Already this year, 13 families from the Windsor-Essex area have received the devastating news that their child has cancer.
In honour of childhood cancer awareness month, Windsor Regional Hospital is spreading the word about its paediatric oncology unit and the organizations these families rely on when they receive a diagnosis.
Nicole Abdul-Massih is the mother of Ethan who was diagnosed two and a half years ago just before his second birthday. Ethan continues to go through treatment and will deal with the after effects of the treatment for many years. She wants everyone to understand that childhood cancer is not as rare as some believe .
"One I hope I have is that we do not walk away from these faces, and these stories, from these parents and siblings, from the grandparents and friends, from the doctors and nurses and especially from the angels who have gained their wings with the idea that childhood cancer is rare. That it doesn't affect you. That it can't hurt you and that it is too uncomfortable to bare witness to so we will just pass it by," says Abdul-Massih. "Before my son was diagnosed with cancer I naively had this type of attitude but I have learned a great lesson, that it is very far from rare and it affects every single one of us."
The Paediatric Oncology Satellite Clinic at Met Campus of Windsor Regional Hospital cares for over 700 children annually.
Community partners who support the unit include ChildCan, In Honour of the Ones We Love, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Windsor-Essex care For Kids Foundation.
