You can imagine how hard it is for a four-year-old to understand something like leukemia. But Micaela’s doctor explained it perfectly. She drew Micaela a picture of healthy blood cells and then drew leukemia cells, and said that the bad cells were hurting the good ones. Then she showed her chemotherapy killing the leukemia cells.

Michaela walked right over and took the marker. Then she crossed out all the bad cells. “Go away bad cells!” she shouted and broke into a huge smile.

“Our daughter got all kinds of support at CHEO and, of course, at home,” says Brendan. When chemotherapy treatments caused her hair to fall out I shaved my head so she wouldn’t feel self-conscious.”

There were many up and downs throughout Micaela’s treatment. She was taken out of school for a year, and was often unable to see her friends because of her weakened immune system. She also spent a lot of time at CHEO receiving treatment, but she never complained. She was always looking for a silly hospital staff member to joke around with.

Throughout those two and half years, Micaela bravely endured many painful needles, surgeries, and difficult bouts of chemotherapy. But thanks to the incredible care she received at CHEO, Micaela has won her battle against cancer.

Micaela is now a healthy nine year old, who loves to swim, bike, and hang out with her friends. She wants to be a nurse when she grows up, so that she can help other kids through cancer.

“Her future is full of hope,” says Melissa “And we can’t wait to see where her dreams will take her.”

When asked to be a part of the Dream Team there was no hesitation. Micaela and the whole family are excited about being able to represent oncology families that have received amazing care at CHEO.

At CHEO Jeremy was put in isolation right away, more blood work was done and he was admitted to CHEO’s 4 North ward where he received a blood transfusion. “The doctor told me that there was a chance that my son had leukemia,” says Rita. “I was so emotional at the time because I was just so scared. I didn’t know what leukemia was. I went from just having a baby girl to finding out my son had cancer. It was just so much to handle.”

Thanks to a spectacular team Rita quickly learned exactly what acute lymphoblastic leukemia was and received the necessary information to prepare for Jeremy’s three year cancer treatments at CHEO. She commends the nurses and doctors for being so patient and answering all her questions.

“Not only did they teach me, they helped me to teach Jeremy, who was only three and a half at the time,” says Rita.

Two years into his three year treatment protocol mom is feeling like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel now. It hasn’t always been easy with admissions due to fever, flu and low blood counts but he’s been a real trooper and is still on course to finishing his treatments in November 2012.

When asked if this has affected Jeremy’s personality at all mom is quick to respond, “He’s maturing faster I think given everything he’s gone through. He knows a lot. It’s also really turned him into an exceptionally caring little boy.” When he learned that a family member had cancer he was very concerned and wanted her to know that everything would be okay.

Jeremy is coping well and acts like any other five year old boy. He loves to play soccer, read books and is excited to ride his bike at the event in May.

“We’re all excited,” adds Rita. “Thanks to such a great team at CHEO, my mother and my co-workers, the future is looking brighter.”

“It was creepy at first,” Ben admits. “But I realized how much it would help me.”

After being cancer free for almost eight years, Trevor went to the doctor to see about a persistent cough. The doctor discovered a mass in his chest and he was sent to CHEO where he was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma, a completely different form of cancer than he had when he was four. Trevor says he was quite scared when he was given the diagnosis. But after getting over the initial shock, his positive attitude kicked in and he has been fighting back.

Doctors surgically removed a large portion of the lesion in Trevor’s chest and then it was on to another protocol of chemotherapy that was completely different than his first. From July of 2009 to April of 2010, Trevor was unable to go to school due to the severity of his treatments. As of August 2011, Trevor has completed his treatments and is once again cancer free!

“Trevor’s prognosis is very good,” says his oncologist Dr. Halton. “Because it is his second cancer treatment we are going to have to watch him very closely for the late effects from his therapy. Unfortunately some of the treatments that Trevor has had make him high risk for cardiac problems long term. He has had a lot of steroids so he could be more susceptible to fractures because he has low bone mass. Late effects are going to be a concern for Trevor because he has had two very intense therapies.”

The good news is that Trevor will be monitored by CHEO oncologists and nurses for the rest of his life. Dr. Halton explains, “When a patient is diagnosed with cancer at CHEO we follow them in our active care program. As soon as they finish treatment they go into what we call a zero to 24 month program. In that period we are monitoring for relapse. After 24 months we switch them to the aftercare program where they are monitored for life. They are treated at CHEO until the age of 18 and are then transferred over to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Clinic where they continue to be followed by pediatric oncologists and nurse practitioners from CHEO.”

Trevor and his mom are incredibly thankful for the treatment they have received. Trevor’s plan to become an oncologist comes from his positive experiences at CHEO. He wants to help kids who will be fighting the battles he has fought. A very mature goal set by an amazing teen. When asked to be a part of the CN Cycle for CHEO he was honoured since he feels so strong about giving back to a hospital that has saved his life, not just once, but twice.