Kelowna Family Grapples With Infant Son's Cancer Diagnosis

A Kelowna family has been trying to figure out how to cope with the news that their one year old son has recently been diagnosed with cancer.

Daylene Bowlby and Mack Murtland are the parents of one year old Rory Milo Murtland, who was recently diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma. The family’s lives have been turned upside down following the surprising news. It all started when Daylene noticed an irregularity with Rory’s eye. The baby had a persistently swollen eye and his worried mother took him to an eye specialist to find out what was causing the issue.

The doctor instantly knew what was wrong and sent the family to the hospital for immediate testing and a CT scan. The tests revealed devastating news as doctors found tumours in the baby's head, which was causing the swelling in his eye. Doctors suspected that Rory had more tumours in his body and the cancer diagnosis was given to the family.

The one-year-old baby was sent to the Children’s Hospital in Vancouver where he has undergone several surgeries, including a biopsy of the tumour. The news continued to worsen for the family as doctors discovered more tumours in his body, including in his abdomen.

Rory has begun the long process of chemotherapy treatment, which began on August 18^th, and will remain in Vancouver for eight to nine months, depending on how his body reacts to the treatment. As a result of the diagnosis, the family has been forced to put their lives on hold and stay in Vancouver to be by their baby’s side.

Daylene, who is a student at UBC Okanagan, has put her education on hold and moved her life to Vancouver to be with Rory. Mack has taken leave from his job and is also in Vancouver to be by Rory’s side. Rory’s four year old brother Jackson has remained in the Okanagan and is trying to grasp what is happening to his family and why his parents are away from him.

The couple, who are no longer together, are fighting to be by their son during this trying time and to help support them family and friends have rallied together. They have launched an online fundraising campaign as a way to help with the financial burden they will endure as baby Rory battles the cancer in his body. The funds will support the family with unforeseen expenses not covered by BC Medical, such as travel, accommodation, and living expenses while in Vancouver.

So far, more than $17,800 has been contributed to the campaign to help the family as generous people have donated and sent well wishes. To learn more about Rory or to donate to the cause, visit the Go Fund Me page here.