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Ethan’s Story

Southlake staff rallied around Ethan.

Ethan was just ten years old when doctors discovered that the relentless pain in his leg was more than just growing pains – it was cancer.

The damage was so severe that Ethan’s leg was amputated below the knee, and his parents were devastated. Their joyful and active boy, who loved basketball and moonwalking across the floor, was going to lose his leg.

But Ethan’s spirits remained positive. When he awoke after surgery, the first thing he said was “Thank you Mommy and Daddy for saving my life.”

At first, the Stouffville family spent much of their time travelling back and forth downtown before discovering Southlake’s Paediatric Oncology Clinic, which operates in partnership with SickKids and the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario. They were hesitant at first to take Ethan somewhere that wasn’t familiar, but from the moment they walked in the doors at Southlake they were treated like family.

There’s nothing the staff won’t do to bring joy to our son during the most challenging time in his young life.

Cherin, Ethan’s Mother

In the midst of six cycles of chemotherapy, Ethan was looking forward to watching one of the final NBA playoff games with his favourite team when a fever landed him back at Southlake.

But his caring team at Southlake wasn’t about to let him miss the big game. They turned the hospital playroom into Jurassic Park, with decorations and a basket filled with concession snacks and a special ticket to give him VIP access. A doctor even gave Ethan their own Toronto Raptors jersey to wear and keep.

This kind of compassionate care is possible when our clinical teams have the tools and equipment they need in hand to care for each and every patient like Ethan who turns to us, enabling them to support every aspect of a patients care.

 

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