STORIES

Story #1

My son Charlie was diagnosed with ALL just after his 4th birthday. My application to law school was half completed, and that´s how it stayed. The next day my wife and I met with the oncologist for an hour -- but don´t ask me what she said at that meeting, I don´t remember much about it. Charlie had a bone marrow aspiration that day -- that I will never forget, but fortunately he has forgotten it.

The bone marrow aspiration signalled the beginning of three and a half years of what can only be described as absolute hell for our entire family. That´s how long Charlie had to be subjected to chemotherapy.

The Chemo wasn´t the only hardship we had to endure. Our children had been enrolled in full time day care since my wife and I both had to work. Group day care is a wonderful place to pick up germs, and the last place Charlie could be. Over the next three and a half years he would frequently have little or no immune system, and what would otherwise be a minor infection could very easily be fatal. We could not afford to drop to one income, so we had to find alternate child care arrangements.

I can´t tell you how many day care agencies had room for our three children until they found out that Charlie had leukaemia -- then they only had room for the younger two -- they wouldn´t take Charlie.

Charlie´s friends couldn´t visit. When they could, they often didn´t. Many people, out of ignorance, were afraid of him. They might get cancer. They might give him something (that fear was often well founded, but not always). He couldn´t do much except endure his treatment. He lost his hair more than once. The prednisone and decadron that he was on made his joints hurt and made him round -- he looked like Charlie Brown. Wherever he went, people looked at him, stared at him. He noticed. How could he not? As they grew older, his brother and sister noticed too.

My wife was asked, by supposedly educated people, what she did that caused Charlie to get leukaemia. She was told she must have done something during the pregnancy -- been too close to high voltage lines, not eaten properly, etc.

There was one place, one group of people to whom Charlie wasn´t cancer, not a pariah -- he was a child, he was a friend. That place was and is Camp Trillium. Ignorance has no place there. Prejudice is unknown. Charlie and his siblings were welcomed with open arms -- no questions asked (except "What would you like to do?").

Trillium volunteers and staff were at the hospital when Charlie was admitted, they were at the clinic when he was there, they came and visited him and his siblings at home and in the community, and they were at Camp too. Every single one of them was there only to help Charlie, Jennifer, Steven and my wife and I. They were not only willing to play with Charlie; they went out of their way to do so. To them Charlie was not a leper, he was a special friend. He was not avoided, he was sought out. Trillium staff and volunteers looked forward to seeing Charlie again, and he them.

Through Camp Trillium and all of its programs Charlie, Jennifer and Steven have managed to get through their battle with cancer -- don´t think for a minute that cancer doesn´t affect the entire family -- as well adjusted, happy, self confident children. There has also been support from Camp Trillium staff and volunteers for my wife and I, not to mention the strength we have drawn from the other families we met through Camp Trillium.

I have no doubt that Camp Trillium is largely responsible for my family having come through our fight against childhood cancer as well as we have. Who else could have a child looking forward to a visit to the cancer clinic?

Thanks to Camp Trillium my children have a childhood they can look back on fondly. The hospital and the cancer clinic are not scary places to Charlie or his siblings. How much is that worth?

Story #2

During Kyle´s deal with cancer, Camp Trillium offered something he and all cancer kids want, an opportunity to feel "normal" - not to standout in a crowd. Camp Trillium´s main focus is to provide camps for kids with cancer, their siblings and their parents. There are special Family Camps or Kids Only Camps. Either gives the participants the opportunity to be themselves and meet others in the same situation. This networking is invaluable and the friendships developed can last a lifetime.

Story #3

Camp Trillium has played such an important role in our family´s life for over 10 years.

We first went to family camp one year after our 3 year old son, Justin, was diagnosed with cancer. We spent a memorable week with our three children, Christian, then 6, Justin, 4, and little Nikki who was only 1. It was a time to get away from the hospital, get away from our day-to-day stresses. For a whole week, we were pampered and supported in a beautiful, natural setting by well-trained, caring staff, special friends and volunteers.

That first week was the beginning of a great relationship with Camp Trillium where we have had the pleasure and privilege of going back to Garratt´s Island many times as a family. As the kids got older, they returned to res camp where they reconnected with good friends who could relate to what they were living.

In addition to enjoying family camps and residential camps at Garratt´s Island for ten years, the kids have benefited from winter camp, day camps, the TIC program, the Leadership and Training Program and the Quest Program. It is, in fact, Christian´s experience as an assistant counsellor last summer at Rainbow Lake and at Garratt´s that gave him a leg´s up to get a job this year as a swimming instructor and lifeguard with the City of Ottawa.

In turn, the experience as a lifeguard and instructor gave him the additional experience he needed to now return to camp this coming summer as a Counsellor! With years of experience at Camp Trillium, he is sure to be able to give back a lot of fun, support and friendship he received there over so many years.

For Nikki, who is now 11, it is a wonderful testimony to the Camp that she will not let us book her any other summer activity until she knows when she is going to Garratt´s Island to see her friends. Every year, it is the highlight of her summer holiday.

As for Justin, who sadly passed away in 1999 after a 5 year battle with cancer, we have extraordinary memories of him enjoying camp, his eyes shining and his smile so bright. One of the highlights of a family camp we shared in 1998 was the night he and friends performed one of the Backstreet Boys songs on stage during an evening show. The crowd was in a frenzy as Justin imitated Nick Carter. Fortunately, we have those precious 5 minutes on tape and in pictures, perhaps the most precious we possess... thanks to Camp. The first year that Justin was able to go to res camp he was recovering from surgery. Even though we were worried about leaving him there while still needing medical care, he received the most extraordinary attention from the Body Shop. When I offered to bring him home early, he categorically refused saying he wanted to stay with his friends. He was having the time of his life.

We are so grateful to Camp Trillium for providing us with these wonderful moments and opportunities... all at no cost.

Story #4

When Jonathan was first diagnosed with ALL at the age of 3 1/2 we as you can imagine we were devestated. It was very difficult to cope with this on our own but thanks to the wonderful world of Camp Trillium we had an opportunity to meet other families who were also coping with the same difficulties. Even though the camp focuses on the children it also provides a valuable service to the parents and siblings who struggle with this sudden impact to their lives as a family unit.

To meet others and openly discuss our fears, concerns and how we deal with our daily lives helps make this ordeal a little easier.

There are not many other places or charities out there that provide this service for the family members. Camp Trillium opened the door for Kelly and myself to adjust to our new normal life as familes of children with cancer.

Thanks go out to all the wonderful staff and volunteers that helped us during such a difficult time in our life.

Story #5

Tyler was just 2 years, 2 months and 22 days when cancer took his life. Tyler was the little brother of Scott who was all of 7 years old when he attended his brother's funeral. Tyler was the big brother of Matt who was a sweet baby of only 7 months when he attended his brother's funeral. Jay was born 1 year after his brother's funeral. Camp Trillium is what keeps all 4 of them connected.

At camp, Scott shares his story with his peers and Matt and Jay will meet others who have lost a sibling before they even had a chance to know him. At camp, they meet kids who share their experiences. At camp, the 3 Sherk brothers stand together and for a brief moment, in the safety of Camp Trillium which honours the life of Tyler, they are the 4 Sherk brothers.

The cancer community can not forget about the survivors left behind because some of them are kids. Camp Trillium is the only place that my bereaved children can go because they too, are victims of cancer. My kids are forever touched by cancer, but with Camp Trillium's focus on life they will find the tools to both honour their brother's memory and continue to live a happy healthy life.

Thank you Camp Trillium for caring about all 4 of my children.