I wish to explore Banff with my family

Leah has always been an active kid who began figure skating when she was seven years old. One day during track and field, her knee began to hurt. Her parents took her to the doctors where physiotherapy was recommended, which Leah began. For three months she was going to routine physiotherapy until one day the doctor felt a lump and ordered an x-ray. It was after this x-ray that she was given the news that she had osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. “[We were] devastated,” Leah’s mom Melissa shared.

After her diagnosis, Leah felt very isolated from all of her friends. She couldn’t risk getting sick so she had to stay home from school, resulting in her losing friendships. Leah takes pride in her hair, so knowing that she may lose it was a hard thing for her to accept. “The first question I asked the oncologist was if I was going to lose my hair. That’s when I cried for the first time,” Leah shared. She underwent an intense chemotherapy protocol and eventually a rotationplasty – a surgical procedure removing part of her leg. “The idea of cancer is one thing, losing a limb to it is a whole other loss,” Melissa shared. Leah used a wheelchair to get around until she was fitted with a prosthetic. She hopes to one day become a prosthetist.

Leah’s diagnosis took away her ability to be an active kid, who was always spending time outdoors. Knowing that her wish would soon come true gave her something to look forward to at the end of her treatment journey. Her wish was inspired by all of her favourite things; spending time in the great outdoors, skating, skiing, hiking, and biking. She wished to go to Banff to explore the beautiful town with her family by her side. Leah and her family hopped on a plane to Calgary where they then got in a car and drove along the scenic route to Banff. Leah looks forward to re-gaining her strength so that she can participate in the activities she used to love.