Many of you will know Jamie Drysdale – long-time goalie in the Sunday Night Hockey League. This year you may have noticed Jamie has taken on the role of Timekeeper for our league.
Jamie’s daughter Emily needs our help. Emily was diagnosed with subglottic stenosis – a rare disease with an unknown cause. Tissue builds up in her airway, causing it to close in on itself. The best way to describe it, is trying to breathe through a coffee stir stick, while plugging your nose. Surgery is a temporary fix and only last a few months before her airway begins to close in again. She has had 9 airway surgeries in the past 3 years. The surgery only opens her airway to about 60-70% and it starts slowly closing up again about 2-3 months post-surgery. This makes it difficult for Emily to do the things many of us take for granted every day, like walking up a flight of stairs.
Emily has found a doctor in Cleveland – 1 of only 2 in the world – who specializes in subglottic stenosis. After a trip to see Dr. L , he confirmed Emily is a candidate for his surgery, which she now has booked for April 25. The family estimates the surgery to be between $80-100,000 and they will need to stay in Ohio for the month that she will be in the hospital.
So how can you help?
Emily is raising money to help fund her surgery. If you would like to donate online, please go to her GoFundMe campaign: A New Airway For Emily.
There is also a fundraiser planned for her on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 7pm at the Peel Regional Police Association Banquet Hall, 10675 Mississauga Rd., Brampton. They have some great prizes already – including a week cottage vacation, platinum Leaf tickets, and a signed Blue Jays jersey – but they are also accepting more prizes. Tickets are $10 and can be bought at the door, or from Jamie in the timekeeper’s box on Sunday nights.
Lastly, you could also make a cash donation to Jamie in the timekeeper’s box on Sunday nights.