Long road to recovery
Son's illness turns into months-long ordeal for Whale Cove family
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Published Monday, February 9, 2015
WHALE COVE/WINNIPEG
Far away in Winnipeg, Louisa Ulurksit and Tommy Igviksak are preparing to bring their adopted son Victor back home to Whale Cove, to his brothers Ferguson-Prime, 8, and Faron, 18.
Victor, 6, adopted child of Louisa Ulurksit and Tommy Igviksak, was paid a visit at the Health Sciences Centre Children's Hospital in Winnipeg by Winnipeg Jets players Mark Stuart, left, Andrew Ladd, Chris Thorburn and Tobias Enstrom at Christmas. Victor will soon be home after receiving medical treatment for several medical issues. - photo courtesy of Louisa Ulurksit |
The family has been apart a lot since the day six-year-old Victor fell in the kitchen.
"We found out after he had the accident and he was medevaced out," said Louisa.
What Louisa and Tommy found out is Victor had an illness that led to thrombotic microangiopathy, which means his blood could not coagulate or stick together. The complicated medical situation meant Victor needed a bone marrow transplant, a procedure that involves replacing damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells.
Victor also experienced kidney failure, which meant his kidneys could not filter waste products from the blood. He needed dialysis, so was hooked up to a machine that could do that work for his kidneys. Louisa has spent most of her time with Victor in Winnipeg since he became ill, with one trip home to family.
"I went home for three weeks in October and came back down in November. Yeah ... It's difficult," she said.
Tommy joined Louisa during her second stay in Winnipeg.
"I came in later because I was at work," he said. "It's pretty bad, especially when you have no money."
While the Government of Nunavut covers accommodations - the Econo Lodge five minutes from the hospital - and their meals are taken at the Inuit centre in the city, loss of wages and being away from home hurts.
When Louisa spoke with Nunavut News/North on Jan. 5, she said Victor was doing much better. It was his fourth day off dialysis. As his kidneys heal and come back to life it's possible he may need that machine less and less.
Nevertheless, a dialysis machine will travel back to Whale Cove with the family. They've learned how to use it. Victor is also currently being fed through a tube, and will be on a restricted diet. Having a very sick child is a sad, confusing and difficult experience, especially away from home, but Victor and his parents have had visits from family and friends. There's also the fact that the Children's Hospital at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg is one of the best, with staff devoted to ensuring the health and well-being of not only the children, but the parents also.
"They're very supportive," Louisa told News/North.
"The hospital people are unbelievable," added Tommy. "They are very nice and friendly, unbelievable."
The Winnipeg community is also friendly. Victor has had visits from members of the Winnipeg Jets and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Children's Hospital has a resident clown who makes his rounds.
As for Victor, Tommy says, "He's much better now. He smiles a lot."
"He's pretty active. He's starting to move around and walking around a lot. The only time he wants to lay down is when it's time for his feeding tube."
