Little Alicia hanging tough in Calgary

The condition of Alicia Delbridge of Fort Frances remains largely unchanged as the one-year-old struggles for her life in a Calgary hospital today.
On Aug. 5, while visiting her grandparents with her mother, Christina, the tot suddenly was stricken with what turned out to be myocarditis—a rare inflammatory disease that causes swelling of the heart.
According to her father, Cory, who is the assistant manager at Safeway here, Alicia is still on a breathing tube because of fluid in her lungs, and doctors are waiting for her condition to stabilize before they try to remove it again.
On the two previous attempts, Alicia went into cardiac arrest, so the doctors are taking no chances.
The cause of her condition is still unknown, but a viral infection is strongly suspected.
Cory Delbridge also said the doctors are considering transferring his daughter to Edmonton if her condition does not improve in the next week or two.
They also are contemplating transplant surgery, but stressed it is still too early to say for sure.
Meanwhile, district residents have come through big-time to help support the family, said family friend Michelle Grynol.
Canada Safeway and the Royal Bank have made arrangements for donations to the family and Grynol says the response has been fabulous.
“The generosity of people going directly into Safeway is just overwhelming,” she said in a telephone interview yesterday.
Grynol noted the family soon will be in desperate need of financial help since both parents are off work and constantly at the bedside of their youngest child.
“These are the funds that are going to keep the family there together,” she stressed.
Grynol also addressed the issue of organ transplants and made a plea to the public to give serious consideration to becoming organ donors.
“If there’s ever a time to think about organ donations, do it before the need arises,” she said.
Canada Safeway and the Royal Bank still are accepting donations on behalf of Alicia and her family. You also can pass along your best wishes via e-mail at corydd@yahoo.com