Kids Candidly Holiday Issue 2021

how to help

CREATE YOUR LEGACY

There are so many ways to create a legacy and there’s an option for everyone. You can create your legacy by making a gift through 1. Your will 2. Securities and mutual funds 3. RRSPs or RRIFs 4. Real estate 5. Charitable remainder trusts To learn more, please contact Karen Kaufmann at 403 930 6953 or kkaufmann@kidscancercare.ab.ca

ways you can help us

rebuild young lives during COVID and beyond

BE A MONTHLY MAKE A ONE- FUNDRAISE DONOR TIME GIFT ONLINE For the price of a coffee, you can be a superhero in the life of a child with cancer. Your monthly gifts will add up over time and make a lasting impact in the lives of children with cancer.

Your gift will help ensure we’re here to help kids in these uncertain times.

Start an online fundraising event to help kids living in fear of what COVID-19 could do to their fragile health.

BE BRAVE

CREATE YOUR LEGACY

Register your online Big Brave event and cut, colour or shave your lid for a kid while raising funds for essential online and COVIDadapted programs.

Creating your legacy is easy and there is an option that’s right for everyone. Reach out and ask us for a copy of our legacy giving brochure today.

YOUR GIFTS AT WORK, TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER HOLIDAY ISSUE 2021

kidscancercare.ab.ca

Donate, register or learn more at kidscancercare.ab.ca today.

outreach

Cont. from page 2

Cancer in the Classroom is a fun, interactive presentation that explains childhood cancer in simple terms. Customized for different grade levels, it offers students a safe place to explore the myths and fears of cancer, helping them to better understand the disease and its impact on their classmate.

Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta 5757 4 Street SE Calgary, Alberta T2H 1K8

kidscancercare.ab.ca

Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta is a registered Canadian charity #89940 9171 RR0001.

Kim included Meghan in every step of the process, from choosing which photos to use in the presentation to sharing her cancer experiences and presenting her Beads of Courage. As part of the session, each child receives a set of their own beads to involve them in Meghan’s cancer journey.

Seated at the front of the class, Meghan beamed throughout the session, proudly holding her stuffed monkey. It’s called a Monkey in My Chair, and the smiling monkey comes with each presentation. It helps

Meghan stay connected with her classmates by sitting at her desk while she’s away.

It wasn’t long before the monkey started working its magic in Meghan’s classroom.

“After the presentation, we kept Meghan home for a few days because routine blood work showed her ANC* had dropped significantly,” says Mark. “While she was away, her classmates shared their school stories with the monkey and told Meghan all about their adventures when she returned the next week. Meghan was thrilled.”

Thank you for supporting Meghan as she returns to school. With your generosity, Cancer in the Classroom is expanding young minds and fostering greater understanding and empathy for kids like Meghan. * Absolute neutrophil count may be used to check for infection, inflammation, leukemia, and other conditions. A lower ANC increases the risk of getting an infection.

YOU SUPPORTED MEGHAN WHEN SHE RETURNED TO SCHOOL

CEO message

outreach

compassionate classrooms created by you

healing

you're there when they return to school

and you're there in times of grief

As we draw closer to this very special season, I am reminded of the many magical moments you made possible through your generosity.

Childhood cancer is often a lifelong journey, and with your support, we were there for these kids throughout the entire year — helping them reduce long-term side effects through therapeutic exercise; supporting kids with cancer-related learning issues though online tutoring; helping teens build valuable life skills; giving families a much-needed get-away at camp; and offering bereaved families a healing place to share in their grief.

Thank you for your generous support.

You are creating magic and healing in the lives of families affected by childhood cancer 365 days of the year.

Meghan has missed half of kindergarten and all of grade one. She’s also missed ballet and soccer and all sorts of social opportunities.

In February 2020, Meghan was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia pre-B. When COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic a month later, Susan and Mark Haggas decided to keep both Meghan and her brother Ryan home for online learning.

interaction Meghan had. Because of the pandemic, she literally saw no one.”

After two months of online learning, it became clear that it wasn’t working.

“To expect a child her age to sit and do schoolwork online like that is too much,” says Susan. “She needed hands-on learning at home.”

Once again, with your generous support, our child life specialist Kim Clark was there to support Meghan with a remote Cancer in the Classroom session for her classmates.

