To you from me;
Hi, my name is Olivia Catarina Moreira, and I am almost four years old. A week after my first birthday our doctor in Sudbury told my Mommy and Daddy, we would have to fly to Toronto right away to meet with a special team of doctors at Sick Children’s Hospital. We left so fast we only had the clothes on our backs and a diaper bag with my food. After many tests they told my Mommy and Daddy that I had cancer. My family cried a lot with this news. The doctors went on to explain that we would have to stay in Toronto for special medical treatment called chemotherapy to help make me all better. My family thought we would be there for only days, but days turned into months.
My daddy took a long-time off work to stay with me. Mommy had just graduated from Nursing, so she put a hold on beginning work. One day we got a call from my Auntie who explained there was an amazing organization called Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC). This is an organization of families who have had or have children with cancer, and they raise money to help out other families. We then became a part of this special group. They first sent us a package to our hotel with a beautiful handmade quilt, books and gift cards for food, phone cards and more. My family was so overwhelmed with happiness and were grateful for this package.
When my chemotherapy treatments ended, I would still have to travel to Toronto. We have continued to visit Sick Kid’s every three weeks for procedures under anesthesia to help make my tumor smaller for the past three years. The NOFCC has held our hands and our hearts during these difficult times. Every trip, they send us a package full of gift cards, meal tickets for the hospital, parking pass, phone cards and even set us up in a hotel if we need somewhere to stay. My last visit to Toronto the doctors explained I would not have to be placed under anesthesia any longer and my cancer is in remission. Now we only have to travel every three months for check ups.
Our journey with the NOFCC will continue with special events they organize like Sudbury Wolves Hockey games, and Christmas parties. My journey with cancer has taught all of us that life is a precious gift of giving goes along way. My Mommy and Daddy and I will be forever grateful for all the help the NOFCC has given us. What amazing group of people!
Love Olivia Catarina Moreira
Sudbury
