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Jack and his twin brother Adam had just celebrated their first birthday. They were busy little guys, following in the footsteps of their big sisters Aiya (3) and Nora (2).
Jack and Adam were both walking at 10 months, so when Jack suddenly stopped walking and reverted to crawling, his parents Kaila and Calvin Harapnuk were concerned.
Although they were worried, it wasn’t the crawling that troubled them most. Jack had stopped sleeping at night.
“He was fine during the day,” says Kaila. “But he wouldn’t lie down to go to sleep at night. One of us had to hold him upright or he’d cry all night.”
“We could see he wasn’t as happy, but we didn’t know what was going on,” says Calvin.
As the nights grew worse and Jack’s distress melded into days, the Harapnuks grew increasingly concerned and took him to see a pediatrician. The pediatrician thought Jack may be experiencing joint pain from a build-up of inflammation from a cold.
On the August long weekend in 2019, the Harapnuks were referred to emergency services at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. The consensus seemed to be that it was joint pain from a cold, but the neurologist on duty wasn’t comfortable sending Jack home, so he ordered an MRI for the next day.
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The MRI revealed a massive tumour encompassing the entire right side of his abdomen. Jack had stage 4 neuroblastoma. They started him on emergency chemotherapy the next day. The goal was to shrink the tumour with chemo and later remove it in surgery.
Jack would spend 200 days in the hospital, undergoing multiple surgeries and multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. There were many scary times when it looked like Jack may not make it — when his white blood cells were dangerously low or when his oxygen levels were plummeting, and he needed to be intubated in the PICU. These frightening moments were woven with interludes of hope.
Calvin would take a short leave from work while Kaila paused her home-based business. With four children under the age of five, juggling work, household duties, and extracurricular activities while also caring for a child with cancer was emotionally and logistically overwhelming.
Thanks to your support, our Pizza Nights and Cooking and Caring programs were there to help ease the load by giving Mom and Dad one less thing to worry about. And our Beads of Courage program gave Jack a colourful tangible way to understand all the medical procedures.
“Pizza Nights were such a gift,” recalls Kaila. “It was often the only thing Jack would eat. He couldn’t actually go right into the Sunshine Room, but his tube could stretch from his room to the doorway of the Sunshine Room, so parent volunteers from the Kids Cancer Care community used to come and sit outside the doorway and chat with us. It was our socialization for the week.”
“Those Cooking and Caring meals were huge!” says Calvin. “Kids Cancer Care knows what’s going to happen to a family when a child is diagnosed with cancer. As a new family, you have no idea what to expect but Kids Cancer Care does, and they think of everything.”
The Beads of Courage, funded by Kids Cancer Care with your support, is designed to help children understand what's happening to their bodies by giving them a tangible way to record their experience. Each bead represents a treatment or milestone on the journey. Jack’s Beads of Courage are exceptionally long because his cancer treatment was complex with lots of surprises and setbacks.
“Jack is so proud of his beads,” says Kaila.
“Pizza Nights were such a gift,” recalls Kaila. “It was often the only thing Jack would eat. He couldn’t actually go right into the Sunshine Room, but his tube could stretch from his room to the doorway of the Sunshine Room, so parent volunteers from the Kids Cancer Care community used to come and sit outside the doorway and chat with us. It was our socialization for the week.”
“Those Cooking and Caring meals were huge!” says Calvin. “Kids Cancer Care knows what’s going to happen to a family when a child is diagnosed with cancer. As a new family, you have no idea what to expect but Kids Cancer Care does, and they think of everything.”
The Beads of Courage, funded by Kids Cancer Care with your support, is designed to help children understand what's happening to their bodies by giving them a tangible way to record their experience. Each bead represents a treatment or milestone on the journey. Jack’s Beads of Courage are exceptionally long because his cancer treatment was complex with lots of surprises and setbacks.
“Jack is so proud of his beads,” says Kaila.
Caring for a child with cancer is like living in pandemic times. Families are forced to isolate for months at a time because a cold or flu could be fatal for a child with compromised immunity due to chemotherapy.
As the eldest child in the Harapnuk household, Aiya understood more about Jack’s cancer experience. Her role as the responsible big sister was reinforced and she became a bit of a worrier. Nora and Jack used to be their social butterflies, but these days, Jack stays close to Mom in social situations as he struggles a bit with separation anxiety.
With your support, our year-round camp and outreach programs offer families a safe and hygienic space to connect with others while having fun.
“We are so thankful to Kids Cancer Care for making it easy for us to do family things together and not worry about the financial burden,” says Kaila. “We were able to do the Polar Express with the whole family and take the girls to Theatre Calgary to see A Christmas Carol. Now more than ever we realize how important every minute is that we get to spend with all our kids as time is so valuable right now.”
