Yellow ribbons and pink balloons decorated the crowded Jaffray Community Hall on Saturday, March 28 to commemorate Harper Musso — a Jaffray infant who died from neuroblastoma.
The yellow ribbons that adorned the walls served as symbols of the childhood cancer that robbed young couple Steph Hutchinson, 21, and Gino Musso of their daughter who passed away at three months on Feb. 22.
In the hours following Harper’s delivery in November 2014, it was quickly noted the newborn had a mass on her side. She was taken immediately to Alberta Children’s Hospital for further testing which confirmed her neuroblastoma.
The couple remained in Calgary in the months that followed while fundraising back home commenced.
The event was spurred by donations given to the couple when they thought they would be strapped with medical fees and transportation billsl.
Following Harper’s passing, the couple said they tried to give the donations back but to no avail.
“They didn’t want the money back,” said Hutchinson, “and it felt wrong to keep it.”
The solution was to capitalize on the community’s generosity further by raising additional funds through a live auction and donate the total amount raised to the Children’s Hospital for further research on neuroblastoma — the most common cancer in infancy that is often presented with a tumour originating from the adrenal glands.
Paintings, clothes, travel packages, decorations, furniture, toys, handwoven blankets, jerseys and more were up for grabs at the auction.
Altogether, the benefit raised thousands of dollars with the final number still being tallied.
“We couldn’t be more grateful to the community and everyone who donated,” said Hutchinson. The donations themselves spanned the entire Jaffray community and beyond.
“We received donations from Jaffray, Fernie, Cranbrook, Kimberley, Elko, Eureka and Baynes Lake. The support has been overwhelming,” said Hutchinson’s mom Darlene who added, “we’re so blown away by all the support.”