My Story, My Hero
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
By: Angela Schell

I am taking part in the relay this year because of my daughter Alysha and all the other children I met and lost.

Over the past two years, my 14-year-old daughter Alysha has undergone 31 radiation treatments, four months of high dose chemotherapy and three major brain surgeries. Throughout this experience, we can proudly say our daughter has not once complained about having a cancerous brain tumour.
In August 2010, Alysha arrived at The Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) and was diagnosed with Pineoblastoma, a malignant brain tumour. This type of tumour grows in the pineal region of the brain. Alysha underwent three major surgeries at Sick Kids: one to drain spinal fluid, another for a biopsy of the tumour and finally, her favourite, to remove 95% of the tumour. The remainder of the tumour was treated with a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.
Alysha spent August 2010 through to March 2011 at Sick Kids and we resided at Ronald McDonald House for the duration of that time. Since we lived far north in Englehart at the time, we decided to sell our home and moved to Orillia when Alysha was well enough to leave Toronto.
Despite everything Alysha has been through during the course of her treatment, she continues to be a very positive, energetic little girl who is always thinking of others. One of the highlights of her time spent as Sick Kids was a surprise visit from recording artist Drake, who took the time to call Justin Beiber, one of Alysha's idols. "It was so nice of Drake and Justin to take the time to talk to me" she says. Since leaving Toronto, Alysha is doing very well and MRI are showing no tumour. She's all ready to graduate this year. She is my biggest HERO.