The full extent of Jack’s side effects will develop over time. He has permanent hearing loss and while he is Adam’s identical twin, he will always be smaller. With so much time on treatment, Jack has some catching up to do. His balance and coordination are off and he gets tired more easily.
With your support, Jack is rebuilding his strength through one-to-one sessions with our Ph.D. exercise specialist. He also attends group exercise sessions with his siblings.
“They focus mostly on Jack at PEER, but his brother and sisters participate too,” says Calvin. “Jack will do it because they do.”
Thank you to the Flames Foundation for supporting our PEER program.
Working one-to-one or in group settings, our certified child life specialist uses medical play to help children cope with medical tests and procedures. She introduces positive coping skills to transform the child’s fear and anxiety into a sense of control and, even mastery, over their experience.
Thanks to your generous support, Aiya and Nora are working with our child life specialist to understand and process their feelings. They talk about cancer and Jack’s cancer treatments. They also make slime, stress balloons, and bubbles, which they use to help manage their feelings. Aiya and Nora also made paintings and a wooden car for Jack.
Thanks to you, our camp programs are helping the Harapnuk kids to forget about their worries and be kids again.
Aiya cherishes her newfound independence and the friendships she made at Camp Kindle. She came home with a Kindle Award, which she won for making sure everyone was involved in activities at camp.
Jack, Adam, and Nora attend our SunRise day camp. With his siblings nearby, Jack is socializing more with other kids and becoming a little more independent.
Our parent programs offer parents a chance to enjoy a rare date night while having fun connecting with other parents in similar circumstances.
“Calvin and I did the Parent Cooking Class at the Grey Eagle,” says Kaila. “It was really good. It was nice to spend time together as a couple again. We haven’t had much time as a couple.”
“We are so thankful to Kids Cancer Care for making it easy for us to do family things together and not worry about the financial burden,” says Kaila. “We were able to do the Polar Express with the whole family and take the girls to Theatre Calgary to see A Christmas Carol. Now more than ever we realize how important every minute is that we get to spend with all our kids as time is so valuable right now.”
The full extent of Jack’s side effects will develop over time. He has permanent hearing loss and while he is Adam’s identical twin, he will always be smaller. With so much time on treatment, Jack has some catching up to do. His balance and coordination are off and he gets tired more easily.
With your support, Jack is rebuilding his strength through one-to-one sessions with our Ph.D. exercise specialist. He also attends group exercise sessions with his siblings.
“They focus mostly on Jack at PEER, but his brother and sisters participate too,” says Calvin. “Jack will do it because they do.”
Thank you to the Flames Foundation for supporting our PEER program.
Working one-to-one or in group settings, our certified child life specialist uses medical play to help children cope with medical tests and procedures. She introduces positive coping skills to transform the child’s fear and anxiety into a sense of control and, even mastery, over their experience.
Thanks to your generous support, Aiya and Nora are working with our child life specialist to understand and process their feelings. They talk about cancer and Jack’s cancer treatments. They also make slime, stress balloons, and bubbles, which they use to help manage their feelings. Aiya and Nora also made paintings and a wooden car for Jack.
Thanks to you, our camp programs are helping the Harapnuk kids to forget about their worries and be kids again.
Aiya cherishes her newfound independence and the friendships she made at Camp Kindle. She came home with a Kindle Award, which she won for making sure everyone was involved in activities at camp.
Jack, Adam, and Nora attend our SunRise day camp. With his siblings nearby, Jack is socializing more with other kids and becoming a little more independent.
Our parent programs offer parents a chance to enjoy a rare date night while having fun connecting with other parents in similar circumstances.
“Calvin and I did the Parent Cooking Class at the Grey Eagle,” says Kaila. “It was really good. It was nice to spend time together as a couple again. We haven’t had much time as a couple.”
Research shows that childhood cancer survivors have lower educational and employment outcomes than their peers. Knowing that education and employment outcomes are key indicators for quality of life, we are developing education and leadership programs that give kids affected by cancer the best chance to create a brighter future.
Jack’s treatment took more than three years to complete. There were many touch-and-go moments. While he and his mother were at the hospital fighting for his life, his father and siblings were at home, missing Mom and Baby Jack. They missed precious time with their parents, so crucial to their development.
“We haven’t been able to spend focused time with our children, doing their ABCs and numbers with them,” says Kaila. “Our tutor Polina meets one-to-one with both Aiya and Nora every Saturday. She’s amazing! And the girls love her.”
