What started as a normal day on Friday, August 31, quickly become one of the worst in lives. Over the past few days our daughter Evelyn had been complaining of pain in her side, so I decided to take her into the Alberta Children’s Hospital. At worst, we thought, it might be appendicitis or something. 

Hi, I’m Ryane. I know I may look like a normal, active 15-year-old, but I am not.

I have learned over the months that living in fear of the what-ifs, while necessary, is also a step backwards for our family. We almost lost Michael once. The what-ifs force us to lose him in our minds over and over again. So, for now, we focus on today. Michael is meeting his milestones and brings us happiness and joy every single day.

At the age of just three and a half months, my son Carter was put on the list for a heart transplant and, at five and a half months, he received a new heart. We were overjoyed. But then this past August, at the age of nine, Carter was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma – a cancer that […]

My son Jaxon was just four years old in 2017 when he was diagnosed with medium to high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It was a shock to me. What I initially assumed to be growing pains was actually deteriorating bone marrow density and a spinal compression fracture. Whoever heard of a preschooler with a broken back? I had no idea what lay ahead. I was terrified.