Alida Einarson will be showered with a whole lot of love this Valentines Day.

A benefit fundraiser has been scheduled in honour of the Clandeboye teen on Feb. 14, aimed at helping her family out financially while she undergoes a bone marrow transplant.

Alida, a 14-year-old Grade 9 student at Lockport Junior High, was diagnosed with Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) five years ago, and her family is hopeful her upcoming treatment will enable her to live a normal and healthy life.

"It's a rare genetic disease that causes her immune system to not work properly," explains Alida's mother, Kim Einarson. "Her body is unable to fight off bacteria."

Though she has managed to stay relatively healthy, Alida had two major hospital stays in the past year after contracting infections that spread to her lungs.

Since her illness has recently gotten worse Alida has had to give up some of the things she loves most, like her dance classes, swimming at the beach, and staying up late on sleep overs.

"I think that's been the hardest part, is not being able to do those things anymore. I used to go swimming and tubing with my friends in the creek all the time, but now I can't because I could get sick if the water is dirty," said Alida. "And I know that if I stay up late at a sleep over that I'll be sick for a couple of weeks after, because my body can't handle it."

After doctors told the Einarson's the only way to beat the disease was to have a bone marrow transplant, Alida decided that sooner was better than later.

"I didn't want to do it right away at first because that meant I was going to have to give up everything for a while," said Alida, who will now have to miss her Grade 9 grad. "But I thought it was best to get it over with."

While any parent would be worried about their child undergoing any type of medical procedure, the process has been especially difficult for the Einarsons.

The family tragically lost their youngest daughter Thora to the same disease in 2004, and find having to go through the same situation with Alida extremely painful.

"We're worried for her," said Einarson. "Because we've already lost a child, it's all been really hard. We just hope the transplant works and her body accepts it, so she can be healthy again."

Though Alida admits she is scared about her procedure, Einarson says she is proud of her daughter for staying strong and making the difficult decision to have it done.

"Alida's the toughest, she's been very positive about everything," said Einarson.

Alida will have the transplant done within the next month – it will replace her defective cells with new ones that will hopefully restore her immune system.

Einarson is planning to take the next six months after her procedure off from work to care for Alida, who will be spending two months in the hospital and another four at home recovering, leaving her husband Jeff as the sole provider for the family until she can return to work.

"Even though she's going to be in the hospital there's still costs, like parking and food. There's all these things that you don't think about," said Einarson. "When you're going through something like this you don't want to think about money because it adds more stress, but the bills don't stop coming."

To help ease some of the Einarson's burden family and friends have joined together to hold a 'Hearts 4 Alida' come and go tea on Feb. 14 at Clandeboye Community Hall, to raise money for the family while they care for Alida after her surgery.

The fundraiser's organizing committee informed the Einarson family about the benefit last week, and Einarson says they feel blessed to have such a great support system.

"It's wonderful to have this family and community that want to help us. It's hard when it's you that's going through something, because we've always been people that want to give and don't want anything in return," said Einarson. "I think we're very lucky to have these people support us."

The tea will run from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., and will feature a silver collection and silent auction to collect proceeds.

Those wishing to support Alida and the Einarson family but are unable to attend the benefit can drop off donations at Total Look Hair Design & Day Spa in Selkirk, with all contributions $5 and over qualifying the donor to enter a draw for a $300 day at the spa.

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