A Chilliwack family was given a difficult diagnosis on Christmas Day.
Joel and April Korytko had taken their youngest daughter Asha into an emergency room for fever and vomiting on Christmas Eve. That turned into an emergency hospital transfer, and on Dec. 25, a team of doctors had performed a bone marrow biopsy on the four-year-old.
They confirmed she has acute myeloid leukemia — and will be in hospital full-time for the next eight to 10 months.
A family friend who started a GoFundMe to alleviate the family’s expected financial stress said that chemotherapy began less than two days later.
“Her parents are staying at Ronald McDonald House to be with her through every round of chemo, every difficult day, and every small victory,” said their friend, Steel Lane. The expected return home time of fall 2026 is only if there are no complications.
In the meantime, both parents have stepped away from work — he as a teacher at Northwest College & Seminary and Trinity Western University, and she as a paediatric registered nurse with Fraser Health.
“Joel and April are also parents to Reed, 9, and Ember, 7,” Lane added. “Two kids who need care and stability while their little sister fights to get well.”
Lane started the fundraiser with a goal of raising $75,000 to help cover things like lost income, childcare for Reed and Ember, travel costs, housing, utilities, meals, parking “and the daily expenses that accumulate when a family is stretched across two places for the better part of a year.”
The goal was nearly met within less than a week. On Friday, Jan. 9, the total raised was just shy of $73,000.
The family is asking those who pray, to pray “for Asha’s healing, for strength and peace for Joel and April, and comfort and stability for Reed and Ember.”
Asha is described as “a happy, energetic girl who springs into everything she does with full force.
“She is kind, inquisitive, and full of love for everyone around her. She loves unicorns, purple, constant wardrobe changes, and singing and dancing to her favourite KPop Demon Hunters songs,” Lane said. “If anyone has the strength to overcome AML, she does.”
The Korytkos are “deeply involved” with their church community, and also love traveling to Comicon events together.
They also ask for positive thoughts on their GoFundMe page, titled Help Asha Fight Leukemia.