How to entertain your child while they are in a hospital bed wasn’t a question that Tracy had ever asked herself. Why would she? Dracen was always healthy…
In mid-August 2022 Dracen started throwing up in the morning. They took him to the doctors, and despite multiple tests, nothing was found. After a trip to the Emergency Room they were sent home with laxatives and anti-nausea medication. Nothing changed. Dracen was still vomiting 18-20 times per day.
After three weeks, spent in Windsor hospital as Dracen was so sick, Tracy called the patient advocate and pushed for an MRI…which found a tumour on Dracen’s brainstem. The family immediately drove to London to meet with the brain surgeon who had to get as much as possible of the tumour out, or risk it growing back. Pathology determined that it was a posterior fossa ependymoma.
Tracy, her husband Kory, and Dracen spent three weeks in London while Dracen relearnt how to walk. During this time, they were introduced to Childcan, who helped with gas, meals, and utility costs. Childcan helped again a few weeks later when they all went to SickKids for a second surgery. It happened to be on Tracy’s birthday, she remembers telling the hospital team there to “Please get it all out as my birthday present!”. That’s all she wanted.
Dracen ringing the bell after proton therapy in Jacksonville, Florida.
Recovery from this surgery was quick, they were in and out in two weeks. But they were not done with treatments. The car was packed up again and the whole family went to Jacksonville, Florida for proton therapy. Ronald McDonald House became a home away from home again in Florida, and Childcan helped again with some of the costs of the treatment-related travel. They spent the spring in Florida while the 30 treatments were administered before heading back to London.
Dracen is now 13-years-old, back to school (although only for half days as he still finds it tiring), and retaining grades in the 90s for math! Tracy is determined to live life to the fullest and have fun doing it!
Tracy spent her birthday this year at Childcan’s holiday party. She remains grateful to Childcan. “We had no idea what was happening for the first few months. It was just a lot. But Childcan was there. We tried to keep Dracen’s spirits up. I’m convinced that laughter is the best medicine, and we did a lot of joking and being silly to stay positive. I remember trying to keep his motor skills up, we had a small ball and I’d tell him to try to hit me. I feel those light-hearted moments were essential in keeping Dracen’s spirits up (and mine). Despite those moments of fun and light, it was a very scary and difficult time and I’m grateful for all the people who showed up and came through for us. We hope that Dracen was one of the lucky ones. We continue to hold on to hope.”
We are grateful to Tracy for sharing Dracen’s story and for encouraging others to push for tests and to advocate for their kids. We are also holding on to hope that others will be spared the journey that Dracen has been though, til then, we remain here for all kids diagnosed with cancer through LHSC.