Hello, my name is Ava. I was 7 years old when my mom got sick with breast cancer. My older sister is Emma and she was 9. My little brother Dax was 4.

Emma and I could tell there was a sad feeling in the morning. We did not know why. At noon, my dad went in the garage to call family. He was in there a long time. My mom cried lots. Dax was playing on the Nintendo Switch. Finally, my parents called a family meeting and the secret was revealed. We cried for a long time. Dax didn’t look like he cared but we knew he did deep inside. Every day, I saw my parents angry and sad, but I knew it was going to be a little rough for them. My mémère (grandma) gave me good advice and it made me feel better. She had cancer before my mom.

My mom started getting medicine at the Cancer Centre every week. The leaves were falling. She started a sticker chart for Dax and I so we could count down her treatments. She lost her hair. When my mom was getting treatments, I made her lots and lots of crafts, cards, and gifts because I wanted to make her feel better. They said things like “I love you. You got this. Just take a deep breath in and out. You’re unstoppable.” At school, she was not there so I was kind of sad. I could not steal her snacks from her lunch! Lots of family had us over for sleepovers when my mom was sick. And all the teachers and my counselor (my aunty) took such good care of us. They made sure my heart was ok and made me smile every day.

Thanks to Dr. Iqbal and the people at the Cancer Centre, they helped her a lot. I made them a card to say thank you. It said “Thank you for helping my mom. With your help, she’s trying to kick breast cancer’s ass!” When why mom told us that she was cancer-free, we were crying from joy! The next day, my parents told us they were taking us to Disneyland to celebrate. It was the best trip because my mom wasn’t sick anymore.

This summer, we recycled all our cans at the lake to donate. I want people like my mom to get treatments too.

My mom finished radiation this week. My sister, my brother and I made her cards. I told my mom in her card “You were in a big big storm but remember after a storm, there is always a rainbow. We’re all proud of you.”

Ava Pratt
8 years old