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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two-year-old Kamryn Bond, the toddler that captured Yellowknifers hearts last year, continues to face struggles that most kids don't have to but her bubbly, easy going personality gets her through, says her mother Dale.

Kamryn Bond, 2, sits with her brothers Kelton, left, 6, and Rylan, 8. Bond's mother Dale said she loves to tag around after the boys and do whatever they're doing. - photo courtesy of Dale Bond

"She's just full of life and she's quite comical," said the former Yellowknifer and current Grande Prairie, Alta., resident. "She's doing great for now."

"Kammy," as she is known to family and friends, had both of her legs, her right hand and parts of her left hand amputated to save her life after she contracted respiratory syncytial virus and her body started to shut down.

Yellowknifers came together to support the family and with the help of Grande Prarie residents raised about $30,000 for them.

"It was phenomenal," said Bond.

"The support did mean so much and it does. I mean Yellowknife's just an amazing community for that."

For about four months after the incident Kammy and her parents lived at the Ronald McDonald house in Edmonton while she received medical care. The family has since made it home to Grande Prarie, though Bond said they have to travel to the city for medical appointments at least every two months.

Kammy has physiotherapy to attend and checkups to make sure her bones are growing properly and that her growth plates haven't been damaged, which is important because during adolescence growth plates are replaced by solid bone.

The toddler will soon learn to use a prosthetic hand and is constantly being fitted for new prosthetic legs as she continues to grow. For now when Kammy's wearing her prosthetic legs she has to use a walker to get around.

"She still gets along a lot quicker when she doesn't have her legs on," Bond said. "But she's starting to see the benefits of her legs because she can get different places, she can play higher up or kind of be at the same level. So she's starting to see that benefit and want her legs more."

Bond said her daughter's favourite activities are colouring, playing house and jumping on the trampoline. She also likes hanging out with her brothers Rylan, 8, and Kelton, 6.

"She kind of does whatever they do so if they're doing their little flips and gymnastics she'll sit there and do hers as well. I think that helps a lot having them and they're so protective of her," she said, adding sometimes it can be difficult for Kammy to play around strangers because people often stare.

"Some kids kind of look, a lot of kids ask … which is nice because then they can explain and they're not afraid of it but the ones that don't ask are kind of scared of her, which is sad to see but I mean it happens.

“I think once she hits school it will get a little harder for her with the teasing and stuff but there's nothing she hasn't been able to figure out at all. She has managed to find a way to get everything done."

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