the hospital, as a result of a second relapse.
"She's not feeling great, because of all the treatment, but she's a very tough kid, so she's staying very positive through it," said Shalene Ostrom.
Ostrom is a close family friend who is helping spearhead fundraising efforts to help the Bertoli family as they deal with two children facing tough health challenges.
"They're just such a strong, lovely family, they're always giving back to the community," said Ostrom, noting how important the support from the community was through the previous treatments Lucie had to undergo.
This time, as Lucie receives care, the family is also supporting their third child, Harper, who was already scheduled to undergo surgery on both of her feet when Lucie's leukemia relapsed. Harper won't be mobile for four weeks.
Harper suffered a seizure as a baby and currently uses a walker to get around and needs a range of supports.
"So we're trying to raise money also to find some extra support and care for her, during that time and through the summer," said Ostrom, noting the family isn't sure how much extra care will be needed and for how long at this point.
Mom Claire Bertoli has been with Lucie in Vancouver and dad Ryan will be flying to Vancouver with Harper in order to attend her appointments related to the surgery. He then will come home to work and to be there for their other two children while Claire is juggling getting both Lucie and Harper to treatments and appointments.
Lucie will require many rounds of "aggressive chemotherapy" as well as a bone marrow transplant, followed by an extensive recovery period in Vancouver.
Ostrom and a team are helping organize an online auction, with many in the community donating auction items in support of the family. Donations and bids can be submitted to the Online Auction - Even More Love for Lucie until 8 p.m. on May 20.
She has also set up a Go Fund Me online fundraiser called Even More Love for Lucie, with a goal of $15,000 where people can donate. E-transfers directly to the family for those who know them are also an option, saving the Go Fund Me service charge. People can message them via the auction page.
Fundraising efforts will be ongoing, with a bottle drive planned for May 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. based in the Cataline Elementary School parking lot, and some of Lucie's friend group are also working to help raise funds, collecting donations, sharing information and designing stickers.
"It's just nice to see all these teenagers making all that effort," said Ostrom.
"The community is always so lovely and supportive when there's a family that's struggling," she said, adding how a person can feel helpless in cases like this.
"It's every parent's worst nightmare and this is what we can do to help, and so we're going to do it," she said.
