YOU are igniting a sense of joy and curiosity in young people
“I remember one night at Camp Kindle, sleeping in the tipis. I got up to go to the bathroom. There were many stars in the sky, and it was so quiet, so comforting. After all the crap you go through with cancer, you realize you’re still alive, and you get to see the stars! And you realize there is something so much bigger than you, and the whole point is to share it with others.”— Jo Pricca
And sharing is exactly what Jo is doing. She’s sharing her celestial vision with other kids battling cancer by sponsoring a treehouse in the new Shane Homes Treehouse Village through the Camp Kindle Expansion and Accessibility Project.
Jo and her family first encountered Kids Cancer Care in 2017 when she was diagnosed with very high-risk leukemia. After nearly four years of treatment, she was finally on the road to healing and recovery, just in time for the pandemic to hit, making travel with her Make a Wish trip impossible. That’s when Jo decided to turn her Make a Wish into a gift for children facing cancer.
The Make a Wish Foundation jumped at the opportunity to partner with Kids Cancer Care to realize Jo’s unique wish. In 2024, when we launched the Camp Kindle Expansion and Accessibility Project, others stepped up too, turning a treehouse into a Treehouse Village sponsored by Shane Homes. The Calgary North Hill Lions Club, Essex Lease Financial Corporation, the Young family and Optics Lighting and Control Ltd. each sponsored a treehouse. Qualico will offer support with donated materials. Working with our landscape architect the TULA Project, each donor shared their vision for their treehouse:
The Calgary North Hill Lions Club envisioned a cozy Lion’s Lair with a fun, Lion King aesthetic.
Essex Lease Financial Corporation imagined a construction playground with sand pits and construction equipment, such as backhoes.
Optics Lighting and Controls Ltd. explored a nautical theme with sails, ropes, knots and seafaring instruments.
The Young family envisioned a playful imaginarium for unstructured play, imagination and learning.
Jo conjured up a celestial night sky of dark navy blues, golds and crystals. Adorned with kitty cats, butterflies and dragonflies, the space will feature big comfy cushions under a dome of stars and planets.
As a teenager, Jo actively participated in Kids Cancer Care programs such as tutoring, PEER exercise and the Teen Leadership Program. But it was Camp Kindle that captured her imagination and heart.
“The first time I saw camp was for Mother’s Day Brunch,” she says. “We drove up and we saw the sign, the trees, the gates, the high ropes, the pool and the archery range. I saw the expanse of camp and thought, ‘Holy crap! I get to go here this summer!’”
Jo’s parents Nadene and Omar Pricca stepped up big time for the construction project, topping up Jo’s gift, which Nadene’s employer Ovintiv later matched. The Priccas also sponsored a bench in Christine’s Conservatory, the outdoor percussion playground to be installed this spring. Nadene and Omar made the donation in honour of all Kids Cancer Care families.
“I hope future kids fall in love with Camp Kindle like I did,” says Jo. “I hope it feels like home and the treehouse is part of that home.”
From blueprint to reality: building the Shane Homes Treehouse Village
Each year, Calgary business leaders test their physical and mental stamina in a day-long challenge at Camp Kindle. Challengers and kid coaches (all childhood cancer patients or survivors) will tackle a series of challenges to test their team-building and communication skills along with their creativity and sense of fun. Each team is committed to raising between $10,000 and $15,000 for Kids Cancer Care.
The biggest challenge for our challengers is to raise funds for children impacted by cancer. For more information and to participate, please email Laura Letef or call 403 984 1225.
The High Hopes Challenge is a Kids Cancer Care signature event.
“When we were thrown into this cancer world, we were disoriented and lost. Kids Cancer Care was our only anchor, allowing us to stop spinning and stop spiraling into despair…. We are so grateful for Kids Cancer Care.” — Amanda
Easton was just finishing up grade four in June 2023 when he started experiencing neck pain and nausea. He’d taken a hit to the head from a soccer ball a few weeks earlier, so his parents Amanda and Jeff were worried it was a concussion. When his parents learned that Easton was also experiencing vision problems and seeing double, they were even more concerned. What they didn’t know is that with morning vomiting, Easton was showing signs of a pediatric brain cancer. After several doctors’ appointments and a series of tests, including an ultrasound, X-ray, blood work, and an eye exam, the Moppett-Beatches were still no more knowledgeable about their son’s condition.
