Latest news with #DianeDezura
National Post
07-07-2025
- Health
- National Post
Canadian curler, 20, paralyzed by rare condition: 'She can't move her legs, sit up, or care for herself'
A 20-year-old woman and curler from B.C. has been left paralyzed by a rare neurological condition called transverse myelitis. Article content The story of Brook Aleksic has been shared on fundraising website GoFundMe. Aleksic's former curling coach, Diane Dezura, an Olympic bronze medalist in the sport, organized the fundraiser. As of Monday, it was around $6,000 shy of its $100,000 goal. Article content Article content 'Her onset was rapid and severe,' according to the fundraising site. 'She can't move her legs, sit up, or care for herself. The damage to her spinal cord is extensive. While there is hope for some recovery, her path will be long, uncertain and expensive.' Article content Article content Canadian filmmaker Josephine Anderson, who directed Curl Power, filmed Aleksic and her curling teammates 'for much of their teenagehood, as they pursued their dream of becoming national champions,' she told National Post in an email over the weekend. Anderson said audience members connected with Aleksic. Article content 'Brook always leans towards gratitude and optimism, even when facing difficult moments in her life,' said Anderson. 'When we filmed, Brook was bravely open about struggling with body image and self confidence. We had many, many audience members tell us that Brook was especially inspirational to them.' Article content Anderson urged anyone who could help Aleksic and her family 'during this life altering time' to 'please come forward' to offer support. Article content Article content 'Becoming paralyzed in a matter of hours is surely the biggest and scariest challenge she's had to face,' Anderson told National Post. 'But somehow Brook is still finding a way to look on the bright side.' Article content It's caused by inflammation of the spinal cord, which can damage myelin, the insulating material that covers your nerves, explains a webpage about the condition by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. There is no cure, but there are treatments that include high doses of steroids or plasma exchange therapy. Article content A third of those with transverse myelitis can have a full or near-full recovery, per Johns Hopkins. Another third can have 'fair recovery' while the final third could 'recover poorly and have major physical disabilities.' Recovery can take up to two years.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Young athlete woke up and couldn't move...two hours later she was paralyzed from neck down
A 20-year-old rising curling talent from Canada woke up one morning unable to move - just two hours later, doctors confirmed she was paralyzed from the neck down. Brooklyn Aleksic, 20, of Abbotsford, B.C., was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition shortly after arriving at Regina General Hospital in June. The condition, which causes inflammation of the spinal cord, has left Aleksic, the daughter of well-known curler Shannon Joanisse, paralyzed from the neck down. 'Basically, within two hours of waking up that morning, she was completely paralyzed from her neck down,' Joanisse told CTV News. Since her diagnosis, the 20-year-old University of Victoria student has undergone several plasma exchanges in hopes of one day walking - and curling - again. 'At the end of this week, she will have had 14 plasma exchanges, and each exchange takes approximately almost 13 donors to provide enough plasma for one,' her former curling coach, Diane Dezura explained to CTV. 'Brook will have had 14, and that totals 175 donors. So it's really important to her (to get the message out about plasma donation).' Brooklyn Aleksic, 20, of Abbotsford, B.C., was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition shortly after arriving at Regina General Hospital, having awoken one morning in June unable to move. Pictured: Brooklyn Aleksic in the hospital The condition, which causes inflammation of the spinal cord, has left Aleksic, the daughter of well-known curler Shannon Joanisse, paralyzed from the neck down. Pictured: Brooklyn Aleksic (left) with her well-known curler mother, Shannon Joanisse (right) A GoFundMe campaign launched by her former coach has already raised $60,679 (CAD $82,425) toward its $66,256 (CAD $90,000) goal. According to the fundraising page, the donations will help ease the financial burden of Aleksic's care, covering medical services such as transportation, rehabilitation, wheelchair equipment, and more. 'She remains in hospital far from home and requires medical transport to Vancouver to begin long-term rehabilitation and be close to her friends and family. But this is just the start. From wheelchairs and equipment to adaptive modifications and 24/7 support, the costs are overwhelming,' the fundraising page reads. 'We've launched this GoFundMe to ease the financial pressure on Brook and her family, so they can focus on healing, not hardship.' While the funds will help with her care, the family says plasma donations are just as critical. The family remains hopeful that Aleksic will be able to begin long-term rehabilitation in the near future, CTV News reported. In addition to her mom's athletic prowess and stardom, Aleksic has had her own fame as well, appearing in the 2024 documentary Curl Power, which followed her Maple Ridge-based curling team. Pictured: Brooklyn Aleksic with her Maple Ridge-based curling team A GoFundMe campaign has since been launched by her former coach and has already raised $60,679 (CAD $82,425) toward its $66,256 (CAD $90,000) goal. Pictured: Brooklyn Aleksic (center right) with her family 'She has a huge circle of friends, she's a ray of light in everybody's life,' Joanisse told the outlet. 'She's positive. She's a fighter, and Brooklyn thrives academically. She's going to UVic to become an elementary school teacher.' In addition to her mom's athletic prowess and stardom, Aleksic has had her own fame as well, appearing in the 2024 documentary Curl Power, which followed her Maple Ridge-based curling team. The film was screened in theaters across Canada, tracking the ups and downs of the team as the girls pushed to compete in the Canadian Junior Curling Championships. Transverse myelitis, the condition Aleksic was diagnosed with, is extremely rare - affecting only about one in a million people per year.
