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
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.