Five years later: a follow-up with paediatric cancer patients
In 2010, the Sears Cancer Clinic at SickKids opened to provide a more comfortable, private and engaging experience for patients with cancer and their families.This was an exciting day for the SickKids community. Families came to the grand opening event to get their first glimpse of the 14,000-square foot space which includes 16 examination rooms, four consultation rooms and four isolation rooms. The large waiting room features play areas, computer stations, flat-screen TVs, real and play kitchens and a teen lounge.
At the time, the families in attendance were directly impacted by this new space as their children were undergoing cancer treatment.
Five years later, thanks to the world-class care SickKids offers, these kids are in remission and thriving!
TOBIN
THEN: Tobin was ten and had just finished treatment, surgery and re-radiation, for the third time. He was first diagnosed at age two in 2002 and had a recurrence with treatment from 2005 to 2006. Tobin was in grade five and enjoyed playing hockey and baseball.
These kids are in remission and thriving.
NOW: Tobin is 15 and has had good MRIs since surgery and re-radiation in 2009. He had surgery in 2012 for an implant of an artificial skull and he deals with long term effects of treatment which means several medications every day. He is in grade 11, hoping to pursue nursing or something in the medical field in university. He enjoys school, languages (French and German), and many sports. He is on his high school's rowing team and curling team and likes to golf when given the opportunity.
MADI
THEN: The opening of the cancer clinic five years ago was special for Madi for two reasons: (1) She was the first person treated there and had been involved in some of the fundraising activities with Sears that helped provide this wonderful facility complete with teen space and (2) because it was her very last cancer treatment after a very intense two-and-a-half years. She had just finished grade 8 and a year-long run in the Sound of Music and was looking forward to attending an arts school in Toronto.
NOW: This year, Madi is attending Elon University in North Carolina where she is completing two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in theatre performance and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She is enjoying life to the fullest and is a member of the university dance team. Madi finished her last visit at the leukemia clinic in the summer and will now leave SickKids and be followed at Princess Margaret. Although moving on, she says "my heart will always be in this special place that saved my life and made it possible for me to pursue my dreams!"
HELENA
THEN: Helena was four-years-old and less than a year into her treatment at the time of the Sears Cancer Clinic opening. She had a total of 841 days of chemo which saved her life. Helena laughed and danced in princess dresses her whole way through treatment which earned her the nickname "Warrior Princess".
NOW: Today Helena is nine-years-old and continues her elegant and strong spirit. She is an orange belt in karate and plays leading roles in theatre productions. She transferred to the French program at school and dreams of being a veterinarian one day.
ERICA
THEN: In January 2010, Erica had been off treatment for three months. Her last round of chemo was September 2009. SickKids continued to be a home away from home for the family. Erica continued to have frequent Oncology Clinic visits and her blood-work was done approximately every two weeks. In January, she had her first scans off treatment, which included a bone scan, CT scan of her chest, echocardiogram and an X-ray of her leg. The new Oncology Clinic provided the family with so much and they appreciated the small comforts including computers, a resource centre for parents, Camp Ooch Volunteers and a kitchenette for snacks.
NOW: Erica has been training hard in the sport of kayaking and was named to Team Canada to compete at the 2015 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Milan, Italy in August of this year. In the final, she placed 7th with a personal best (3 seconds faster than her heat, the fastest athlete out of the PanAm countries and the fastest time ever for a Canadian female para athlete). CanoeKayak Canada was impressed with her performance in Milan and has invited her to Rio, the site of the 2016 Para Olympic games, for test races. Para kayaking will make its debut in 2016. At the time of her cancer diagnosis, treatment and amputation (age 12), Erica was a competitive gymnast and wondered what it would be like to not be a gymnast. She explored many sports, but from the moment she sat in the boat and took her first stroke of the paddle, she knew kayaking was for her. Erica has completed her first year of Kinesiology at Brock University. She plans to become a physiotherapist and work with children.