One morning, Easton woke up with neck pain so severe it brought him to tears and later vomiting. His parents rushed him to emergency. A CAT scan, followed by an MRI, confirmed that Easton had a brain tumour. Their world shattered.
Within a week, Easton had undergone two brain surgeries to remove the tumour. They were intense, risky procedures as the tumour was dangerously close to his brain stem. A biopsy of the tumour revealed that Easton had medulloblastoma — an aggressive pediatric brain cancer. The tumour was the size of a golf ball.
“Words cannot express what it was like to wait during this time,” says Amanda. “We held his hand in the PICU until the next morning at 9 am, just waiting for him to wake up, to talk, so we could finally breathe again.”
Jeff agrees: “It was the worst news. We could hardly bear to tell him. Two brain surgeries in one week. It was almost unbearable for all of us.”
During the second surgery, the surgeon was able to remove 100 per cent of the tumour. That was the good news.
The bad news was that Easton could not move after the first surgery. That would mean another 21 days in the hospital, relearning to swallow, drink, eat, sit and walk.
Easton was barely walking again when they had to leave for Jacksonville, Florida where he received 30 rounds of proton radiation. Later that fall, Easton was back in Calgary, beginning a six-month chemotherapy protocol.
After more than a year of invasive medical procedures, harsh side effects, and intense fear and uncertainty, Easton finally treatment. Amanda recalls the day fondly: “He burst into tears as his class took a field trip to surprise him in the backyard, ringing bells to mark his last chemo treatment.”
That support meant everything to Easton, and with your support, Kids Cancer Care could also be there for him.
Working one-to-one with Easton, our child life specialist co-created and co-presented a customized Cancer in the Classroom session for his grade five class. Thanks to your support, this unique program helps school children understand cancer and its impact on their classmate. Fostering greater understanding and empathy in school children, Cancer in the Classroom helps prevent bullying and builds character and school spirit.
With each session, the class receives a Monkey in My Chair who occupies the desk of the sick child while they’re away. The monkey offers school children a tangible and playful focus around which they can interact.
In Easton’s class, the big question was always, “What hat are you bringing for the monkey?” When Easton was too sick to come in, his sister Ellie would bring in the hat for him. Since Easton is a big hockey fan and player, the monkey often wore a Tampa Bay Lightening cap and a Team Easton sweatshirt. His family created Team Easton sweatshirts and later sold them at the school. The initiative increased understanding and support for Easton while raising $5,550 for Kids Cancer Care.
“About 75 per cent of his school happily wears their Team Easton t-shirts daily,” says Amanda. “It was a wonderful way for the school to think of Easton and remember him as he would be leaving school again in October for six months of chemotherapy.”
You’re helping kids rebuild their strength
Your support helped Easton rebuild his strength through our PEER exercise program. Working one-to-one with our Ph.D. exercise specialist, Easton gradually returned to his former self.
“These weekly sessions have helped Easton regain his strength, balance, coordination and most importantly his playfulness!” says Amanda.
Designed by a team of pediatric cancer care professionals, PEER helps children combat the deconditioning effects of cancer and its harsh treatments while reducing side effects.
You’re helping the whole family
While Easton was busy at PEER, Ellie was busy at PLUS, a five-week program for siblings. Amid the chaos of a child’s cancer diagnosis and treatment, undiagnosed siblings can feel left out and alone. Thanks to your support, PLUS was there to offer Ellie a safe space to explore her feelings and ask questions.
You’re giving families the respite they need
Your generosity also provided the whole Moppett-Beatch family a weekend away at Family Camp where they connected with other families and participated in an array of activities from archery to ropes, giant swing, and arts and crafts.
“We had an awesome time,” says Amanda. “Easton and Ellie made friends and LOVED the camp counsellors.”
“When we were thrown into this cancer world, we were disoriented and lost,” says Amanda. “Kids Cancer Care has been an anchor for us, allowing us to stop spinning and stop spiralling into despair. A ‘village’ for us to settle into, as we slowly stopped to breathe, recover and learn in this new world. We are so grateful for Kids Cancer Care and will continue to do everything we can to support, advocate and fundraise for such a wonderful local charity supporting cancer families.”
