Finding Light: A Parent’s Story of Childhood Cancer
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, life changes overnight; not just for them, but for the whole family. This September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we’re honouring the strength, love, and resilience that carries families through their hardest moments.
At Make-A-Wish® Canada, we know that behind every diagnosis is a deeply personal story of fear and hope. Below, Shelly shares her family’s emotional journey with cancer: from diagnosis to the day her daughter Emma’s wish was granted.
Can you bring us back to the day everything changed?
It was a freezing Sunday in February 2021. I was holding my 14-month-old daughter, Emma, when I felt a hard lump on her little abdomen. My husband, Andrew, and I decided to take her to the hospital. After a few tests, we were told we should take her to the children’s hospital. I packed a bag, bundled Emma up, and drove an hour while Andrew stayed home with our three other kids.
What happened when you arrived at the children’s hospital?
We were admitted that night. Emma had the first ultrasound the next morning. I remember the mood shifting and the room growing quieter when the technician brought in a senior colleague. A few minutes later, she turned around to face me and said, “The tumour is cancerous.” My heart and stomach dropped. My limbs went numb. My head was spinning. They tried to console me, but my only thought was that I had to call Andrew and do the unthinkable—tell him our baby girl had cancer.
What happened next?
Not knowing what kind of cancer it was—or how bad—was my worst nightmare. We stayed in the hospital for almost a week. Emma underwent bloodwork, CT scans, bone marrow extractions, and a biopsy. She was so young that she didn’t understand what was happening. I tried to be strong for both of us, but after it took me and three nurses to hold Emma down for an IV, I was crying with her.
What was Emma’s official diagnosis?
Two weeks later, Andrew and I were in a small room with Emma’s care team. That’s when we learned that Emma had stage four intermediate-risk neuroblastoma. I remember thinking, isn’t that the worst stage? Gripping Andrew’s hand, they showed us scans that highlighted cancer in her bone marrow, extremities, and the tumour we had first felt. Her treatment started right away.
What did Emma’s treatment journey look like?
Emma had to have a port surgically inserted into her little chest to help with blood draws and chemotherapy. Over six months, she bravely underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy. After that she was put on an oral medication to help mature the remaining cells of the tumour from malignant to benign. It was hard on her little body, but she fought through it. She became a champ at bloodwork and pokes.
What did it feel like when Emma finished treatment?
In May 2022, almost a year and a half after that freezing night in February, Emma got to ring the bell. We were surrounded by her incredible care team and family. She’s now a healthy and spirited five-year-old!
How did you learn about Make-A-Wish Canada?
We were referred to Make-A-Wish Canada by our amazing social worker.
What was Emma’s wish, and what did it mean to your family?
Emma’s wish was to go to the ocean. We had recently gone to a lake, and she fell in love with the water. When we touched down in the Dominican Republic, we felt like we could finally breathe. For the first time in a long time we weren’t just surviving, we were living! We swam, rode horses on the beach, and made memories. As a family of six, we could never have done this trip without an organization like Make-A-Wish Canada. Emma’s wish gave the whole family the opportunity to reflect on all that we had been through and overcome. Most of all it gave us a moment to celebrate something we once feared we’d never get to say: Emma was in remission!