So, on top of caring for a child with cancer and taking turns with Mark to drive into Calgary each week for Meghan’s treatments, Susan took on homeschooling while Mark continued working fulltime.

Thanks to you, we could be there for Meghan in this difficult time. “The Kids Cancer Care Zoom calls were vital to Meghan’s mental health,” says Susan.

“You feel very isolated, especially during a pandemic. Seeing those smiling faces — the hockey players, princesses, dance parties, fun crafts and physio with Caro on Wednesdays — was the only social

Anne Cameron’s journey with childhood cancer began when her 13-yearold son Ty was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Ninety per cent of his blood cells were cancerous. That whirlwind journey still confounds her 11 years later.

In September 2021, it was time for Meghan and Ryan to return to classroom learning, “But after a year and a half of homeschooling, how do we return to school?” asks Susan.

“It was simply a sore throat. Swollen Anne: “I am actually the one who has glands. Possibly mono,” says Anne. “How been the most involved and received on earth did three visits to the walk-in the most from Kids Cancer Care,” she clinic over Christmas break says. “From Pizza Night and two visits to the Alberta while in hospital to Bereaved “Kids Cancer Children’s Hospital over a sore Family Camp and Time to Care has been a throat, become cancer?”

Remember, Kids Cancer Care lifeline for me.” has been a lifeline for me.”

Ty’s treatment protocol involved six months of high-dose chemotherapy, which took him to the brink of death several times.

Cont. on page 4

Ty courageously battled AML twice

Christine McIver, M.S.M., LLD (Hon), CFRE Founder and Chief Executive Officer

While the BMT was successful, the worst of his journey was yet to come. Ty developed graft versus host disease (GvHD), a serious condition where the donated bone marrow attacks the patient’s body.

Anne at Time to Remember

Meghan’s Beads of Courage

“It began attacking — his skin, eyes, mouth and lungs,” says Anne.

“Everything that could go wrong seemed to. He had infection after infection, bacterial, viral, fevers.

During his third visit to the intensive care unit on September 10, 2012 at 4:18 am, Jesus took Ty home.”

Anne marvels that Ty was actually in remission when he left this world and understandably feels robbed by that cruel twist of fate: “Seven days later would have marked his two-year cancer-free point. After that date, the chances of relapse were next to none.”

Meghan and the monkey who saves her place when she’s away from school

Susan and Meghan Haggas

After an 11-month remission, he relapsed.

A bone marrow transplant (BMT) was his only option but finding a perfect match would be next to impossible as Ty was mixed race. When they did find matches in September 2010, Ty underwent a dual cord blood transplant.

Students with their Beads of Courage after the remote Cancer in the Classroom presentation

With gratitude,

PS. If you have the means, please consider making a gift this holiday season and help create magical moments throughout the coming year.

“I’ve never missed a year and have overwhelming gratitude for the staff at Kids Cancer Care who dedicates this time to our kids every year. It’s amazing.”— Anne

Don Molyneaux Photography

Unique Perspectives Photography

“I feel so alone. No one looks like me.”— Meghan

Welcome to the Kids Candidly Holiday issue. You have helped make amazing things happen this year.

healing made possible by you

Ty’s family L-R – Anne (mother), Ty, Nigel (stepfather) and Tanaya (sister)

There are many ironies in their family’s cancer journey, and they are not lost on

— Anne.

Thanks to you, Kids Cancer Care is there for families like Anne’s, offering healing and support at each stage of the cancer journey — even in bereavement.

Your support has helped build a robust Bereavement Program for families facing the unbelievable pain of losing a child.

It started with Time to Remember, followed by Bereaved Family Camp and later Bereaved Parent Cooking Classes.

“We bond, we grieve, we celebrate, and we heal together,” says Anne recalling these programs. “Time to Remember is sacred — the tea lights, the twinkle lights, the poetry. Every year, it is incredible and it’s everything I hoped for. Kids Cancer Care puts an amazing amount of thought and energy into this special evening honouring our kids.”

With your ongoing support, we plan to expand the Bereavement Program, adding social worker Pam Birch, who specializes in grief, to further develop the program.

“Newly bereaved families have asked me: ‘How do you laugh? How do you smile when talking about your son?’ I respond, ‘We are so fortunate to have the support of this group. We have Kids Cancer Care.’”

Thank you for being there for bereaved families like Anne’s. Your generosity means that no family will have to grieve alone.

