Team

Coeurs de lion

In January 2021 when our then 11 month old was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer that mostly affects the youngest of children (age 5 and under), we spent many hours asking ourselves “why us?”.

One and a half years later, we realise how lucky we are.

* Lucky that our little boy’s cancer was diagnosed early enough that his treatment options were good.
* Lucky that his cancer responded quickly to chemotherapy so that the toxicity and after effects of this punishing treatment were minimised.
* Lucky that we found ourselves in the hands of a highly trained and compassionate multidisciplinary team who took wonderful care of our son (and us as parents).
* Lucky we had health insurance and understanding employers and did not have to stress (too much) about practical matters.
* Immeasurably lucky that our boy is now 2.5 and acts just like a normal energetic - and stubborn - toddler.

We are lucky for all these reasons and probably many more. But having faced paediatric cancer, we sadly know that not all children and families are so lucky.

So for the second year we will walk and run to show our support for all of the kids and families who have had to ask “why us?”. We need more research in order to have better outcomes - earlier diagnosis, less toxic and more effective treatments, better long-term follow-up, more happy endings, and eventually no children having to face this ugly cancer monster.