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When Marissa was just two and a half years old, she was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), the most common type of cancer in young children. ALL destroys the white blood cells in the body that fight bacteria. Marissa was immediately put on an extensive course of ongoing chemotherapy.

Marissa

Marissa, Leukemia

After three years of treatment, Marissa's cancer went into remission. Finally healthy, she began to enjoy a normal, happy childhood, enjoying school, birthdays, holidays and fun with her older sister, Taylor.

Marissa had been cancer-free for almost three years when her cancer returned. In the fall of 2004, Marissa returned to SickKids and started an aggressive chemotherapy plan. Despite this aggressive therapy, doctors felt that her best hope for long-term survival was a bone marrow transplant.

Fortunately for Marissa, her sister Taylor was a bone marrow match. Taylor, just six days shy of turning 11 pushed aside her fear of needles, and gave Marissa the gift of life. Prior to the bone marrow transplant in January 2005, Marissa endured an intense week of chemotherapy and radiation. She was in isolation for 18 days, followed by an additional stay in a step-down unit.
While Marissa was at SickKids, she participated in music therapy, where she wrote a special song to honour Taylor . This song, which includes the lyrics "I didn't see her for a long time/I missed her when I was in isolation/...I love my sister, Taylor" tells just how difficult the experience was for the entire Myers family, especially for the two sisters.

Throughout her two courses of treatment, Marissa and her family have spent many holidays at SickKids. In 2004, the family watched Christmas shows and movies together. "Marissa was not allowed too many visitors or to go out, so it was very quiet, but it was wonderful to be together," explains her mother, Maureen.

This year, Marissa is happy to be at home, celebrating with her family. She still requires medication and antibiotics to control infection and to prevent her body from rejecting Taylor's bone marrow.

Marissa hopes that one day she can be a singer, perhaps on Canadian Idol. In 2005, she was happy just to be able to sing with her school choir at the Advent Mass at the family's church. The mass was attended by the school staff, students and families. "It was wonderful to see her up there fulfilling her dream from last year. Happy and healthy!" says Maureen.

Maureen couldn't be happier to have her entire family home for the holidays. "When I think about where we were this time last year, I just can't believe how far we've come. I don't know where we would be without SickKids over the last six years. I can't imagine what would happen to Marissa if we didn't have it."

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