Six-year-old Alice is a fun-loving, creative and joyful little girl whose smile lights up every room. Her positivity shines through in everything she does, and it carried her through one of the hardest challenges of her young life.
In March 2023, her mom, Jacquie, noticed a small bump near Alice’s temple. At first, she thought it was nothing more than a bruise, but when it didn’t go away, she booked a doctor’s appointment. “It was said to be just an inflamed lymph node and that it would go away,” Jacquie recalled. But as the months passed, the bump grew. After multiple appointments and an ultrasound, the answer was always the same: nothing to worry about.
By August, Jacquie pushed harder for answers. A pediatrician finally took her concerns seriously and referred Alice to a specialist. An MRI was scheduled for April of the following year, but her mom pressed for an earlier date and secured one in November. That MRI changed everything. Alice was scheduled for a biopsy in December, and just before Christmas, her family received the devastating news: Alice had lymphoma. “This diagnosis for Alice was terrifying,” said Jacquie.
Alice began treatment in January 2024, starting the new year with a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) line insertion and a long road ahead. Over the next four months, she endured chemotherapy, countless hospital visits, and the loss of her hair, but never her smile. “She is such a strong, beautiful girl,” Jacquie said. “She missed half of senior kindergarten because of treatment. She was just five years old during all of this.” In April, Alice rang the bell to mark the end of treatment. She remains cancer-free and continues regular checkups.
Through it all, there was something bright on the horizon: her prescribed wish trip. Wishes are more than nice-to-have moments – they are medicine – and for Alice, her wish became a vital part of her treatment journey. “From the moment it was revealed until the second she stepped off the plane, Alice was over the moon. The entire trip was surreal for her,” Jacquie said. Alice met her favourite characters, laughed until her cheeks hurt, and for the first time in a long time, Alice felt like herself again. “By the time we went, Alice’s hair had grown to a point where she felt more like a ‘girl’ again, and when she became ‘Rapunzel’ with a hair clip, in Alice’s own words, she finally felt beautiful again. That is something medicine alone could never do,” shared Jacquie. Not all medicine comes in a bottle. For Alice, her wish provided what traditional medicine couldn’t: relief from stress, and renewed joy, strength, and resilience.
Now, Alice wants to give back. She’s dreaming up a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Canada and hopes to volunteer at Give Kids The World. “She’s starting to realize that what she went through is nothing short of amazing—that she really is a strong warrior princess.” Jacquie said.
Alice recently attended our Trees of Joy event in Toronto, where she was gifted a traditional holiday tree in her favourite colours: blue, purple and pink!
Hear from Alice
About Wishes Are Medicine
Wishes Are Medicine. They are a vital part of a child’s treatment journey, helping restore strength, hope, and resilience when it’s needed most. Research shows that a prescribed wish can improve adherence to treatment, reduce emergency room visits, and deliver lasting health benefits. With the help of generous donors, dedicated volunteers, and partners across the country, we are committed to granting the wish of every eligible child.