Your support makes tutoring possible for kids affected by cancer and their siblings, so they don’t fall behind.
Our Education Support Program is presented in memory of Steven Fowler who loved school and loved learning. Thank you to the Fowler family for helping create brighter futures for children affected by cancer.
Jack hasn’t started school yet, but if he needs support in the classroom one day, our Cancer in the Classroom program will be there for him. Your support helps students to better understand the disease and how to support a classmate affected by cancer. Free to Alberta schools, the interactive presentation helps dispel the myths of cancer and fosters greater compassion and understanding in children.
With your generous commitment to children like the Harapnuks, we are able to build leadership elements into our programs. Kids gradually take on more challenging activities that build character and resilience.
Thanks to you, Kids Cancer Care abounds in leadership opportunities for youth — from various camp and leadership programs at Camp Kindle to the Teen Leadership Program and spokeskid program. Our leadership programs help youth to move beyond cancer by developing transferrable life skills and a humanitarian spirit to become leaders of tomorrow.
Jack wants to be a police officer when he grows up. Whichever career he chooses, Kids Cancer Care will be there with a Derek Wandzura Memorial Scholarship for post-secondary studies. Administered by the Calgary Foundation, the Kids Cancer Care scholarship fund has awarded $341,224 in scholarships to date.
Jack’s treatment took more than three years to complete. There were many touch-and-go moments. While he and his mother were at the hospital fighting for his life, his father and siblings were at home, missing Mom and Baby Jack. They missed precious time with their parents, so crucial to their development.
“We haven’t been able to spend focused time with our children, doing their ABCs and numbers with them,” says Kaila. “Our tutor Polina meets one-to-one with both Aiya and Nora every Saturday. She’s amazing! And the girls love her.”
Your support makes tutoring possible for kids affected by cancer and their siblings, so they don’t fall behind.
Our Education Support Program is presented in memory of Steven Fowler who loved school and loved learning. Thank you to the Fowler family for helping create brighter futures for children affected by cancer.
Jack hasn’t started school yet, but if he needs support in the classroom one day, our Cancer in the Classroom program will be there for him. Your support helps students to better understand the disease and how to support a classmate affected by cancer. Free to Alberta schools, the interactive presentation helps dispel the myths of cancer and fosters greater compassion and understanding in children.
With your generous commitment to children like the Harapnuks, we are able to build leadership elements into our programs. Kids gradually take on more challenging activities that build character and resilience.
Thanks to you, Kids Cancer Care abounds in leadership opportunities for youth — from various camp and leadership programs at Camp Kindle to the Teen Leadership Program and spokeskid program. Our leadership programs help youth to move beyond cancer by developing transferrable life skills and a humanitarian spirit to become leaders of tomorrow.
Jack wants to be a police officer when he grows up. Whichever career he chooses, Kids Cancer Care will be there with a Derek Wandzura Memorial Scholarship for post-secondary studies. Administered by the Calgary Foundation, the Kids Cancer Care scholarship fund has awarded $341,224 in scholarships to date.
335 kids experiencing the magic of summer camp with their buddies for the first time since COVID-19 hit in 2020.
5,244 delicious meals filling the bellies of hundreds of hungry campers at Camp Kindle.
183 individuals enjoying precious family time at Family Camp.
112 teens forging new friendships while building new skills at Teen Camp.
240 kids and parents in their PJs enjoying a trip to the North Pole on the Polar Express, singing Christmas carols, sipping hot chocolate, and munching cookies.
248 kids and parents taking in a day of tubing at our annual Snow Day.
128 kids and parents celebrating the bounty of autumn during our Fall Family Festival.
66 kids benefitting from 1,611 hours of tutoring support.
540 school kids exploring the meaning of cancer and how to support a classmate affected by the disease during 12 Cancer in the Classroom sessions.
38 new or refurbished laptops and tablets making learning possible at home and at the hospital.
98 kids learning to manage their feelings during 6 therapeutic play sessions with our child life specialist.
20 kids working one-to-one with our child life specialist to develop coping skills during their cancer experience.
109 kids rebuilding their strength and managing their treatment-related side effects during 400 therapeutic exercise sessions with our Ph.D. exercise specialist at PEER.
19 teens giving 1,045 hours, developing transferrable life skills, raising funds and giving back to the community.
11 childhood cancer survivors pursuing their dreams with a Derek Wandzura Memorial Scholarship at a post-secondary school of their choice.
2 CAR T cell therapies awaiting approval from Health Canada for a phase 1 clinical trial.
4 childhood cancer vaccines showing promise in pre-clinical studies at UCalgary.
1 vaccine for a fatal brain cancer DIPG pending approval from Health Canada for a phase 1 clinical trial.