CEO message

outreach

compassionate classrooms created by you

healing

you're there when they return to school

and you're there in times of grief

As we draw closer to this very special season, I am reminded of the many magical moments you made possible through your generosity.

Childhood cancer is often a lifelong journey, and with your support, we were there for these kids throughout the entire year — helping them reduce long-term side effects through therapeutic exercise; supporting kids with cancer-related learning issues though online tutoring; helping teens build valuable life skills; giving families a much-needed get-away at camp; and offering bereaved families a healing place to share in their grief.

Thank you for your generous support.

You are creating magic and healing in the lives of families affected by childhood cancer 365 days of the year.

Meghan has missed half of kindergarten and all of grade one. She’s also missed ballet and soccer and all sorts of social opportunities.

In February 2020, Meghan was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia pre-B. When COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic a month later, Susan and Mark Haggas decided to keep both Meghan and her brother Ryan home for online learning.

interaction Meghan had. Because of the pandemic, she literally saw no one.”

After two months of online learning, it became clear that it wasn’t working.

“To expect a child her age to sit and do schoolwork online like that is too much,” says Susan. “She needed hands-on learning at home.”

Once again, with your generous support, our child life specialist Kim Clark was there to support Meghan with a remote Cancer in the Classroom session for her classmates.

So, on top of caring for a child with cancer and taking turns with Mark to drive into Calgary each week for Meghan’s treatments, Susan took on homeschooling while Mark continued working fulltime.

Thanks to you, we could be there for Meghan in this difficult time. “The Kids Cancer Care Zoom calls were vital to Meghan’s mental health,” says Susan.

“You feel very isolated, especially during a pandemic. Seeing those smiling faces — the hockey players, princesses, dance parties, fun crafts and physio with Caro on Wednesdays — was the only social

Anne Cameron’s journey with childhood cancer began when her 13-yearold son Ty was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Ninety per cent of his blood cells were cancerous. That whirlwind journey still confounds her 11 years later.

In September 2021, it was time for Meghan and Ryan to return to classroom learning, “But after a year and a half of homeschooling, how do we return to school?” asks Susan.

“It was simply a sore throat. Swollen Anne: “I am actually the one who has glands. Possibly mono,” says Anne. “How been the most involved and received on earth did three visits to the walk-in the most from Kids Cancer Care,” she clinic over Christmas break says. “From Pizza Night and two visits to the Alberta while in hospital to Bereaved “Kids Cancer Children’s Hospital over a sore Family Camp and Time to Care has been a throat, become cancer?”

Remember, Kids Cancer Care lifeline for me.” has been a lifeline for me.”

Ty’s treatment protocol involved six months of high-dose chemotherapy, which took him to the brink of death several times.

Cont. on page 4

Ty courageously battled AML twice

Christine McIver, M.S.M., LLD (Hon), CFRE Founder and Chief Executive Officer

While the BMT was successful, the worst of his journey was yet to come. Ty developed graft versus host disease (GvHD), a serious condition where the donated bone marrow attacks the patient’s body.

Anne at Time to Remember

Meghan’s Beads of Courage

“It began attacking — his skin, eyes, mouth and lungs,” says Anne.

“Everything that could go wrong seemed to. He had infection after infection, bacterial, viral, fevers.

During his third visit to the intensive care unit on September 10, 2012 at 4:18 am, Jesus took Ty home.”

Anne marvels that Ty was actually in remission when he left this world and understandably feels robbed by that cruel twist of fate: “Seven days later would have marked his two-year cancer-free point. After that date, the chances of relapse were next to none.”

Meghan and the monkey who saves her place when she’s away from school

Susan and Meghan Haggas

After an 11-month remission, he relapsed.

A bone marrow transplant (BMT) was his only option but finding a perfect match would be next to impossible as Ty was mixed race. When they did find matches in September 2010, Ty underwent a dual cord blood transplant.

Students with their Beads of Courage after the remote Cancer in the Classroom presentation

With gratitude,

PS. If you have the means, please consider making a gift this holiday season and help create magical moments throughout the coming year.