Thank you for being on Team Easton and for being part of our village.
Special thanks to the Flames Foundation for supporting our PEER exercise program and Canada Post for igniting our PLUS program.
If you don’t already know Carolina Oxtoby, you soon will. She has been championing Kids Cancer Care for over two decades and she’s not showing any signs of slowing down. Quite the opposite. As chair of the fundraising cabinet for the Camp Kindle Expansion and Accessibility Campaign, she and her hardworking cabinet have raised a staggering $7.66 million over the past seven months.
As former president and CEO of Heritage Pointe Properties, Carolina is known for her forward-thinking can-do attitude in business and philanthropy. She is the visionary behind the award-winning community on the southern edge of Calgary that offers the best in rural and urban living with a world-class 27-hole golf course.
Carolina’s commitment to Kids Cancer Care was first ignited when she and Christine McIver, founder of Kids Cancer Care and capital campaign advisor, met at a charity golf tournament banquet and knew they had an instant connection.
“Christine opened her heart and world to me,” says Carolina. “The incredible and emotional story of her son Derek who she lost to brain cancer. It inspired me to learn more about the tragic illness that forever changes the lives of children and devastates their parents and siblings.” That night, a spark was lit in Carolina that she has generously shared with Kids Cancer Care ever since.
In 2013, Carolina participated in the High Hopes Challenge, an annual fundraising event that tests the stamina of Calgary business leaders who take on a series of challenges at Camp Kindle. The carefully selected participants were challenged to raise a minimum of $10,000. Carolina raised nearly $30,000.
The High Hopes Challenge pairs each business leader with a child affected by cancer who literally shows them the ropes at camp. Carolina was paired with Kayla, a teenage girl who was battling brain cancer while her mother was battling relapsed breast cancer. This time it was terminal.
A cancer survivor herself, Carolina went above and beyond to help Kayla’s family. Friends of the family established a Carpe Diem Fund to ease the financial burden for the family.
“We were three musketeers and were invincible, knowing that Shannon’s life was fading, and Kayla’s future was uncertain,” says Carolina. “We had matching Carpe Diem tattoos to seal our bond and our love for each other.”
Shannon and her children Kayla and Tyler lived deeply and richly until she took her last breath in January 2016. Kayla has since graduated from the University of Lethbridge where she studied psychology with the help of a Derek Wandzura Memorial Scholarship from Kids Cancer Care.
Shannon and her children Kayla and Tyler lived deeply and richly until she took her last breath in January 2016. Kayla has since graduated from the University of Lethbridge where she studied psychology with the help of a Derek Wandzura Memorial Scholarship from Kids Cancer Care.
“Kayla has climbed many mountains and today remains cancer-free,” says Carolina. “Her journey has been inspirational with her courage and determination.”
These days, Carolina is pouring her heart into the Camp Kindle Expansion and Accessibility Campaign for children like Kayla. The project will expand capacity, enhance outdoor and indoor program spaces and improve accessibility for children with mobility issues. It includes the following buildings and structures:
A multi-purpose building with an arts and craft workshop, teaching and learning kitchen, a wellness hub and collaboration stations to ignite creativity, culinary innovation, connection and collaboration;
Staff residences to look after the hardworking staff who care for the children and Camp Kindle operations;
A treehouse village that will stir curiosity and wonder in young minds, inspiring imaginative play, active learning and movement;
An outdoor percussion playground named Christine’s Conservatory that will offer a creative outlet for future musicians and composers while honouring the 30-year legacy of Kids Cancer Care’s founder Christine McIver; and
Landscaping and accessibility enhancements such as switchbacks instead of stairs to connect the Upper and Lower Kindle Villages.
Carolina’s experiences as a cancer survivor and a High Hopes Challenger give her precious insight into the importance of cancer camps in kids’ lives, uniquely qualifying her to lead the campaign.
“Camp restores childhoods,” says Carolina. “It gives them opportunities to develop lifelong friendships and skills that sustain them as they return to the day-to-day realities of cancer and its late effects.”
