🗓️ Week of August 25: Back to Chemo, Back to School

Mood: Juggling. Tense. Trying to balance two very different worlds.

Medical Update: Chloë returned to CHEO for her second round of chemotherapy. The port-a-cath was working well, and we were getting more familiar with the routine—bloodwork, hydration, pre-meds, and the long hours of infusion. The side effects were more noticeable this time: fatigue hit harder, and nausea lingered longer. We’re learning how to adjust, how to advocate, and how to ask for what she needs.

Emotional Check-In: Where has the month gone? Hard to believe it’s already the last week of summer. Chloë’s cousins on her dad’s side have already returned to school, and we’re feeling both “back to school” and “back to chemo” anxieties. Definitely not what we anticipated at the start of the summer. The reality of these last few weeks has been sinking in—day by day, appointment by appointment. Chloë continues to lose her hair, so we’ve been trying to find fun wigs and hats to boost her spirits. Being a teenager is hard enough, let alone being one with cancer.

Education Update: This week, we also met virtually with Chloë, her Interlink nurse, her high school guidance counsellor, and one of the school’s vice principals—someone who knew Chloë from her time as principal at the nearby middle school. School has been a major source of stress and anxiety for Chloë. She’s realizing she won’t be able to attend in person at all this year, and that she’ll be taking half the number of courses per semester—two instead of four. The impact this might have on graduating with her classmates is already on her mind, even though that milestone is still a year and a half away. We felt incredibly supported during the meeting, and Chloë is cautiously optimistic about trying the new e-learning format.

Moments of Light: Chloë received a handmade card from a friend at school—simple, sweet, and full of love. It made her smile. We also had a quiet afternoon at home where she and Charlotte watched a movie together, curled up under blankets. For a moment, it felt like summer again. The nurses at CHEO remembered her preferences—what snacks she liked, which chair she preferred—and those small gestures made the days feel less clinical. I’m grateful to my in-laws and family for helping us prepare for both realities.

Reflections: This week reminded us that life doesn’t pause for treatment. School starts. Siblings need attention. Groceries still run out. We’re learning to hold both realities at once—and to find grace in the spaces between.

💛 Much love,
Chloë’s Mom