20-year-old Brooklyn Aleksic recently helped organize a plasma donation event at Canadian Blood Services in Abbotsford on Dec. 16, with support from her parents, family, and friends.
Brooklyn’s life changed overnight after a life-changing diagnosis earlier this year. Almost overnight, the Abbotsford, BC, resident went from enjoying university life at the University of Victoria to being confined to bed. She had suffered a rare spinal stroke, leaving her unable to walk and forcing her to step away from her favourite sport of curling. Brooklyn appeared in the 2024 documentary Curl Power.
It has been a long and difficult journey since Brooklyn suffered a spinal stroke in June, but she believes the experience has made her stronger in many ways, with a better perspective on life and what really matters. Early in her treatment, doctors thought she might have Transverse Myelitis, so she went through 14 plasma exchange treatments that required plasma donations from more than 180 people. Now that her diagnosis has changed and she no longer needs plasma, Aleksic is focused on giving back. The recent donation drive at Canadian Blood Services in Abbotsford on Dec. 16 was her initiative, supported by her family and friends.
Canadian Blood Services community development manager Colin Lundrigan said that despite the region dealing with flooding, several donors still showed up in support of Aleksic. While Aleksic may not need plasma exchanges anymore, she still has a long recovery journey ahead of her and is determined to put everything into her recovery process. To aid her rehabilitation, Aleksic will be taking the next two years off from school or work and will continue her process of being in the gym or physiotherapy up to five days a week.