Tracey Martin, CEO of Kids Cancer Care agrees: “Children with cancer miss out on a lot, like playdates, school, sports and other extra-curricular activities — experiences that are essential for healthy brain development. Without these early life experiences, kids affected by cancer can fall behind, leading to gaps in skills and development. Camp helps reconnect these kids to their childhoods.”
Childhood cancer survivors also live with at least one chronic or life-threatening health condition related to their cancer treatments. These conditions grow worse with age and without any apparent plateau. They also experience higher rates of depression and anxiety and have lower outcomes in school and work. Kids Cancer Care programs are designed to address these cancer-related conditions to help level the playing field for them.
“I give thanks that I was diagnosed with cancer as an adult rather than a child who has not had the privilege of growing up without the constraints and challenges of this terrible disease that robs them of their innocent youth,” says Carolina. “This is why I volunteer my time and offer what I can to make the world a better place for all the vulnerable children and families who hear the words: ‘You have cancer.’”
“I am so blessed to finish my working career with Kids Cancer Care by doing something I love, that is raising funds, for a place I love — Camp Kindle — with a friend I love, my dear Carolina!” says Christine. “ Together we enjoy nothing more than sharing the campaign plans with prospective donors and watching them transform into donors.”
Carolina feels the same way: “I am honoured to chair the capital campaign. My heartfelt thanks go out to the many business colleagues, friends and supporters for their incredible generosity. They are helping shape the lives of young people. Together we can continue to offer a safe sanctuary where children with cancer can escape and just be kids. I encourage everyone to be part of this magical place. I know I will as I continue to share the gift of caring and support.”
“We are deeply grateful to the generous individuals, businesses, government and construction partners who have embraced our mission to provide the best care and support for kids with cancer by connecting them with their childhood through the Camp Kindle project,” says Tracey.
Kids Cancer Care expects to finish the project by the fall of 2025.
To support the Camp Kindle Expansion and Accessibility Project DONATE BELOW.
Thank you for sharing your spark with Kids Cancer Care, Carolina. You are making Camp Kindle even more magical and accessible for kids affected by cancer.
Special thanks to members of the capital fundraising cabinet:
Carolina Oxtoby
Bill Black
Lyle Edwards
Mark Hodgson
Thilo Kaufmann
Christine McIver
We’re thrilled to announce that Shane Heidt of Calgary is our 2024 MEGA 50/50 winner. With YOUR support, the MEGA 50/50 jackpot grew to more than $35,000, which means Shane is taking home $17,530! Congratulations to Shane and his whole family!
Shane’s son Colton was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in January 2024. Colton’s parents Shane and Lori noticed that his cheek had started to swell. After a couple of visits to the hospital and an emergency dental appointment, a biopsy was scheduled. After the biopsy on January 11, the Heidt family learned it was cancer! It was their worst nightmare, and their world shattered. Colton was admitted to the Alberta Children’s Hospital on January 21 and had surgery to install an access port under his skin the very next day. The doctors also checked his spinal fluid and bone marrow for cancer. Thankfully, those tests came back negative! Colton started his first round of chemotherapy on January 23 and by the end of the week, his cheek swelling was already starting to go down. Much to his parents’ amazement Colton did not have too many side effects. He would feel crappy the day after his chemo session but would quickly bounce back.
Kids Cancer Care was there for the family right from diagnosis. “Kids Cancer Care was a light in the darkest moment of our lives,” says Shane.
After 8 long months of being at the hospital every week, Colton is now doing great. He has transitioned to the maintenance phase of treatment. This means fewer trips to the hospital. Now he only visits once a month for blood work and every 3 months for intravenous chemo. Colton is still taking oral chemo every day but is back to school and his friends.
“This will be our new normal until March 2026 when he can finally ring that bell and say he is cancer-free. There will still be visits to the hospital for the next few years to make sure nothing has come back, but the good news is there is a 95% chance with his type of cancer and his treatment that he will be cured. We never thought in a million years that we would be in this situation. We now know how important foundations like Kids Cancer Care are. We are truly thankful for all the programs we’ve been able to access. Helping other families in their need is rewarding in itself but winning the 50/50 makes this a full-circle journey for us. We cannot thank Kids Cancer Care enough.”
