Bentley had just completed Junior Kindergarten and, being a typical five-year-old, he was feeling the freedom of a summer stretched out in front of him. His family was on their way to a vacation when his parents noticed increased bruising on his legs. While away, Bentley also developed petechiae. It would resolve itself overnight, only to reappear in new spots.
During the holiday, Bentley played with other kids, went swimming in the lake and really enjoyed himself. No one would have thought he was in anything but good health. He was always on the go and did not complain.
Back home after vacation, his parents, Alisa and Scott, took Bentley to their pediatrician who took their concerns about the bruising and petechiae seriously, suggesting they go for immediate bloodwork. That evening, the lab called and asked that Alisa and Scott connect with the pediatrician as Bentley’s platelets were dangerously low. Within minutes, the doctor confirmed and asked that Bentley be brought directly to the pediatric floor at Windsor Regional Hospital.
Over the next two days, Bentley was treated for his low platelets but the new donated ones wouldn’t “stick”. More tests were run and when those came back with suspicious results, Children’s Hospital in London was contacted.
Less than a week after his initial hospital admission, Bentley had a bone marrow aspiration that confirmed a diagnosis of Leukemia Pre-B ALL - terrible news that had Bentley lamenting about spending the rest of his summer in a hospital room and his parents worried about the cancer flowing through his body.
Once the diagnosis had been made, it wasn’t long before Renee from Childcan came to introduce herself and give the family a basket of toiletries, a handmade quilt, gift cards, parking passes for the hospitals in London and Windsor, food vouchers and support. “It was a relief to have someone offer comfort and bring necessities when you’re struggling just to understand your child’s diagnosis,” says Alisa.
This was the beginning of a new normal for Bentley and his family. For more than three years, they would travel from Windsor to London frequently for Bentley to receive lifesaving treatment. Renee was always around the clinic to offer a warm smile, friendly reassurance and to check in on Bentley.
During treatment, Bentley went to school when he was well enough. More importantly, he took advantage of every opportunity he could just to be a kid. He filled his free time playing video games and building Lego. Bentley wants to be a Lego Master Builder when he grows up.
Not surprisingly, his favourite Childcan memory is of when he went on the Childcan-organized trip to Canada’s Wonderland. “I’ve never been on a real rollercoaster before and it was so fun!” Bentley explains. It was a day where he and his family could forget about his diagnosis and treatment and just enjoy themselves and their time together.
On November 14, 2019, Bentley took his last chemo drug at home. After 1,939 days of treatment, in and out of the hospital, over 20 lumbar punctures and too many needle pokes to count, it was the moment he had been waiting for. Bentley was ecstatic to be a regular kid again, and his parents were very relieved to put treatment behind them.
When Alisa looks back on those tough days, she says, “Childcan provided support that we never knew we would need. When they say it takes a village to raise a child, it really takes organizations like Childcan with the backing of the community to see a child through cancer treatment.” She’s happy to see that Lorraine has been added to the Childcan team to provide even more support to Windsor families who are facing childhood cancer.