685 volunteers giving 8,500+ hours to make our programs and events possible.
341 employees of corporate partners helping maintain camp during 16 Kindle Care Days.
7,745 donors and 351 monthly donors helping create brighter futures for children with cancer through their generosity.
5,458 individuals supporting 56 fundraising initiatives, helping families affected by childhood cancer to rebuild their lives.
2,685 individuals from 52 community groups renting Camp Kindle.
335 kids experiencing the magic of summer camp with their buddies for the first time since COVID-19 hit in 2020.
5,244 delicious meals filling the bellies of hundreds of hungry campers at Camp Kindle.
183 individuals enjoying precious family time at Family Camp.
112 teens forging new friendships while building new skills at Teen Camp.
240 kids and parents in their PJs enjoying a trip to the North Pole on the Polar Express, singing Christmas carols, sipping hot chocolate, and munching cookies.
248 kids and parents taking in a day of tubing at our annual Snow Day.
128 kids and parents celebrating the bounty of autumn during our Fall Family Festival.
66 kids benefitting from 1,611 hours of tutoring support.
540 school kids exploring the meaning of cancer and how to support a classmate affected by the disease during 12 Cancer in the Classroom sessions.
38 new or refurbished laptops and tablets making learning possible at home and at the hospital.
98 kids learning to manage their feelings during 6 therapeutic play sessions with our child life specialist.
20 kids working one-to-one with our child life specialist to develop coping skills during their cancer experience.
109 kids rebuilding their strength and managing their treatment-related side effects during 400 therapeutic exercise sessions with our Ph.D. exercise specialist at PEER.
19 teens giving 1,045 hours, developing transferrable life skills, raising funds and giving back to the community.
11 childhood cancer survivors pursuing their dreams with a Derek Wandzura Memorial Scholarship at a post-secondary school of their choice.
2 CAR T cell therapies awaiting approval from Health Canada for a phase 1 clinical trial.
4 childhood cancer vaccines showing promise in pre-clinical studies at UCalgary.
1 vaccine for a fatal brain cancer DIPG pending approval from Health Canada for a phase 1 clinical trial.
685 volunteers giving 8,500+ hours to make our programs and events possible.
341 employees of corporate partners helping maintain camp during 16 Kindle Care Days.
7,745 donors and 351 monthly donors helping create brighter futures for children with cancer through their generosity.
5,458 individuals supporting 56 fundraising initiatives, helping families affected by childhood cancer to rebuild their lives.
2,685 individuals from 52 community groups renting Camp Kindle.
Purchase your tickets for the Kids Cancer Care MEGA 50/50, April 20 through September 8. The more you buy, the bigger the jackpot grows. You win. Kids Win.
Buy TicketsFor the price of a coffee, you can be a superhero in the life of a child with cancer. Your monthly gifts will add up over time and make a lasting impact.
DonateJoin us for the 2023 Kids Cancer Care Cycle Challenge: Ride of Courage, July 14 to 16. A premier all-inclusive, 3-day cycling event. Ride with your cycling pals through the Alberta Foothills by day and recover around the campfire at Camp Kindle by night.
RegisterRegister your Big Brave event today! Cut, colour or shave your lid for a kid while raising funds and showing moral support for kids who lose their hair to chemotherapy.
RegisterBe a rebel with a cause. Head into the majestic Rockies for a 3-day motorbike adventure and make a huge difference in the lives of children affected by cancer.
Register
“The support of Kids Cancer Care has blown me away. It has been like the biggest hug possible in this whole nightmare of a journey.” – Jill
When your child is diagnosed with cancer, your world shatters. Everything is unfamiliar — medical technologies, medications, procedures. It’s frightening and overwhelming.
Sometimes you just need a hug. Kids Cancer Care is that hug.
Every family navigates a childhood cancer diagnosis in their own way. Kids Cancer Care has programs and services for every family and for every stage of the journey.
While health care professionals address the complex medical needs of children with cancer, our programs help address their psycho-social, emotional, physical, and cognitive needs. Most childhood cancer survivors live with at least one serious health condition such as hearing and vision impairments, growth and mobility issues, neurocognitive deficits, fertility problems, or heart and kidney complications. These conditions add another layer of complexity to their lives.
At Kids Cancer Care, we believe in the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of human compassion. Thanks to our generous community, our wrap-around programs and services are ready to embrace the whole family at every stage in the childhood cancer journey.
Thank you for being part of our vision to provide a cure for every child and care for every family.
Sincerely,
Christine McIver, M.S.M., LLD (Hon), CFRE
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Bob Yarish
Chair, Board of Directors
