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Meet Our Hero: Maranda

One day, while playing on the slide during recess at school, Maranda took a bad fall and hurt her arm. It began to swell and, relying on mother's intuition, Maranda's mother took her to the local emergency room.

Maranda

Maranda, Bone Cancer

Maranda had felt pain in her arm prior to the fall so doctors in Bowmanville took an X-ray. After studying the results, they noticed some abnormalities and sent the X-rays to a radiologist. Immediately Maranda was referred to The Hospital for Sick Children.

Maranda and her mother made the drive from Pontypool, Ont. to Toronto shortly after hearing the news and found a team of medical staff waiting for them. Doctors suspected Maranda had a form of bone cancer.

After several tests, doctors confirmed the bone cancer as osteosarcoma. As part of her treatment, Maranda received 10 months of chemotherapy. Surgeons saved her arm during a 13-hour operation by using bone from a donor to replace the bone that runs from her shoulder to her elbow.

Although Maranda has spent a significant amount of time commuting between the hospital and her home in Pontypool, she remains positive and upbeat. In February 2008, Maranda completed her last round of chemotherapy. She returns to SickKids every three months for a check up and attends classes regularly at school.

In May 2008, Maranda took part in the First Annual SickKids Radiothon in Peterborough by sharing her story on the radio. She wanted to give back to the hospital that has done so much for her. The Peterborough area and surrounding communities rallied together in support of The Hospital for Sick Children.

Each year, SickKids sees approximately 320 new cancer patients like Maranda, who represent more than 25 per cent of all new cases of paediatric cancer in Canada.

 

HOW CAN YOU HELP? Thousands of children like Maranda need your support.