15 minute read
Our Handbook
The Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta began as a promise in 1991. Since then, it has evolved into a beacon of hope for hundreds across this province. It has galvanized individuals and united corporations, and made us realize that a cure is within a cure is within a cure is within a cure is within a cure is within reach. reach. reach. reach. reach. At the Foundation’s core are individual dreams gauged in smiles, hugs and laughter — a life’s work measured by improved survival rates. Inside our Handbook you’ll find out what it’s like to be a child living with cancer and why KCCFA is so important to his or her survival. You’ll also learn about all the ways you can get involved and make a difference in the lives of children with cancer.
Courage can be defined as spirit, determination and bravery. But have you ever wondered what it looks like?
Chris, a Counsellor at Easter Seal’s Camp Horizon, helps two campers at the climbing wall.
“Meeting other teens affected by cancer helped me regain the confidence I lost battling my disease.” Chris Blackmore, aged 21
Diagnosed: Acute Myelogenous Leukemia at age 14. How cancer changed his life: Prior to cancer I never took the time to stop and appreciate all my blessings, but now I never take life for granted.
What’s important: Without my health I wouldn’t be able to study. (Chris is in med school and plans to become an pediatric oncologist). Benefits of KCCFA: Meeting other teens affected by cancer and participating in all the events such as wall climbing and snowshoeing helped me regain the confidence I lost battling cancer. Now I work at the camps and help bring confidence back to others just like me. Getting through the I took up golf. It didn’t replace all my sports, but I was physically able to do it. It gave me treatment: something to look forward to between treatments and it gave me goals to strive for.
Advice for the newly Treat cancer like it’s a stepping stone, not a life-halting event.
diagnosed:
When visiting a cancer Friends and loved ones are as important as doctors and medicine. Be there for them, and patient: treat them the same as you always have.
“The treatments are a small price to pay for living.” Jeff McNabb, aged 21
Diagnosed:
Rhabdomyosarcoma at age 17.
How cancer changed his life: I’ve matured immensely. Life is precious so I need to have fun and enjoy every moment.
What’s important: I don’t take things so seriously. With this attitude I have been able to accomplish lots, be myself and just take pleasure in life because it’s the best ride of all. Benefits of KCCFA: KCCFA enabled me to turn my duel with cancer into something productive. It’s satisfying to know that you can help others in the same predicament. The camps, retreats and conferences give me the skills and smarts to deal with my often surreal life. Getting through the The treatments are a small price to pay for living. That’s what gets me through.
treatment:
Advice for the newly Try to relax and befriend your doctors and nurses, and love them because they are trying to save diagnosed: you.
When visiting a cancer Don’t treat us differently, like a hairless cat you’re seeing for the first time. Just be a friend patient: and spend time like there’s no tomorrow.
“Going through this experience makes you special. It will change you forever, so stay positive.” Samantha Taylor, aged 18
Diagnosed: T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age 13. How cancer changed her life: I never put off for tomorrow what I can do today because, like with homework, I may never get caught up.
What’s important: My family and my health. My Mom and I are so close. She stayed with me every night in the hospital. Benefits of KCCFA: Being able to sit in a room at camp with a bunch of teenagers and talk about “taking meds,” and being completely understood is comforting. We bonded through similar circumstances and that was a special opportunity. Getting through the FOOD! Writing out the menu of food that awaits you after treatment brings beautiful images to treatment: mind. Spokeskid experience: Giving a speech at a corporate golf tournament and seeing grown men in tears. I felt I had got through to them and I’d made a difference in their understanding of the importance of supporting KCCFA. Advice for the newly Remember that going through this experience makes you special. It will change you forever, so diagnosed: stay positive. When visiting a cancer Bring us something to do like cards or a game to take our minds off being in the hospital. And patient: remember, this is when we need our friends the most. Samantha credits her child life therapist for getting her through her long hospital stays.
Jane Fowler, aged 20
Diagnosed: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age 14, relapsed at age 19. How cancer changed her life: Along with teaching me to cherish life, family and friends, having cancer has put me on a career path to becoming a doctor.
What’s important:
I know now that we’re all here for a certain amount of time, and you’ve got to do something with it.
Benefits of KCCFA: I’ve met some wonderful people and learned how to play golf. Advice for the newly Keep your chin up and focus on the good things in life like family and friends.
diagnosed:
When visiting a cancer The best visitors don’t ask me about me, they come in to make me laugh and entertain me.
patient:
When Jane, right, wakes up every morning she says she focuses on two things –achieving her goals and having fun.
Laura and Chris Wandzura flank Alan Hobson who conquered cancer and Mt. Everest.
Christopher Baptiste, fondly known as Topher, helps “buzz” at a headshave.
