Ashton was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on his 17th Birthday. The next day he was in surgery, having his port fitted, and started chemotherapy the day after that. Ashton spent the next 8 months in hospital except for 4 days a month at home. During part of that time, Ashton had his leg amputated through the knee. 30 rounds of chemotherapy later, in April 2022, Ashton stood up smiling to ring the gong. He was cancer free.

My name is Justin Jewell. I am 20 years old, from Belle River, ON.  I am an AML survivor of three years and a stem cell recipient. I am a musician and music has been my life-long passion. I was given my first guitar at the age of four and carried it with me everywhere I went. Growing up I would entertain my family and friends, and when I was old enough, I started making a name for myself in the local Windsor music scene.

On June 8, 2021, we took Micah to the Emergency Room in Strathroy with vomiting and headaches. We were sent to the Children’s Hospital in London immediately, where Micah was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Micah was admitted that day and the plan for surgery was put into action immediately.  

Hello, my name is Sara and I am 19 years old. This is my story.

When I was three years old, I was diagnosed with a metastasized pineoblastoma, which is a rare type of brain tumour. My parents were heartbroken because the doctors didn’t think I would survive. I had emergency brain surgery in London. Then I was transferred to SickKids in Toronto for further brain surgery and I was enrolled in a research study for treatment.

Gold. For those affected by childhood cancer, the colour has significance. For James, who just returned from the 2024 World Para Ice Hockey Championship with a gold medal for Team Canada, it has an extra-special meaning, given his journey to get there.

Nick was just 17, a tall and vibrant 6’ 2”. He was healthy, happy, school wasn’t his thing but that didn’t matter – he had a great sense of humour, tons of friends, and a passion for standing up for the disadvantaged. Nick was not only well-read but also a talented musician with a zest for life.

The summer of 2016 started normal. I was 5 years old, and I enjoyed playing outside, swimming, hanging out with my cousins, and soccer, as a normal 5-year-old would. I remember having family pictures with my whole extended family on my mom’s side. The weather was beautiful, the sun shining bright at Waterworks Park in St. Thomas.

A picture of Batman hangs proudly on Brad’s office wall. It’s not just any picture of Batman, it’s him as a young child, dressed in full Batman costume, mask and all. It was Brad’s preferred outfit at any time, especially at the hospital. Brad remembers wearing that costume nearly the whole time he was in treatment.

Everything has a silver lining. It’s all about how you look at things.

“Finger pricks meant I could add to my finger puppet collection. Hospital visits meant playtime and art therapy. Losing my hair meant choosing a wig - having had short brown hair, I wanted to try something different, like long blonde Rapunzel hair, but relented, taking my dad’s advice, I went with a more natural look so people would still recognize me.”

Luke was a happy one year old when he started showing signs of joint pains, stiff arms and legs. He was in and out of the emergency room for months. It was at one of those visits, not long after Luke’s second birthday, when everything suddenly changed. The doctors decided to send Luke to London Children’s Hospital for further tests. Dad and son were airlifted from Thunder Bay, with Mom following a few days later. Luke’s 4 year-old-sister Petra stayed with her grandparents.

In London, Luke was subjected to a series of tests. He saw many doctors, including a neurologist and a rheumatologist for suspected arthritis. It was the haematologist who found the problem, hiding in Luke’s bones. High-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).