🗓️ Week of July 21: Diagnosis & First Steps

Mood: Anxious. Overwhelmed. In a state of disbelief and shock. Trying to be hopeful.

Medical Update: Chloë had been complaining about leg pain for some time. We followed all the right steps—family doctor, Telehealth Ontario—but it was her grandmother who noticed how swollen her ankle looked. We thought maybe growing pains, or possibly arthritis. Justin took her to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) late one Monday night. By 2 a.m. Tuesday, I got the call no parent ever wants: the pain was being caused by a tumor at the base of her tibia, in her ankle. They suspected it was cancerous.

Emotional Check-In: Chloë was just as stunned as we were. Cancer wasn’t even on our radar. That day became a blur of consultations with Orthopaedics and the pre-anesthesia clinic to prepare for a biopsy. The rest of the week was filled with outpatient appointments—CT scans, bloodwork, and baseline tests for kidney and liver function, among others.

Education Update: [No formal update this week.]

Moments of Light: From the beginning, we’ve said that—strangely enough—it’s probably a good thing Chloë is the age she is. The doctors could speak to her candidly and transparently, in ways they couldn’t with a younger child. When she asked if this was something she could die from, they didn’t sugarcoat it. They acknowledged how serious it was, and also how much it sucks. That honesty mattered.

Reflections: We’re grateful to our families, near and far, for being there for us since day one. Their support helped us find our footing in a week that changed everything.

💛 Much love,
Chloë’s Mom