🎃 A Halloween of Heart: At CHEO and Beyond This isn’t a weekly update — it’s a love letter to Halloween, to CHEO, and to the people who wrapped us in kindness when we needed it most. When we found out Chloë’s surgery would fall the same week as Halloween, she was devastated. She had everything planned — a costume, a temporary wheelchair outing, the whole thing. Knowing she’d be recovering from her amputation hit her hard. But the team at CHEO gently reassured her: Halloween would still be special. And they were right. Earlier that month, during a chemo week, Spirit Halloween visited the hospital. Chloë was invited to a playroom on another floor to shop for a costume with an incredible volunteer. They had everything — from newborn onesies to newly retired sizes, costumes for siblings, parents, and even staff. Chloë picked hers, and one for Charlotte too. If we’d wanted, we could’ve chosen something for ourselves. That generosity stayed with us. On October 31, Chloë got ...
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October 29 Update – Surgery Day Reflections
🗓️ October 30th Update – What Surgery Day was like, and Day After Reflections Mood: So many emotions, all at once — devastated, angry, cautiously optimistic, grateful, humbled, hopeful. Chloë prepared as much as anyone can, let alone a 16-year-old facing something this big. We’ve been moved to tears by the outpouring of love and generosity from our community — messages, meals, cards, quiet gestures that remind us we’re not alone. At home, we’ve tried to soak in every moment together — the four of us (six if you count the dogs), breathing non-hospital air, sleeping in her own bed, playong a board game the four of us, colouring with some recently gifted art supplies. Chloë had a few things she wanted to do during what she called her “farewell to the foot ' weekend.This included a visit to the falls, the bridge over which we cross over every time we go to the hospital, and we did our best to make them happen. It’s been emotional, but also grounding. Medical ...
🗓️ Holding On and Moving Forward — October 4–21 Mood: Where do we begin? In general, for all four of us, the mood is one of determination and fight. Last night I quoted a line from one of Chloë favourite movie series (The Hunger Games) — “remember who the enemy is.” That being the cancer, not those at the hospital or closer to home. The weather and fall colours here in the Ottawa Valley have been so been so lovely of late that we’ve been able to get outside in her wheelchair for rolls around the block, taking in all the Halloween decorations around the neighbourhood. We all feel immense gratitude — to our families, our friends, colleagues past and present, classmates and their parents, both the girls schools and our community — beautiful Barrhaven, for holding us up through all of this. Medical Update: The reason for the delay in this entry has been how incredibly busy these last few weeks have been. Chloë was discharged from one of her two consecutive chemo weeks right ...
📰 Cancer in the News From historic donations to new clinical trials, these headlines reflect the momentum behind pediatric cancer research. Each story carries a ripple—through hospital rooms, family kitchens, and quiet moments of waiting. Here’s what’s making waves. 🧸 Crochet monkeys educate and comfort children at CHEO Medical students at the University of Ottawa are crocheting “Medical Monkeys” with custom prosthetics to help kids understand their procedures. Each monkey reflects a child’s experience—offering comfort, representation, and a gentle way to prepare for care. 🦴 Teen bone cancer survivor credits Terry Fox research A young Canadian shares how osteosarcoma research funded by the Terry Fox Foundation helped save her life. 🌱 Terry Fox-funded research offers new hope for osteosarcoma patients A new wave of studies supported by the Terry Fox Foundation is reshaping the future of bone cancer care. 🧪 Epigenetic breakthroughs in ...
🌟 Words & Wonder These are the quotes that lift us up, steady us, and remind us what courage looks like. Some are submitted by readers, others are family favorites—but all speak to the heart of this journey. ✦ ✦ ✦ “Victory belongs to the most persevering.” — Napoleon Bonaparte “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” — Submitted anonymously “Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.” — Nathaniel Hawthorne “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” — Arthur Ashe “Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life.” — Khalil Gibran “What does not kill us makes us stronger.” — Friedrich Nietzsche “Sometimes you have to let life turn you upside down so you can learn how to live right side up.” — Anonymous “Don’t be afraid to be great.” — Anonymous “Be the reason someone smiles today.” — Anonymous “You gain strength, courage, and co...
💡 Did You Know? These facts rotate in our sidebar widget—but here they are all together, for anyone curious, caring, or just wanting to know Chloë a little better. ✦ ✦ ✦ 🎗️ The gold ribbon is the international symbol for childhood cancer awareness. 🧠 Every 3 minutes, a child is diagnosed with cancer worldwide. 📅 September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. 🌟 Survivors of childhood cancer often grow up to inspire and support others. 💜 Chloë’s favorite color is purple — bold, beautiful, and full of magic. 🎨 Chloë loves bright colors and fun designs — this blog honors her spirit. 📚 She’s a huge fan of the Wings of Fire book series and anything about Greek mythology. 📺 Her favorite shows include Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, Owl House, and The Rookie. 🎬 She loves the Hunger Games movies and the How to Train Your Dragon series — fierce and full of heart. 🌮 Her favorite foods? Tacos, fajitas, and jelly beans ...