Fighting disease a family affair

BOULARDERIE EAST When Alyssa MacLeod walks into the room, her face breaks into a megawatt smile.

There is a slight break to her stride, something not quite perfect, yet purposeful and determined.

MacLeod has fire and passion and more determination than many 22-year-olds could even imagine.

On this day, she has her father at her side, just like always.

Fathers Day seems like an appropriate time to talk about her years of surgeries, treatments and physiotherapy aimed at helping her live better with cerebral palsy.

My mother stayed home to look after my younger sister, and my father travelled to Montreal with me since I was three years old, MacLeod said.

Out of 47 trips to the Shriners hospital in Montreal, my dad only missed one, and that was because he was out west working.

Her father, Richard MacLeod, looks with pride at his slight, pretty daughter.

Its difficult to see your little girl go through what she has, but it was definitely worth all the work.

Alyssa is one of 100 patients with cerebral palsy who underwent what is called selective dorsal rhizotomy 19 years ago at the Montreal hospital.

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Fighting disease a family affair