THANK YOU for buying our MEGA 50/50 tickets! The funds raised through this 50/50 will directly benefit kids and families impacted by cancer – so the real winners from this raffle are the kids and we are truly grateful! A HUGE shoutout to Daytona Homes for being our incredible partners and supporters this year!
On Tuesday, September 17, the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta kicked off an $8.9 million construction project at Camp Kindle. Minister Jason Nixon announced that the province is supporting the project with a $500,000 grant from the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services. Families, donors, volunteers and partners joined in on the groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the milestone.
The Essex Lease 50/50 fundraiser is part of their annual Charity Golf Classic, supporting Kids Cancer Care. Over the past four years, Essex is proud to have raised over $300,000 for our programs and services supporting families affected by childhood cancer. With your help, we hope to surpass last year’s total of over $140,000. Thank you and good luck!
This June we celebrated an incredible group of young adults as we awarded them Derek Wandzura Memorial Scholarship. This year, we awarded the largest dollar amount to each individual to date. This is the 16th year of this scholarship and with this year’s recipients, we have awarded over $468,000 in scholarships to 218 deserving young people.
Over the past 16 years, we have seen the scholarship fund grow and impact many lives. This endowed fund, administered by the Calgary Foundation, is at over $1 million today! It will be here for future generations and is meant to help level the playing field for childhood cancer survivors. Pediatric cancer leaves its mark through a litany of physical, emotional, cognitive, and psychosocial late effects. This scholarship is our way of showing that we believe in each childhood cancer survivor and want to help give them the best start as they take the next step in their life.
Here are our 2024 scholarship recipients.
Zoe McCoy
Diagnosed with bilateral Wilms tumor, Zoe McCoy found solace in drawing, reading and writing, diving deep into books that allowed her to experience adventure. Being creative was and remains her escape today when she is not working toward her goals. As she grew older, Zoe fell in love with public speaking and justice. Going into her second year of political science at the University of Calgary, Zoe hopes to become a lawyer one day. She wants to represent and empower underprivileged people.
Jada Biso
Jada Biso didn’t learn that she was a cancer survivor until she was around 7 or 8 years old, having been diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma at such a young age. Growing resilient from the impact that cancer adds to one’s identity, she had so many positive experiences that came from Kids Cancer Care. Being a part of the Kids Cancer Care community for 10 years, she believes the organization has helped shape her into the woman she is today. Attending Camp Kindle, being an active member of the Teen Leadership Program, and now working as a camp counsellor at Camp Kindle, Jada has come full circle as an active member in this community. She has learned that being a good leader provides others with opportunities to be a leader themselves. Jada has a goal of studying social work or youth care, taking her leadership skills and her desire to inspire others to be leaders themselves.
Keira Neal
Keira Neal was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcomaat age 1. After beating the cancer with only a 20% chance of survival, adapting to a prosthetic leg, and relearning to walk and run over and over again, Kiera still managed to fill her life with activity with soccer, ice hockey, mountain biking, downhill skiing, gymnastics, and attending Camp Kindle for several summers. At the same time, Keira has been an avid public speaker, sharing her story as a keynote speaker at the Winnipeg Health and Wellness Expo hosted by McFadden Benefits and at the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine. She has served as an ambassador with the Alberta Children’s Hospital for over 15 years, and even spoke at the Pyeong Chang Paralympics in South Korea, raising awareness and hope for those with disabilities. Alongside her volunteer work, Keira is a student athlete who has maintained honours and plans to attend the University of Victoria School of Business with the hopes of pursing law later in her educational career.
Nathan Chroney
Nathan Chorney was diagnosed with medulloblastoma at the age of 10. Now at 21, he is looking forward to setting out on his career path. With an interest in IT and gaming, Nathan hopes to attend an in-person IT Support Specialist Certificate Program through Momentum. He believes the program will serve as a stepping stone to explore potential jobs in cybersecurity, systems administration, etc. The possibilities are endless. Nathan’s hope is to build a rewarding and fulfilling career in IT.
Evan Arora
Evan Arora opened his essay with a quote from Aristotle, saying, “we may jointly strive for the greater good of our planet and the people who live in it via civic involvement.” Civic involvement is clearly important to Evan given the volunteer work he does in his community. After being diagnosed with leukemia in 2019, Evan has taken every opportunity to volunteer wherever he can in the hopes of having a positive influence on others. He has taken on tutor roles through the Calgary Public Library, helping individuals in computer programming and basic reading, and volunteering as a reading buddy. We have no doubt you will bring great things to others affected by childhood cancer. Evan will be taking his knowledge and positive outlook on life, to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering while continuing to impactothers through his many volunteer roles.
