A scrape or cut on a child’s knee is a minor injury most parents can relate to, but for one Selkirk boy it’s suspected of causing an infection that forced doctors to amputate his leg.
"There's still a bug inside me from when I got an infection. That's why I take lots of medicine,” said nine-year-old David Stevenson.
In September, Stevenson became very sick and doctors diagnosed his condition as staphylococcus aureus, a bloodstream infection that may have started in a small cut on his knee.
An air ambulance took David to Edmonton for specialized care. Once there, doctors told his family they would have to amputate David’s left leg below the knee.
David’s father says his son only cried briefly when they broke the news.
"We talked to him and explained everything about why it needs to be removed and after that, he was ok,” said Daniel Stevenson. “And he was perfectly calm and he said, 'OK, I'm ready. Let's go.'"
David’s parents drive him from Selkirk to Winnipeg for weekly appointments and the cost of the gas is starting to take a toll on the large family.
When his school friends Madi and Leam heard that, they decided to do something about it.
"I said, 'Do you want to help me collect some money for David?' And she's like, 'Sure, we'll start tomorrow,'” said 10-year-old Leam.
"I think we got, like, over 400 bucks right now,” added nine-year-old Madi.
Staff and parents at Robert Smith School pooled another $1,000 and then someone decided they should hold a bake sale.
“There’s a cookie with my name on it!” said David.
Well, there was – the batch of cookies with his name written in icing fetched a dollar apiece and sold out quickly.
The generosity of the school community, and the initiative taken by the students, tugged at the heart strings of David’s family.
"I can't thank them enough for everything that they're doing. They really touched my heart and I'm happy that my son has friends like this,” said Daniel Stevenson.
