At four years old, Tristan Castor is very mature for his age.
And he has to be. He’s spent most of his life in hospitals with adults.
Tristan was just 11 months old when he was first diagnosed with Pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia — which attacks white blood cells and the immune system — and has been fighting for his life ever since.
“We were rushed to the Stollery Children’s Hospital. He had a bunch of bloodwork and they told us he had to be rushed into surgery,” said his mother Pamela Alexander. “He spent the first 62 days in an isolation room and they started chemotherapy right away.
“He was put on a two-and-a-half-year treatment plan.”
Things were starting to look up for Tristan after receiving chemotherapy for over two years. Doctors told Pamela and her husband Rob Castor in June 2017 that the leukemia was in remission.
However, nine months later Tristan had a serious nose bleed and was rushed to hospital, where doctors determined the leukemia had come back.
After another 28 days of chemotherapy the leukemia appeared to be in remission again and Tristan was scheduled for a much-needed bone marrow transplant in Calgary, with his brother Ethan donating the life-saving cells.
In October 2018, the Westlock Thunderbirds hosted a bottle drive to raise money for Tristan’s family so they could focus on his treatment. But before Tristan could get the transplant, things got even worse.
“During a weekly checkup they found out the chemotherapy was no longer working and the cancer was spreading quickly,” said Alexander.
Tristan’s last chance was to fly to Toronto to participate in a study involving development of CAR-T cells — genetically engineered white blood cells designed specifically to attack cancer cells.
The family was on the plane at the start of November and had to spend two months there while Tristan underwent the experimental treatment. The family just got back Jan. 18.
The gamble seems to have paid off as Tristan’s leukemia is in remission again and he’s scheduled to head to Calgary Feb. 18 to get his bone marrow transplant. Once he receives the treatment, he will remain at the Alberta Children’s Hospital for at least 100 days for observation.
But for a family of six children already strapped for cash from long hospital stays and missed work, the hits just keep coming.
On Feb. 4 Rob was in a car accident and their vehicle is now undriveable, leaving the family not only trying to finance a long-stay in Calgary, but wondering if they will even be able to get there.
“We’re hoping the car will be fixed in time, we told the mechanic we needed it back by the 18th. Everything is kind of going downhill,” said Alexander.
“He has to do everything all over again, we have lots of appointments between now and Calgary. We basically lived in Toronto for two months, then we get home and now we have to go to Calgary for three months.
“Tristan is going to be five in a few months, but he’s hanging in there.”
Compounding the problem is the fact Ronald McDonald House, which provides affordable suites for families in situations like this, is completely full, meaning the family will have to stay in a hotel for at least the first part of Tristan’s treatment.
Alexander said they were attempting to fundraise $1,350 through a second bottle drive to cover their first 13 days in Calgary.
There are several fundraising efforts underway to help Tristan and his family. A GoFundMe page entitled “Tristan and his family need financial help” has been set up, as well as food and hoodie sales. Anyone interested in helping out is invited to join the Facebook group “Tristan’s Fight” for updates.
