Mitchell, Ont. toddler fighting cancer 'like a champ'
Claire Nicholson has spent most of her young life in hospital, after being diagnosed with leukemia just days before her first birthday.
“It’s crushing,” says Claire’s mother, Mandy. “You never expect something like that to happen to your or your family. It’s always to people you know.”
Following months of chemotherapy treatments in London, there was optimism that Claire’s cancer had gone away by late last year, but in May, the Nicholson’s got word that Claire’s cancer was back, and she’s been in hospital, ever since.
“She’s a champ. Other than when she’s really sick, you’d never know that she was going through cancer. She putters along like a normal toddler would. She talks better than most two years old, better than most four year olds, really. Other than cancer, she’s really healthy,” says Mandy.
Mitchell, Ont. toddler Claire Nicholson fighting leukemia in this undated photo. (Source: Nicholson family)
Mitchell, Ont. toddler Claire Nicholson fighting leukemia in this undated photo. (Source: Nicholson family)
Nicholson says they would be struggling even more, if not for their hometown of Mitchell’s support, with meals, money, and words of encouragement.
“Without them, it would be a much darker place,” says Mandy.
Claire is currently fighting a fungal infection, as she awaits a bone marrow transplant. Family and community members are stepping up to get tested, as a potential match.
“If you are between the ages of 17 and 35, you could be someone’s lifeline,” says Perth-Wellington MP John Nater, who is pushing the public to join Canada’s stem cell registry by clicking here.
Mitchell, Ont. toddler Claire Nicholson fighting leukemia in this undated photo. (Source: Nicholson family)
Mitchell, Ont. toddler Claire Nicholson fighting leukemia in this undated photo. (Source: Nicholson family)
While there is optimism young Claire can push her leukemia back into remission again, the bone marrow transplant is the best long term solution for her.
“Any child that’s had a childhood cancer is preconditioned to develop other types of cancer later on in life, but the hope is this type of cancer she has now, won’t come back,” says Mandy.
To learn more about young Claire’s journey, you can visit this Facebook page..
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.