“Having cancer made me realize that I don’t need as many “things,” and that family is most important.” Laura Cuthbertson, aged 17
Diagnosed: Acute Myelogenous Leukemia at age 14. How cancer changed her life: Cancer has helped me to relax, and care less about the little things in life. I don’t sweat the small stuff.
What’s important: Having cancer has helped me mature quickly. I suddenly realized that I don’t need as many “things,” and that family is most important. Benefits of KCCFA: Having the opportunity to be the spokeskid and speak on behalf of the Foundation. Getting through the My dad helped me through my treatments. He reminded me to think about what nice things we treatment: were going to do when the treatment was over, and he encouraged me to think positively.
Advice for the newly Be realistic about the possible outcomes and stay focused on getting better. Remember! A positive diagnosed: attitude can really improve the prognosis. When visiting a cancer Avoid those deep, long conversations....because it’s hard for us to concentrate.
patient:
“I have benefited from medical advances thanks to KCCFA’s research support.” Christopher Baptiste, aged 20
Diagnosed: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age 5, relapsed at age 12. How cancer changed his life: Cancer has made me the person I am today, one who appreciates everything around him, from family and friends, to seeing the sun rise and set everyday.
What’s important: Family and friends, because you don’t realize what you have until you’ve almost lost them because you have cancer. Benefits of KCCFA: I have benefited from medical advances thanks to KCCFA’s research support, as well as friendships, hope and a ray of light when there was nothing to see but darkness. Getting through the I would remind myself that I was lucky and that there were a lot of other people worse off than treatment: me.
Spokeskid experience: Being a spokeskid taught me how to inspire and that sometimes a whisper can be more powerful than a roar. Advice for the newly Remember, you can’t fight cancer on your own.
diagnosed:
When visiting a cancer Treat the person like you always have.
patient:
Carie Wik, aged 20
Diagnosed:
Rhabdomyosarcoma at age 13 months.
How cancer changed her life: Cancer is all I’ve ever known. It is my nemesis, but it’s taught me some valuable life lessons like glory, compassion, pain and “survivorship.”
What’s important: My family and friends – I want to cherish the time I have with them and make every moment count. And, I want to help others because no one can fight cancer alone. Benefits of KCCFA: Putting me in touch with people who have been through the same experiences, and giving me the chance to give others hope, fundraise for a cure, help out at camp and raise awareness. Advice for the newly Never give up, keep fighting. Cancer can be scary, but you have so much to live for.
diagnosed:
When visiting a cancer When we’ve seen lots of doctors, been poked with countless needless, thrown up dozens of patient: times and feel like it can’t get any worse, just remind us that there’s a wonderful life waiting for us outside.
“I had a lot of visitors when I was sick, and when I was well again we had a “hot dam hallelujah party.” Maggie Hamilton, aged 22
Diagnosed:
Brain tumour at age 15.
How cancer changed her life: I look at life like the Tim McGraw song “Live like you were dying…go sky diving, rocky mountain climbing or bullriding.” I bob along to my own beat.
What’s important: My family and getting through school (Maggie wants to work in children’s television programming). Benefits of KCCFA: KCCFA is part of my support system. When I was spokeskid, I told my story at a golf tournament, and they passed an empty water pitcher around the audience. By the time I had finished my speech, that water pitcher was full of money. It was awesome knowing I made that happen. Getting through the Staying positive. It was mental over physical.
treatment :
When visiting a cancer I had a lot of visitors when I was sick, and when I was well again we had a “hot dam hallelujah patient: party,” because it was amazing that all these people supported me. My best visitor always brought a movie and we’d curl up together and watch it. Carie is a member of the KCCFA Mentor for Life group, committed to reaching out to others faced with cancer.
Maggie, with friend Tyron, led her Red Deer College classmates in a shave and raised $17,000.
Thanks to his spokeskid experience, Eric has become a polished speaker.
Dylan, aged 21/2, plays with his mom, at ACH’s Outpatient Clinic.
Far right, Amanda cuddles with her dad in the family room at the ACH’s Pediatric Oncology Unit.
“It was really cool telling my story to all those important people and knowing that I was making a difference.” Eric Weatherhead, aged 15
Diagnosed: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age 12. How cancer changed his life: Before my diagnosis, I used to be bossy and self-centred. Having cancer has humbled me and given me a better perspective of life. Now I enjoy it one day at a time. Benefits of KCCFA: Having cancer has been a tough journey, but because of KCCFA it’s also been amazing. I’ve been able to meet celebrities (like radio hosts Don, Joanne and the Coach), speak on behalf of KCCFA as their spokeskid and go to the ENMAX gala. It was really cool telling my story to all those important people and knowing that I was making a difference. Getting through the No matter what happened, I knew that God was looking out for me. My faith and people treatment: praying for me helped me through my treatment.
