Fundraising efforts are underway for a nine-year-old New Brunswick girl whose arms and legs were amputated after she became gravely ill in November.
Alyssa Sippley was an active nine-year-old in her hometown of Baie-Sainte-Anne, N.B., so when she became ill several weeks ago, her parents figured she had come down with the stomach flu.
鈥淪he wasn鈥檛 feeling well,鈥� father Yves Sippley said. 鈥淎nd her mother gave her medications for the flu.鈥�
They later learned Alyssa had type-A strep throat. For many, it鈥檚 a mild infection, but in Alyssa鈥檚 case, it became potentially deadly.
After her mother noticed bruising on the little girl鈥檚 body, Alyssa was rushed to a hospital in Miramichi, N.B. There, doctors quickly had the young girl airlifted to IWK Health Centre in Halifax.
鈥淏asically her blood was clotting in her limbs,鈥� her father told CTV Atlantic. 鈥淚t was clotting everywhere really. There wasn鈥檛 anything that wasn鈥檛 affected.鈥�
Doctors initially gave Alyssa a 5 per cent chance of survival. Those odds have now increased to 95 per cent, but with tremendous cost.
鈥淏oth of her arms got amputated from the elbow,鈥� older sister Caitlin Sippley said. 鈥淎nd one leg was from under the knee, and the other all the way up to the hip.鈥�
Her family says Alyssa is now beginning to realize what happened to her.
鈥淵ou can see that it really hurts her and it scares her,鈥� Yves said. 鈥淎nd it breaks our heart to see her that way.鈥�
The family says it鈥檚 difficult being so far away from home, but their community in the rural town of Baie-Sainte-Anne has provided a great deal of support.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really been amazing,鈥� Yves said. 鈥淚 never expected it. It鈥檚 really been overwhelming.鈥�
As of Saturday evening, more than $50,000 has been raised for the family on
Says Caitlin: 鈥淪he鈥檚 going to have to get prosthetic limbs, and for adjustments around things. We鈥檙e going to have to adjust our house, and we鈥檙e going to have to adjust our car and all that.鈥�
The family was hoping Alyssa would be home in time for the holidays, but it won鈥檛 be possible this year.
As Alyssa fights for life, her father says he鈥檚 proud of his little girl.
鈥淪he had a lot of love from her family and her community, and I think that also gave her some strength to fight, to keep fighting,鈥� Yves said, his voice breaking with emotion.
With a report by CTV Atlantic鈥檚 Kayla Hounsell
