April 17, 2013

Meet Paul and His Family from Glovertown

Deon Oram, Merri-Lee Motley-Oram and their three-year-old son Paul are staying at Ronald McDonald House while Paul is treated for Burkitt’s lymphoma, a form of cancer.

Paul was a perfectly healthy toddler until this past January. His parents thought he had the flu until they noticed something different about his speech.

He asked for medicine, and he would never do that,” said his dad, Deon Oram. “We gave him some Tylenol and made an appointment with a doctor right away.”

Shortly after that, Paul’s grandmother noticed a lump in his throat.

The Oram’s brought Paul to the Janeway, where Paul was seen by an ear, nose, and throat specialist. It was then that we were told he had Burkitt’s lymphoma, a form of cancer.

“I didn’t think a grown man or woman could cry themselves dry, but we did.” Deon said.

The cancerous lump was so fast growing, the Orams were told, if they had waited another two weeks to bring him it would have been very noticeable.

The lump was removed Feb 9, 2013 and Paul was started on chemotherapy two weeks later.

“How do you explain cancer to a three-year-old? You can’t.” Merri-Lee said. “We just told him there are cancer bugs in his body and we need to get rid of the bugs. I knew he was going to lose his hair, so I shaved his and his Dad’s heads. Paul is our brave space ranger.”

The Oram Family have been staying at Ronald McDonald House since Paul’s diagnosis. The house has been a godsend, they say.

We would never have been able to do it, “ Deon said of affording the cost of living and Paul’s medicines while taking time off work. “Words just cannot say how much we appreciate staying at Ronald McDonald House.”

By Ronald McDonald House Newfoundland and Labrador

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