Advice for the newly Have faith in God.
diagnosed:
It is with reverence to the children and their families, carrying the weight of this disease on their shoulders, that we ask you to…
Share our passion and lend a hand.
how you can help
KCCFA relies on community support to help young people survive and thrive in body, mind and spirit. You can give kids an awesome camp experience, set valuable research in motion, ensure that kids get the best possible care and much more. There are many ways in which you can make a difference to children affected by cancer. Here’s 10…
1. Make a Donation
For your convenience, you can make a gift to the Foundation by:
Phone: (403) 216-9210 or Toll-free in Alberta at 1-888-554-2267 Online: Visit www.kidscancercare.ab.ca and click on the Donate Now button. Mail: Mail your donation to: Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta 609 - 14 Street NW, Suite 302 Calgary, Alberta T2N 2A1
2. Double your Giving
When making a gift to KCCFA, check to see if your company has a “matching gift” program. This is where the company will match the amount you are donating, thereby doubling the impact.
3. Join our Monthly Giving Program
By signing up to make a modest, monthly donation you can help finance the next wave in cancer research progress. You can have the monthly donation taken directly from your account or charged to your credit card. It’s convenient and, over time, it can add up to a significant gift.
4. Provide a Fitting Memorial
There may be someone special you’d like to remember – maybe a friend or a relative who is no longer living. You can give them special recognition with a gift in their honour. We will mail a card to the family of the person you want to honour, telling them that a gift has been made in that person’s name.
5. Leave a Legacy or Gift in your Estate
Choosing to make a gift from the heart brings meaning, dignity and purpose to a life well lived. Your gift is your opportunity to participate in charitable work that is most meaningful to you in a way that allows these programs to be supported now and long after you are gone. Speak to your financial adviser regarding leaving a bequest for KCCFA.
6. Shave your Head
Liberate your hair and show support for kids who lose theirs during cancer treatment. Sign up for our Shave Your Lid for a Kid® campaign, collect pledges and we’ll shave your head and honour your deed by presenting you with a commemorative hat.
7. Support a KCCFA Fundraising Event
Events need people! Ride a motorcycle, swing a golf club, dance at a gala…and much more. It’s all fun and it all helps the kids. Read about upcoming events in our newsletter or on our website.
8. Plan a Fundraising Event
Ideas for fundraising events are limitless: run 10 kilometres, hold a car wash, plan an art auction, dance for 24 hours, canoe across a lake, bake cookies, flip pancakes, etc. There are so many ways to raise money for KCCFA and all of them make a difference. Contact us with your ideas.
9. Volunteer your Time
Volunteers are at the heart of all our activities and fundamental to our work. Opportunities for volunteering are as diverse as the people who help out. We need people to help at camp, in the office, at fundraising events and in the community. We try to match your skills with our needs to ensure that you have a fulfilling experience.
10. Spread the Word
Our greatest resource is our network of supporters. Tell your friends, family and colleagues about KCCFA’s work to help families touched by childhood cancer.
Nigel never gave up… and neither will we.
For more information, contact our office at (403) 216-9210 or check out our website at:
Nigel’s Journey
Nigel Scott, 21, takes long laboured breaths as he struggles to answer questions over the phone. It’s hard to believe that he’s the same vibrant young man pictured in KCCFA’s spring 2004 newsletter. Nigel was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of pediatric cancer, at the age of 15. He’s undergone many surgeries to remove tumours, a blood stem transplant and countless rounds of radiation and chemotherapy to combat his disease. In September 2004, Nigel found out that there’s little more the doctors can do to save him except try to slow the growth of his tumour and relieve the pain.
But despite his prognosis, Nigel feels truly blessed. In 2004, he was able to fulfill a lifelong dream and serve in the Canada Edmonton Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for three months. Nigel is a devout Mormon, dedicated to serving people and teaching them about Jesus.
He also has an incredibly strong bond with his family and many good friends. “I know my cancer has given them a lot of hardship, but I believe that life’s difficulties bring people together and make them stronger,” he says.
Nigel made his closest friends while attending Kids Cancer Camps. Initially he thought it would be like a “death camp,” but his siblings had such a good time, he decided to try it out. “I had a blast – I stepped out of my comfort zone and participated in all the activities.” Nigel gave back by becoming a camp counsellor and working with the other kids. He says that although he’s gone through almost everything you can with childhood cancer, you come to realize that there’s always someone worse off than you.
Cancer may have weakened Nigel’s body, but it has strengthened him personally. He says he’s had so many wonderful opportunities over the last six years. “At times I feel overjoyed for all I’ve been given and every year gets better. I’m not sure how I’m going to top 2004. I guess my goal is simple – I just want to prolong my time so I can continue living the best life I can.”
Nigel Scott died peacefully at home on May 17, 2005, surrounded by his loving family.
