An online fundraising campaign has quickly raised more than $76,000 for a nine-year-old New Brunswick girl whose arms and legs were amputated because of a rare reaction to a common ailment.
In November, Alyssa Sippley contracted type-A strep throat. Usually its effects are mild, known for causing a sore and scratchy throat.
But for the nine-year-old from Baie-Sainte-Anne, N.B., the infection became potentially deadly.
When Sippley began showing symptoms several weeks ago, her parents figured she had come down with the stomach flu. But after her mother noticed that she was developing bruising on her body, she was rushed to hospital in Miramichi, N.B., and eventually airlifted to IWK Health Centre in Halifax.
Doctors found that Sippley had developed severe blood clots in her limbs, and that she only had a five per cent chance to survive.
"This is the medical equivalent of being struck by lightning at the age of nine," Dr. Neil Rau, an infection disease specialist, told 麻豆影视 Channel.
"Even with more modern medicine, there's no way of preventing it or of treating it," he added.
But Sippley is on the road to recovery and her chances of survival have jumped to 95 per cent.
However, her recovery won't be without hardships. Survival meant losing both of her arms below the elbow to amputation, as well as one leg from hip down and the other below the knee.
And that's why her family is so grateful for the support they've received online and from friends and family back home.
"We were just amazed," said her father, Yves Sippley. "We weren鈥檛 expecting this much support."
He added: "They鈥檝e all been lighting candles in support for Alyssa -- they鈥檝e been praying for her."
As of Monday morning, a fundraising campaign on had raised just over $76,000 鈥� with a jump in donations coming after Sippley鈥檚 family shared their story with CTV Atlantic on Friday.
And that could mean a lot for Sippley, who, her father says, could be looking at spending "a large part of (her) time" in a wheelchair.
"My hope is that my little sister will get back to normal quick, because she's upset and I just wish she could be happier," said her sister, Caitlin Sippley.
Even though Sippley hasn't been given clearance to return home for the holidays, having her family by her side has been enough to bring a smile to her face.
"After everything that she's been through, to see her smile is amazing," said her father.
