Photo: Contributed - Bill Jack

Tianna Jack

Tianna Jack will celebrate her seventh birthday on May 7.

The Kelowna girl has spent her whole life suffering from a rare lung disease called Bronchiectasis, a condition which prevents the tiny hairs (cilia) which line the inside of her airway from filtering out dirt in the air.  Currently there is no cure.

Unimpressed with the treatment offered through more traditional methods, her family has pursued a number of alternative methods to bring her back to health.

The latest efforts centred around the Wieliczka Salt Mines near Krakow, Poland. The mines are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Tianna and her father Bill returned from the mines in January and the treatment has proven very helpful to her.

"From the time that we were there until the time we left, it was like night and day."says Jack. "She gained strength, the toxins in her body were so strong she didn't have a chance to heal.  By being in the salt mines, toxins were actually leaving her body because of the salt."

Tianna previously had visited a site in the Czech Republic, but found the Polish mines to be more beneficial

"Her face had colour in it again, she was breathing better, she's not getting sick, she's stronger. I really believe in salt therapy."

However, Jack realizes this treatment helps, but doesn't cure, Tianna. "They're baby steps, but at least they're steps that are moving in the right direction."

With the cost of the trip and therapy hitting $40,000, it's not something the family can continue to do.

"The new thing we're looking at now is a device from NASA. It's a light therapy, oxygen therapy, immune system builder, but it's around $32,000 to get this thing, but we're looking going she needs this stuff for the rest of her life, so that's my next endeavour."

Jack is reluctant to go back the public again. "I've done that twice and I feel there's so many others that need help, but if there was a private donor, that might be the way to do it. It's one of the things that's so beautiful about the Okanagan. People remember and people care."

Anyone wishing to help with Tianna's medical expenses can contact Bill at Club Wine Tours 250-762-9951.