Zoë

I will always remember October 31, 2016, as the scariest Halloween of my life. It was the day my three-year-old daughter, Zoë, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We had spent the weekend at the hospital having several tests done in the hopes of understanding what was making her legs hurt so much that she could no longer walk.

From the day she was diagnosed, we quickly realized that we would not be alone in this. We were touched at how much our friends, family and loved ones were there for us. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and that’s even more true when your child is sick.

I’ve always been a positive person in life, and I chose to put my trust entirely in Zoë’s medical team. As a teacher, I’d seen kids with leukemia before, so I knew that we were going to have a difficult few years. But I had faith that Zoë was going to survive. But still, having to confront the fear of losing your child is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

It’s been two years now since Zoë finished her treatments, and she continues to impress us every day with her strength and determination. She had to learn how to walk all over again in physiotherapy, and it took several months. She not only learned to walk but also to skate, ski, swim, do gymnastics, ride a bike and so much more! She is an incredible big sister with a huge amount of empathy.

Sarah-Eve Philippe-Beauchamp