September is recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a month to help raise awareness and funds for those battling the disease.
The Canadian Cancer Society believes that one child with cancer is too many. A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming for anyone, but is especially traumatic when a child is facing the diagnosis.
Childhood cancer affects entire families. Coralee Abbott, who grew up in the small town of Herschel, knows all too well the toll having a child with cancer takes on a family.
In March of 2016, her then 7 year old son, Roan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). ‘Acute’ means that the leukemia can progress quickly, and if not treated, would probably be fatal in a short period of time.
“People would say, ‘oh he got the lucky type of cancer,’ but as we all know there’s no such thing," commented Abbott.
When the normally healthy and energetic little boy became pale and zapped of energy with a cold that just wouldn't go away, his parents never would’ve guessed that cancer could be the cause.
Abbott’s younger sister Andrea had been diagnosed with cancer just seven months prior to receiving Roan’s diagnosis. The family was still coming to terms with that blow. Could this disease really hit their family twice, so soon; and to her precious child?
“I literally thought God was hating me,” admitted Abbott.
Roan was her rainbow baby. Abbott had had three miscarriages prior to welcoming her little warrior into the world. To finally get the baby she wanted so badly and then to learn that he was sick was crushing.
“It was physically, emotionally, financially, and in every way, draining,” shared Abbott.
At the time of Roan’s diagnosis, little brother, Knox was six just months old. Much to Abbott’s surprise, Roan and Knox, along with Abbott's two older step-sons, learned they would be getting another brother.
Abbott was in denial, “It took us six years to get Knox, could I really be pregnant again?”
While shocked and overwhelmed, Abbott was also excited to share the news with Roan.
“This was our second gift,” Abbott said of Roan’s little brothers who were always keeping watch over Roan, “With their innocence, they were able to help us on our really low days, and looking back, I can’t imagine not having them to help us get through.”
Throughout Roan’s periods of isolation, rounds of steroids that changed him physically and rocked him emotionally, through all the cancer clinic trips and hospital stays, Abbott said her rock star kid didn’t feel sorry for himself, he just missed his friends. He just missed being a kid.
Abbott reported that with an over three year treatment course, ALL requires the longest treatment of any of the cancers. Roan, now ten and a half years old and in grade six, finished his treatments in May of this year.
On July 31st, Roan underwent one last surgery to have his port removed, a small appliance that was placed under the skin to allow the injection of medicines or extraction of of blood multiple times.
“On his port removal day, he woke up with tears and said mom just please tell me its over,” Abbott said. Roan was just so tired of hospitals and appointments.
To be considered cured, Roan has to make the next five years without any relapse. Monthly appointments to the cancer clinic are on the agenda for this first year, then he will receive checkups every three months until he hits five year mark.
Cancer will have forever changed Roan and his family. They will know compassion and have an appreciation for life and health. Now that Roan is done treatments, he is making up for lost time.
“He has energy like crazy, he rises with the sun and attacks the day.”
Abbott and her family are now putting their energy towards raising funds for other families who may have to face childhood cancer. She hopes that sharing Roans story will help raise awareness. She is part of a community of people dedicated to ending childhood cancers.
Thu, Jun 27, 1:30 PM
