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.
I had 30 rounds of radiation to my head and spine at Princess Margaret hospital. My hair started to fall out.
Next, I was admitted to SickKids hospital for five months. I had four rounds of high dose chemo with stem cell rescue. It was really hard because I couldn’t see my sister Alice. Ronald McDonald House in Toronto was our home away from home for 9 months.
Finally, once treatment was completed, we returned to London. We were connected with Childcan. I received a cozy quilt and my parents had help with parking with the follow up visits at PMDU. We attended Childcan’s support group and met other families impacted by childhood cancer. It really helped. Renee was amazing.
I am thankful I survived because I know there are too many who have not.
Surviving comes with challenges. I live with significant late effects of the treatment which has pretty much impacted every system of my body. I still have a lot of medical follow-up with a lot of different specialists. I have to have daily injections at home for the rest of my life and I am on a lot of different medicines.
I am thrilled to have graduated high school with a diploma, something we were told was unlikely because of the treatment I received when I was three.
I am enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at Fanshawe College. I am so grateful to receive the Childcan bursary to assist towards costs at college.
Thank you so much for supporting Childcan and making such a difference to kids like me.
Thank you Sara for telling your story at the 2023 Childcan Pyjama Walk. You inspired those in attendance with your story and your resilience. We hope you go on to do many more great things.
