Families Helping Families

Marilee Lucksinger has Hepatitis C, which along with major health complication; such as liver failure. Hepatitis C also brings a false belief that the person affected somehow did it to themselves. Such is the case for many conditions that attack the liver. Marilee has learned over the years not to bring up her condition, because when talked about it was either met with disdain or brushed off without much compassion. Which is why when Marilee found out her family was nominated as one of the recipients for the annual Family Benefit Dance she was floored with the sheer volume of compassion she was given from the community.

“In the past, when people find out I have Hep-C, they go the other way. They don’t understand, that it’s transferred through blood-to-blood contact. “I’ve been sick for a while. These past few months, I’ve been really sick. We don’t know how long I have,” Marilee and her family have been shuffling back and forth from doctor’s appointments in Edmonton for years. Over the past few months it’s been a far more regular drive to the City to see specialists and have testing done. Marilee underwent a four-month treatment last year. Doctors explained to her that the treatment had very good odds, over 90 percent recover. Sadly, Marilee was one of the 10 percent and the treatment did not work. Marilee and her husband, Tim, and daughter Amanda are faced with the real possibility that Marilee may succumb to Hepatitis C. “I’m hoping people will realize that we’re just normal people. I’m not going to give Hepatitis to anybody.”

Marilee’s daughter, nine year old Amanda, has been a real help, “she’s mommy’s little helper. If I’m not feeling good, she’ll tuck me in and sit there and console me. She always wants to make me feel better.” When she’s not helping her mom, Amanda is dancing, “she loves dancing,” Marilee says her daughter is active in ballet, as well as Ukrainian dance. Marilee loves watching Amanda perform, and was even an active volunteer; on the board for a local dance company.

“I don’t want my daughter remembering me laying in bed,” Marilee says the disease has made her very weak and tired, ” “I’m having real troubles walking now, my stomach is distended from my liver being swollen.” As tough as some days can be, she still wants to give back to the community and be as active as possible. She’s able to to do both, and spend time with her daughter as a Brownie leader. “I have the Brownies and other leaders for support,” being a part of the Brownies helped Marilee expand her support system. “There’s a lot of people in the community that have been supporting me, now.”

“I love helping. If you need help, ask and I’ll do it.” Marilee’s years of volunteering is coming back full circle for her, giving her and her family some hope during a dark period. “If you need help, don’t be embarrassed to ask. The Family Benefit Committee is there to help you. Don’t be embarrassed.”

The St Paul Community Benefit Dance is Saturday at the Rec Centre. Marilee, along with three other families will be honoured at the event. This year the Benefit Committee will be able to give funds to families throughout the year; so although all the recipients will be present at the dance, some have received their funds. The committee felt that some families needed help right away and couldn’t wait until the end of the year to receive it.