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Our Kids - Meet Hunter

Hunter, 2, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Hunter, 2, has always had an affinity towards superheroes, or “superderos” as he calls them. Along with his mop of red curls, Hunter has a particular curl that adorns his forehead just like Superman’s. After recently being diagnosed with cancer, he has become the biggest superhero in his mother’s eyes.

In October of 2009, during the H1N1 outbreak, Josh, Hunter’s older brother fell ill with the virus. When Hunter began acting irritable, cranky and fussy towards food, his mother thought he too had the H1N1 virus. Hunter’s paediatrician treated him for an ear infection but Hunter’s odd behaviour continued, this time accompanied by a low-grade fever and weight loss.

In November 2009, Hunter and Josh had the chance to attend a Maple Leafs open practice and watch Hunter’s biggest hero, Matt Stajan. Hunter was exhausted by the time evening came. When his exhaustion didn’t let up the following day, his parents knew something was wrong. That evening, Hunter’s fever spiked and his parents rushed him to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

“When we walked through the door of the emergency room it was like they knew,” said Sitara, Hunter’s mother. “They looked at him and knew he had leukemia.”

After running a blood test for confirmation, doctors at SickKids diagnosed Hunter with leukemia. A bone marrow test established it was Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

Hunter spent nearly two weeks at the Hospital. While there, his parents learned how to administer his medication. They explained to Hunter that his illness was like bad guys trying to attack his body and that the drugs were good guys fighting back. Hunter learned all the names of the drugs and knew when to take them and why.

Due to the treatment, Hunter often has low white blood cells and is at a high risk for infection. He needs to return to SickKids twice a week for clinic but often is there four times a week due to complications. Hunter has undergone countless finger pricks, lumbar punctures, chemotherapy treatments and tests. He has also taken antibiotics, and other medications.

Hunter really loves the staff at SickKids and thinks of them as his team of superheros. The sentiment is echoed throughout his family. “You begin to think of the medical team as family,” Sitara said. “It’s the doctors and nurses but it’s also the people who stand behind them - social work, Camp Ooch staff, Child Life - who make a huge impact.”

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