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Family With Triplets Fighting Cancer Seek A Temporary Toronto Home

Family With Triplets Fighting Cancer Seek A Temporary Toronto Home
Low Family

UPDATE: Barely two days after sharing an accommodation plea for their seven-month-old identical triplets, who are all battling a rare form of eye cancer, the Low family is "overwhelmed" by the rush of public support they have received. However, the Lows have yet to secure somewhere to stay in Toronto. Click here to read more.

It's the kind of request no parent ever wants to have to make, but particularly for this reason — the Low family needs a home in Toronto for their children's cancer treatment.

The family, originally from Cardston, Alberta, consists of the two parents, Leslie and Richard, older child Benson, and their three six-month-old identical triplet boys, Thomas, Mason and Luke — all three of whom have been diagnosed with retinoblastoma, an incredibly rare cancer. As the triplets go for chemo treatment, as well as possible marrow transplants and radiation at Toronto's Sick Kids Hospital, they need accommodation for the three of them and four adults.

Does anybody have a condo in Toronto that they lease for 6 months time??? Or even better, does anybody know the Marriott family??? :) We aren't looking for a freebie. We are looking for a possible option that isn't a 12 month lease, and isn't $5000/month. You may think I am kidding, but a 6 month rental for a furnished 2 bedroom condo near the hospital runs $4000 - $5000 a month. We just booked their hotel for the chemo treatment in 3 weeks and it's $3885, for a 10 day stay...

The family came to attention in March thanks to the terrible rarity of their case. As it says on their family blog, there is a one in 1,000,000 chance of having identical triplets without in vitro fertilization, and the chances of all three of those boys having retinoblastoma is "unheard of."

Richard was able to help diagnose his babies on the advice of an eye doctor friend, reported Global News. After Richard had noticed the strange shape of Mason's pupil, he was told to take a picture and look for the red reflection. When he saw only white, he took Mason to a retina specialist and got the diagnosis. Luke and Thomas' conditions were found shortly after.

Retinoblastoma is the most common type of eye cancer in children, according to the Canadian Cancer Society, but still only occurs in one out of every 20,000 births. Early detection of the disease means a 96 per cent survival rate, though not necessarily the preservation of sight. The disease also varies significantly from case to case.

For the Lows, each boy's treatment is different, and therefore, potentially dozens of appointments in Toronto are needed.

If you have a place or ideas for this family of four adults and three babies to stay, get in touch with them at lows.lowdown@gmail.com.

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