Looking for answers
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
After being told by Alberta Health that the level of expertise needed to find a cure for their daughter is not available in Alberta, or Canada, the Koester family decided it was time to check into other options.
Eight-year-old Thea Koester has a horseshoe kidney and has recurring kidney infections. Doctors haven’t been able to stop them or determine why they keep happening.
“The concern is that if they don’t stop it, she’ll need dialysis and eventually a transplant,” said Natasha Koester, Thea’s mom.
On Sept. 20 Thea and her family will be heading to the Rochester, Minnesota Mayo Clinic to find a cure, or at the very least put a name to the problem that has plagued her since birth.
“At this point even if they can just put a name to it, something so we have a means to deal with it, that would be great. We just sort of want some answers if they have them,” said Koester.
The Mayo Clinic is world renowned for taking tough cases. Koester said if the clinic can’t determine the problem then she wouldn’t even know where to go next.
Thea has a number of different issues, but Koester said the main focus would be the kidney problems. Alberta Health has agreed to cover only the diagnosis, and it is the treatment which incurs most of the costs.
“We don’t have any idea how much it’s going to cost once we get down there or if they have to do surgeries and what kind of things. We just have no idea,” said Koester.
Thea has a seven-year-old brother, Griffin, and four-year-old sister, Sienna, who are both healthy. After hearing the family was in need and that Alberta Health won’t cover everything, the Rockyford Lions decided to host a medical benefit for the Koesters. The benefit took place Sept. 10 at the Rockyford Community Centre and boasted a silent and live auction and a BBQ dinner.
“Presently, right now Rockyford, Rosebud, and Standard, as communities have a fund with the Lions Club that we generated years ago when we had some sick people in the communities,” said Lions member Kevin Elder.
“We raised money as a group, and this fund is just sitting there for medical emergencies. So now it’s kind of getting depleted and I think in the future we’re going to try to replenish that fund.”
Over 250 people attended the event, which raised over $45,000. Donations are still being accepted at the Rockyford Lions Club, and can be mailed to Rockyford Agencies.