A little girl who has been dealing with health issues since she was five months old, is taking the next step on her journey and is one step closer to a normal childhood.
   Opal Walsh, who has been on dialysis since she was five months old and is now almost two,  has a transplant date and donor set for a new kidney.
    The donor is her mother, Wendy.
    “We have a transplant booking for May 28,” said her mother Wendy. “It has been a struggle, she has had lots of hospital stays and surgeries for complications and infections.”
    The challenge for the family over the last year and a half was for Opal to gain the needed weight and health so she could receive a kidney transplant. Right now, her goal is to prepare for her surgery.
 The family still sees a long road ahead. They will be in the hospital a few days before to get prepared. Wendy’s surgery will take about four hours, and Opal’s will take about eight. Opal will be in ICU for about three nights, and both mother and child will need time to heal. Wendy will be recovering for at least three weeks.
     Opal's struggles captured the heart of Drumheller residents. Opal, daughter of Wendy and Chris, was just months old when her parents thought she had an allergic reaction. She was admitted to the Children’s Hospital where her parents learned the child’s kidneys were failing.
     At five months old, Baby Opal was fighting for her life. The family faced months in and out of hospitals and seeing specialists. Opal has been undergoing constant dialysis since.
  The community rallied in support of the young family as they faced these challenges, and held a number of events to raised funds to make sure the family could take proper care of Opal.
    Opal currently has 12 hours of dialysis every night as well as two daytime exchanges.
     “It is a new door, it is relief she will no longer be on dialysis, and that will be a big deal for Opal,” Wendy explained.
    To get to this point has been a struggle for Opal. Most recently in January and February, she was in the hospital with a blood infection. She needed surgery to have her hemodialysis line removed and she is on a regiment of antibiotics.
    After the May 28 surgery, mother and daughter will take the time to heal and look forward to the possibilities the transplant will bring.

    With just under two months to go until Drumheller celebrates the 100th anniversary of the day it was incorporated, plans are coming together to have a celebration all residents can enjoy.
    On Wednesday, May 15, residents are invited to Drumheller’s centennial celebration. The ceremony will be held at the Badlands Community Facility and will include a beef on a bun barbecue, cake, and more.
    “We’re hoping to have the cake cut by two of Drumheller’s eldest residents. We’re also hoping anyone with a vintage car will come down and display their cars. There will be carriage rides. At the end of our celebration, we want to release 100 balloons to symbolize our centennial,” said Sharel Shoff, chair of the centennial planning committee.

(l-r) Sean Grande, Councillor Lisa Hansen-Zacharuk, Councillor Sharel Shoff, Roxanne Clark, Pam Yemen, Sylvia Adams, Paul Salvatore, Linda Traquair, and Kellie Smith and other members of the centennial planning committee unveiled the celebration planned for May 15. Residents are invited to the Badlands Community Facility for a centennial barbecue.

    The committee is also looking for residents to donate the use of photos showcasing Drumheller’s history for a display at the BCF gallery. Any photos provided would be returned.
    “They don’t have to be really old. We’re trying to cover the whole gamut of our 100 year history. We also want a cross-section of life in Drumheller. There is a lot of history here,” said Shoff.
    For example, photos can be of agriculture, businesses, or even families throughout Drumheller’s history. Once collected the photos will be displayed at the BCF gallery in May.
    Photos can be dropped off with the Town of Drumheller. The deadline for submissions is by the end of March.
    The centennial celebrations are not limited to just May 15. The committee is looking forward to other events throughout the year.
    “We’re going to have even more things happening on Canada Day,” said Shoff.
    Residents or groups hosting an event this year are also encouraged to use the centennial logo and contact the centennial committee. Logos can be obtained by calling Bob Cromwell at 403-823-1320.
    “We’re hoping to get everyone involved. This is our centennial. If there is something you want to do, we’d love to hear from them,” said Shoff.