“I’ve never missed a year and have overwhelming gratitude for the staff at Kids Cancer Care who dedicates this time to our kids every year. It’s amazing.”— Anne

Don Molyneaux Photography

Unique Perspectives Photography

“I feel so alone. No one looks like me.”— Meghan

Welcome to the Kids Candidly Holiday issue. You have helped make amazing things happen this year.

healing made possible by you

Ty’s family L-R – Anne (mother), Ty, Nigel (stepfather) and Tanaya (sister)

There are many ironies in their family’s cancer journey, and they are not lost on

— Anne.

Thanks to you, Kids Cancer Care is there for families like Anne’s, offering healing and support at each stage of the cancer journey — even in bereavement.

Your support has helped build a robust Bereavement Program for families facing the unbelievable pain of losing a child.

It started with Time to Remember, followed by Bereaved Family Camp and later Bereaved Parent Cooking Classes.

“We bond, we grieve, we celebrate, and we heal together,” says Anne recalling these programs. “Time to Remember is sacred — the tea lights, the twinkle lights, the poetry. Every year, it is incredible and it’s everything I hoped for. Kids Cancer Care puts an amazing amount of thought and energy into this special evening honouring our kids.”

With your ongoing support, we plan to expand the Bereavement Program, adding social worker Pam Birch, who specializes in grief, to further develop the program.

“Newly bereaved families have asked me: ‘How do you laugh? How do you smile when talking about your son?’ I respond, ‘We are so fortunate to have the support of this group. We have Kids Cancer Care.’”

Thank you for being there for bereaved families like Anne’s. Your generosity means that no family will have to grieve alone.

how to help

CREATE YOUR LEGACY

There are so many ways to create a legacy and there’s an option for everyone. You can create your legacy by making a gift through 1. Your will 2. Securities and mutual funds 3. RRSPs or RRIFs 4. Real estate 5. Charitable remainder trusts To learn more, please contact Karen Kaufmann at 403 930 6953 or kkaufmann@kidscancercare.ab.ca

ways you can help us

rebuild young lives during COVID and beyond

BE A MONTHLY MAKE A ONE- FUNDRAISE DONOR TIME GIFT ONLINE For the price of a coffee, you can be a superhero in the life of a child with cancer. Your monthly gifts will add up over time and make a lasting impact in the lives of children with cancer.

Your gift will help ensure we’re here to help kids in these uncertain times.

Start an online fundraising event to help kids living in fear of what COVID-19 could do to their fragile health.

BE BRAVE

CREATE YOUR LEGACY

Register your online Big Brave event and cut, colour or shave your lid for a kid while raising funds for essential online and COVIDadapted programs.

Creating your legacy is easy and there is an option that’s right for everyone. Reach out and ask us for a copy of our legacy giving brochure today.

YOUR GIFTS AT WORK, TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER HOLIDAY ISSUE 2021

kidscancercare.ab.ca

Donate, register or learn more at kidscancercare.ab.ca today.

outreach

Cont. from page 2

Cancer in the Classroom is a fun, interactive presentation that explains childhood cancer in simple terms. Customized for different grade levels, it offers students a safe place to explore the myths and fears of cancer, helping them to better understand the disease and its impact on their classmate.

Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta 5757 4 Street SE Calgary, Alberta T2H 1K8

kidscancercare.ab.ca

Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta is a registered Canadian charity #89940 9171 RR0001.

Kim included Meghan in every step of the process, from choosing which photos to use in the presentation to sharing her cancer experiences and presenting her Beads of Courage. As part of the session, each child receives a set of their own beads to involve them in Meghan’s cancer journey.

Seated at the front of the class, Meghan beamed throughout the session, proudly holding her stuffed monkey. It’s called a Monkey in My Chair, and the smiling monkey comes with each presentation. It helps

Meghan stay connected with her classmates by sitting at her desk while she’s away.

It wasn’t long before the monkey started working its magic in Meghan’s classroom.

“After the presentation, we kept Meghan home for a few days because routine blood work showed her ANC* had dropped significantly,” says Mark. “While she was away, her classmates shared their school stories with the monkey and told Meghan all about their adventures when she returned the next week. Meghan was thrilled.”

Thank you for supporting Meghan as she returns to school. With your generosity, Cancer in the Classroom is expanding young minds and fostering greater understanding and empathy for kids like Meghan. * Absolute neutrophil count may be used to check for infection, inflammation, leukemia, and other conditions. A lower ANC increases the risk of getting an infection.

YOU SUPPORTED MEGHAN WHEN SHE RETURNED TO SCHOOL