June Update — Two Months Chemo‑Free, One Unexpected Detour, and Small Steps Forward

Mood & Month Overview

June marked the beginning of our second chemo‑free month, and one of the clearest signs of healing has been watching Chloë’s hair return. Right now it’s a soft buzz cut — dark grey, short, and growing a little more each week. A small but meaningful barometer of recovery.

As we stand on the eve of the month of Chloë’s diagnosis, it’s impossible not to look back. This time last year, we never could have imagined all that was to come — the fear, the strength, the setbacks, the resilience, and the unexpected moments of grace. Two months chemo‑free feels both surreal and hard‑won.

Medical & Treatment Update

This month brought an unexpected twist: one household, four people, two dogs… and suddenly only three working pairs of feet.

While leaving for a CHEO volunteer meeting, I slipped on the metal edge of Chloë’s ramp — right where the roof coverage ends. It had rained overnight and was drizzling that morning. I grabbed both sides of the railing as I went down, but the crunch I heard when I landed hard on the ramp told me everything I needed to know. My ankle felt foot was obviously broken and visibly dislocated — angled somewhere between 10 and 11 o’clock.

Thankfully, the Queensway‑Carleton Hospital is only a short drive daway. X‑rays confirmed a tib/fib fracture — breaks in both the tibia and fibula. They sedated me, realigned my foot, casted it, and gave strict instructions: no weight bearing. Surgery was delayed due to a major highway accident, but by suppertime the next day, I was brought in.

At my follow‑up, the surgeon showed me the imaging: a plate and four screws on each side, along with twenty staples that have since been removed. I’m now in an air cast and allowed only very light weight bearing until my next check‑in.

Justin — as he has for nearly twenty years — took over everything: driving, appointments, physio runs, school drop offs and some pick ups, prosthetics visits, and the daily logistics I normally handle. That plus walking the dogs and a milion other little things. He is our familys' foundation and we could not have made it through the month without him.

Mobility, Prosthetics & Physio

This accident gave me an unexpected, humbling glimpse into what Chloë has been navigating for months.

Climbing stairs backwards.
Bathing differently.
Dressing differently.
Relying on one leg.
Losing independence in ways you don’t fully understand until it happens to you.

It’s not the same — she lost her right foot, and I still have mine — but the parallels were impossible to ignore. My cast goes just below the knee, and suddenly I understood her world in a new way.

By sheer luck, this happened during a two‑week break from in‑person physio. That window gave Chloë half a dozen opportunities to begin trying to walk on her new prosthetic foot.

A heartfelt thank‑you to Smiths’ Prosthetic Services Ltd. You opened a door we never expected to walk through, and you’ve guided us every step of the way.

School & Community

A special shout‑out to the teachers, administrators, guidance teams, and support staff at both:

John McCrae Secondary School (JMSS)
Mary Honeywell Elementary School (MHES)

This month, Chloë also had the opportunity to return to JMSS for the first time since leaving last June — not knowing then how long she would be away. With the help of our CHEO occupational therapist and the incredible staff at JMSS, Justin, Chloë, and I toured the school while it was mostly empty (aside from renovation crews and a few teachers and support staff).

They showed her where she will have a locker on each floor, walked us through some of the changes already made, and explained the anticipated accessibility improvements still in progress. This visit has already made a huge difference for Chloë’s anxiety — and for ours. In late August, she’ll also participate in a summer transition program to help ease her return.

(For those reading outside of Canada: our school year typically runs from early September to late June, with a two‑week break in December and a one‑week March Break.)

And in true end‑of‑year fashion, Charlotte’s class went on their final Grade 3 field trip — a school bus full of 8‑ and 9‑year‑olds learning about early Canadian life. In one activity, I had to have my left hand tied down so I wouldn’t use it, which felt strangely fitting given the month we’ve had.

We feel deeply grateful for the support we’ve received — especially from Chloë’s teacher “K”, one of the rare educators who truly connected with her, understood her neurodivergence, and advocated for her without hesitation. And to our Interlink nurse “G”, who has supported both girls with such compassion.

This is why we love our neighbourhood.
This is why we stayed in Barrhaven.
This is why community matters.

Wishing all our educators and school staff an enjoyable and well‑deserved summer break.

Family Life & Summer Plans

Charlotte finished Grade 3 in Early French Immersion and will be spending July in City of Ottawa camps — plus celebrating her 9th birthday. She’s counting down the days to our favourite week of the year: our annual cottage trip to Green Bay on Bob’s Lake near Westport.

Last year, we only had two days together before Chloë needed procedures for her port and pre‑chemo prep. This year will look different — mobility challenges for both Chloë and me — but we’re determined to make it meaningful.

Happy belated Father’s Day to all those celebrating. Sending love and best wishes to you and yours.

Photos

Photos to come — we will add images from June’s milestones, prosthetics work, and family moments once they are ready.

Closing Thoughts

June was messy, unexpected, and full of detours — but also full of resilience.

Two months chemo‑free.
New hair growth.
New steps on a new leg & foot.
A family adapting, again and again.
And a community that continues to lift us up.