Erica & CHEO's Molly Penny

My daughter Erica suffers from a rare life-threatening bone marrow disease called Diamond Blackfan Anemia. There are less that 700 people in the world with DBA. Every month she needs to have blood work done to check her levels. Having blood work done for most young children is very scary and stressful, so we decided to share Erica's appointment to show how brave she is and to help other children get through some stressful appointments.

Accompanying Erica in this video is Molly Penny, the famous Clown at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. She is CHEO's angel sent to help little boys and girls by putting smiles on their faces and making laughter a treatment all in itself. We love Molly.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• blood
• disorder
• work
• bone
• marrow
• disease
• diamond
• blackfan
• anemia
• needles
• Erica
• Street

[insanepyrojester]

is she taking x jade? ive got dba and its gotten my iron count down 3000

[MYCUPISHALFFULL]

Hi... no she isn't on exjade as she isn't on tranfusions. She moved from transfusion to steroid therapy before her ferritin levels got too high.

So happy to hear that xjade is working for you and you don't have to do chelation every night!

[flyingonland]

is this molly penny or is it erica

[MYCUPISHALFFULL]

It is Erica :o) Well it's Erica's Mommy typing for Erica as she is only 5 1/2.

[flyingonland]

wow u r so brave!i get a lot blood test:( i go to cheo to :)

[MYCUPISHALFFULL]

Yes, I have been going for 5 years. I would have to guess at how many since I started - but I am sure it's well over 200 tests by now.

[0921lyric]

@MYCUPISHALFFULL im so sorry!!!

[chiguireloko]

she's adorable. i wish every child was like her.

[redbike2009]

They drew it from my hand.

[lifesaver173]

@MYCUPISHALFFULL Oh, yeah. I felt that same kind of needle. Ouch!

[lifesaver173]

@MYCUPISHALFFULL Did it hurt her? If the blood doesn't have oxygen, it's bright red like a Christmas bow.

[lifesaver173]

I screamed when they drew blood from my arm.

[lifesaver173]

I don't usually like needles. They have numbing agents to use where it will be used.

[piercegirl1]

I'm only 13 and little Erica is a big indpiation to me because I literally scream when I get blood work done

I have to get it done every week but my fear stays the same

Thankyou Erica

[MrSlaufa]

So brave!

[lifesaver173]

Wow! She is a pro.