Sophia Majko
When Sophia was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, her life consisted of growing up in the hospital. The highlights came from time spent with her sister, keeping her company and bringing familiarity and a sense of safety. Growing up in the hospital, along with a passion for innovation and problem solving in classes such as math and chemistry, shaped Sophia and her educational goals for the future. Sophia witnessedthe power of medical advancements and the dedication of doctors, which fueled her passion for engineering. She wants to contribute to this by developing innovative treatments, tools or machines, offering the gift of life she herself received. She hopes to do this in a Bachelor’s of Science and/or Engineering.
Giselle Pimienta
Giselle Pimienta says that having Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis helped her meet incredible people and create fond memories that still sustain her today. It also ignited positive traits such as perseverance, positive attitude, a loving and caring nature and hope in humanity. Giselle was part of the Kids Cancer Care’s Leadership Development Program at Camp Kindle in 2022 and 2023. This leadership program gave her the opportunity to lead camper groups at camp and ignited in her a desire to pursue a 5-year dual-major in Education and Spanish. Her goal is to become a teacher who instills the qualities she has learned at camp and seen in others. Giselle aims to change lives through her volunteer work with AIESEC, an organization that focuses on empowering young people to make a progressive social impact.
Alyssa Wolfram
Growing up on a farm and being a young woman interested in the trades, Alyssa Wolfram has always had a get-it-done attitude. Diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma in middle school, followed by a relapse last year, Alyssa brought her winning attitude to her physical health and academics. She held fast to her goal of finishing high school on a strong note, doing her utmost to not miss school while actively receiving radiation and chemotherapy. From a young age, Alyssa has loved working on vehicles. She’s planning to attend Lethbridge College to pursue a career as a heavy-duty mechanic. It’s so wonderful to see a strong, confident young woman step into a profession traditionally reserved for men.
Mariam Al-Ghafaji
Mariam Al-Ghafaji cannot wait to find her dream job and step into the workforce while reaching her education and career goals. Having a leukemia diagnosis and living with the long-term effects has been a constant struggle and a feeling of being left behind. Hoping to pursue a business administration diploma at SAIT, Mariam is excited to find a job where she is not feeling ‘left out’ due to her health. She looks forward to supporting and paying it forward to her family and herself. Mariam’s big heart is what will propel her into a great career and we can’t wait to see what that looks like!
A heartfelt congratulations to all our outstanding scholarship recipients, you have earned it! We can’t wait to see what you do in the next chapters of your lives and from everyone here at Kids Cancer Care GOOD LUCK!
At nine, Nyah was already a brilliant soccer player. Steadily working her way up to the top teams for her age group, soccer was all she imagined for her future.
Nyah loved school and always prided herself on not missing school, so when she experienced a nosebleed before school one morning, she didn’t let that stop her. Later that day, while running in PE class, she experienced excruciating stomach pain, but she soldiered on. That was until her teacher noticed and asked her to stop. That day, she was sent home early and spent her afternoon in bed. Her pain got worse. It hurt even to stand up straight and after a few hours her family knew she should be taken to the hospital. Nyah never imagined she would end up at the hospital that night. As the night wore on and more tests were run, it became evident that it was more than just a gastrointestinal infection which they initially thought it to be.
At about 11 PM that night an oncologist walked into her room and said the words she was never prepared to hear “Acute lymphoblastic leukemia”! Nyah had just turned 10 and was in for the fight of her life. The fall of 2017 her life turned upside down!
Nyah was old enough to understand what was going on and what her treatment options were. She was admitted the next day for a central line, so they could start her on chemotherapy right away. A central line is a large IV inserted under the skin of your chest where nurses can administer medications. She was put on a 2.5-year treatment protocol with different cycles and different types of chemotherapy. Some cycles were easier and some harder. Despite her ongoing treatment, Nyah stayed active. She continued with soccer and speed skating as much as she could . As the treatment progressed it became harder and harder to keep up with her peers since the chemo was draining to her body.
