Fae is a bright, active 11-year-old, bursting with energy! She loves playing hockey and is no longer afraid of needles. After nearly two years of cancer treatments, Fae has faced down hundreds of needles and medical procedures. While she has much bigger worries these days, needles are no longer a concern for Fae.
“It took hundreds of needles and a couple of months, but she is finally no longer afraid!” says Fae’s mother Brett Frank.
With another year of treatments to go, the promise of returning to Camp Kindle this summer keeps Fae’s spirits up.
“Kids Cancer Care helps where you need it the most,” says Fae’s mother, Brett Frank. “Whether that’s extra support with meals, support with mental health, or just giving your child an opportunity to have some normal again by letting them play, but safely. Camp Kindle was a godsend this summer because it gave Fae a chance to just be a kid going to camp, not just a kid going through treatment.”
Fae’s cancer journey started in March 2024, when her parents noticed swelling in her face. “The lymph nodes in her neck, upper back and chest were rock hard,” says Brett. “We thought it was an allergic reaction, so we took her to urgent care in Okotoks.”
The results of Fae’s bloodwork led to a referral to the Alberta Children’s Hospital, where they stayed that night and for the next 15 days. Within days, they had a diagnosis: T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare blood cancer, that would require nearly three years of treatment.
The swollen lymph nodes were crushing the veins around her heart, so Fae had to stay in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). “There were a few life-or-death moments in the PICU, like when her kidneys shut down, situations you never thought you’d see in real life, let alone to your own child. It was scary watching, knowing you can’t do anything.”
Other than these frightening moments, Fae is responding well to treatment. She’s in remission now and undergoing maintenance treatments. She’s looking forward to finishing in August 2026.
“Even though things were hard and so stressful,” says Brett. “Fae was so full of laughter and love for everyone.”
Last December, when Fae learned about Colour Wars at Camp Kindle, she knew immediately she wanted to go! Colour Wars is a week at Camp Kindle where camper teams are assigned a colour and compete for points.
Thanks to your generous support, Camp Kindle did not disappoint. It was everything Fae imagined and more.
“My favourite part of camp was meeting people, and the big swing,” beams Fae. “The big swing was awesome because of the drop, and the feeling it gives you inside, kinda’ like a rollercoaster.”
Although Fae is in remission now, she’s not out of the woods yet. Potential side effects of treatment include short-term neurological issues, i.e., stroke-like symptoms, and long-term issues, such as learning disorders, exacerbated ADHD, vision problems, blood clots, infertility, mobility issues, and increased risk of secondary cancers.
Thanks to your generous support, Kids Cancer Care will continue to be there for Fae and her family if she needs support for any of these cancer-related conditions. Whether it’s tutoring support, exercise therapy, camp, leadership programs or a scholarship when she’s ready to pursue post-secondary studies.
“I loved being able to meet new friends who are going through the same thing as me and having them support me while I was there,” says Fae. “I won the Bear Cub award at the Kindies this year, and I loved it because it made me feel special and great to be part of this group. It helps you feel like you’re not the only one going through it alone.”
Fae’s mother couldn’t agree more: “Community is so important for healing in this journey. You’re thrown into the role of a medical family in the blink of an eye. Your whole family is transformed into this new unit, where no one has any experience. Having a community of like-minded adults and children to relate to is amazing. Most importantly, you get to laugh at a time when most people would break. You find the joy. It’s amazing what a good belly laugh fixes.”
Fae’s Photo Gallery
