Child's Name: Kaeleigh 

Parents: Jim and Liz
Siblings: Jeremy
Grandparents: Herb and Betty, and Aunt Minnie who all spent a lot of time with me in the hospital along with my parents who never left my hospital bed

Birthday: May 25

Story: Up until the age of 14, I was a very healthy girl and was excited to be starting my first year of high school. I had always been very healthy and was never sick; therefore, the hospital world was an unknown part of my life. However, that quickly changed one fall day in November, 2000. After having pain in my hip for several weeks, missed school, numerous trips to my family doctor, and eventually being unable to walk due to the pain, I was sent for blood work and an x-ray at Woodstock General Hospital. That same day, my parents were notified that I was to go to the emergency department at CHWO in London right away as they found something on the x-ray. After the biopsies, CT scans, MRI’s, and bone scans, I was diagnosed with stage 3 Ewing Sarcoma of the left hip and pelvis. The next day, I had my central line put in and began chemo. Due to the location of my cancer, it was inoperable, therefore, I received 28 rounds of inpatient chemotherapy which were 4-7 days long each round, and 50 radiation treatments, and 6 surgeries. Due to the high dose chemotherapy I received, I became very ill and lived on 7West for over 2 years. During this time, I was too sick to go home due to many side effects from the treatments, some of which were unknown before I presented with them. During this time, the hospital staff, nurses, and doctors became like family. My nurses or “earth angels” as I call them, inspired me to follow in their footsteps, and I am currently finishing my first year of my BScN nursing degree at UWO, and am looking forward to achieving my dream of becoming an RN and giving back to a hospital that has given me so much. My goal is to work in paediatric oncology at CHWO on 7West/North and begin a career that I have dreamed of for so long.

FAVOURITE THINGS
Colour: Pink, brown, turquoise
Number:25, 03
Nick/pet names:Kael
Hospital Staff: Dr. Jardine, Mary Jo, all of the wonderful nurses on 7 West/North. My best friend Todd Wharton from Art Therapy, Melissa, Michelle, Erika, Sharon, Debra and everyone from Childlife, all of the awesome nurses/staff in PMDU, Dr. Dar at LRCC, Orthopaedic surgeons Dr. Carrey and Dr. Leitch, psychologists Margaret and Cathy, dieticians, physiotherapist Natasha, and the various other departments that I continue to use
Camp Trillium Staff: Everyone!!
Teacher: All of them
Treatment Friends: Keeley Nadalin, Caedan Gallagher, Dustin Drury, Alicia DiFazio, Josh Weber, Brennan Howe, Kent Reeves, Austin Cutone, Cody Simpson, Lidia Peters, Kyle Stevens, Shana Dowdell, Jody, Lauren, Ryan, David
Wish: To find a cure for childhood cancer so no more babies, kids, or teens have to suffer and so no more families are destroyed from the deaths or aftermath of treatments of these special kids
Events: ChildCan trip to Canada’s Wonderland in July, wish trip to Disney World and Give Kids the World Village
Songs: “Believe” by Suzie McNeil, “I hope you dance” by Leanne Wolmack
Pets: A 4-year-old Yorkshire terrier named Duncan
Interests: Spending time with family/friends and Duncan, going to the beach, reading, shopping, facebook
Traits:Happy, healthy, strong, focused, blessed
Books: Project Hope, Chicken Soup for the Nurses Soul, Chicken Soup for the Survivors Soul, There are survivors, Childhood Cancer Survivors a practical guide to your future

What’s Happening Now: I am currently in my first year of the BScN registered nursing program at UWO, and am thoroughly enjoying the program. I am looking forward to graduation in 2011 and fulfilling my dream of working in pediatric oncology on 7West/North

Mom & Dads Comments: Kaeleigh is our HERO. She has overcome great odds and survived, and she continues to amaze us as she deals with the aftermaths of treatment. Our hope is for Kaeleigh to achieve her dream of becoming a registered nurse and to work in pediatric oncology and help these kids beat cancer. Our message is for everyone to pay attention to the small miracles that occur everyday, and eventually they will add up the big miracle. Thanks to the staff at CHWO and for the miracles that they help create everyday! We are blessed, Jim & Liz.