Another part of her treatment was lumbar punctures and bone marrow aspirations. The bone marrow test was done to see if she was in remission, but unfortunately, she wasn’t. Nyah had to go in for an extra cycle of chemo to finally get into remission. She had many side-effects from the treatment – a drop in her blood levels, extremely brittle, and others. It was in January 2020 that the doctors removed her central line.
However, Nyah’s treatment-free life was short-lived as she relapsed later that year in September 2020. After more chemo sessions, she relapsed again. It was concluded that the only treatment that might work for Nyah was Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT). During a BMT doctors administer high doses of chemo to destroy the child’s cancer cells. The problem is that it also wipes out all the healthy cells and the child’s immune system. This leaves the child vulnerable to infection and Nyah was no exception. On May 13, 2021, she got her bone marrow transplant and was deemed cancer-free!
It wasn’t long before she developed graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) — a complex side effect of transplantation in which the donor cells attack the host’s body. For Nyah, it was the muscles of her ribcage that were under attack, restricting the expansion of her ribcage and capacity to breathe. No wonder she was always tired, sleeping 12 to 13 hours at a time and still exhausted.
Fortunately, with YOUR support, Kids Cancer Care was with Nyah every step of the way. Throughout her treatment, she has been involved in our PEER exercise program. This program has helped Nyah stay active. She would do PEER sessions online through Zoom, sometimes from home and sometimes from the hospital. Our one-to-one PEER sessions with our PhD exercise specialist helped Nyah strengthen her cardiovascular capacity to improve her breathing.
Nyah has also attended Camp Kindle. “Camp gave me space to simply be a kid and forget about any treatment worries while knowing I had nurses nearby and all my medication with me. My favourite memory was when my group and other campers gathered around the campfire and chatted after the dance on the final day.”
Kids affected by cancer miss out on a lot. Sometimes there are developmental or skills gaps because they have been so isolated and have missed so much school, sports, and extracurricular activities. Our Teen Leadership Program helps address these gaps. In grade 10, Nyah joined our Teen Leadership Program (TLP). “TLP has given me a community I love,” says Nyah. “It not only teaches us practical life skills like leadership or sales, but many of the workshops prepare us for the future.”
While Nyah is looking to the future, her medical journey is far from over. When conventional GvHD medications failed, Nyah faced the only treatment remaining — extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP). During ECP, a specialized machine separates the patient’s white blood cells from the rest of the blood and treats them with a UVA light. This stops the white blood cells from attacking the host when returned to the body.
While it’s still too early to say whether ECP is working for Nyah, and she has let go of her soccer dreams, the 16-year-old girl remains steadfast and upbeat. “As bad as cancer is, it’s given me so much. I even know what I want to do for my career now — pediatric oncology. I want everyone to know just how impactful this organization has been for me.”
Thank you for making our programs possible for youth like Nyah. You’re giving them a community and a purpose.
What our families are saying
Before cancer, I was reserved and timid, but now look at me! Look at what I have been through and what I know I can do. Kids Cancer Care is helping to shape the person I am today.
– cancer survivor
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What our families are saying
Kids Cancer Care has given us another family, one who understands what we are going through, a support system for when we are tired. And it gives us a chance to give back too.
– parent
What our families are saying
Cancer is scary. It changes the way you look at the world and how you feel about yourself. By being with other kids like me, I felt a new normal and I feel like I have a place in this world again.
– camper
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On Canada Day 2020, Ric McIver and Kris Perraton shaved off their decades-old mustaches to raise funds for Kids Cancer Care. During their fundraising campaign, the Simpson family and two anonymous donors stepped up to encourage more Calgarians to support the cause.
Each of the three donors offered to match donations dollar for dollar to a maximum of $100,000, if Ric and Kris reached their fundraising goal of $100,000. Ric and Kris far-surpassed their fundraising goal and secured an additional $300,000, bringing the fundraising total to over $400,000.
Still reeling from the financial fallout of the global pandemic, Kids Cancer Care is rebuilding the foundation from the ground up. These dollars will help the foundation to continue offering its online programming to chidren and familes during the pandemic and help the foundation in its post-COVID-19 recovery. Check out some of the media coverage below.
