Following a Spring season sprinkled with headaches, things took a turn for the worse in July 2022 when Lily’s parents rushed her to Victoria General Hospital (VGH) with a horrible headache, lethargy, and nausea. After bloodwork and a CT scan, a doctor entered the room, and their life was turned upside down: a large mass was found on Lily’s brain, and a helicopter was on its way to airlift her to BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) in Vancouver.
When they arrived at BCCH, they were greeted by a fantastic team who supported them during many difficult conversations. Two days later, in unbearable pain, Lily underwent emergency neurosurgery to remove a large, malignant brain tumor (ependymoma). Some residual tumor remained, so Lily had a second neurosurgery in August 2022. While Lily’s tumor was successfully removed in the end, she is on an oncology monitoring plan with regular MRIs and doctor’s visits.
Lily’s aunt is a teacher who sees so many children but says, “There is no one quite like Lily. She is the strongest, most genuine ray of sunshine. Throughout this experience, she continues to amaze us all with her strength and positivity.” She describes Lily’s Mom as “the Elsa to my Anna,” which is fitting considering how much Lily and her sister Grace love Frozen and Disney. Knowing this, Lily’s aunt recommended they apply to Help Fill a Dream for a trip to Disneyworld.
In May 2023, Lily’s Dream came true when her family went to Disneyworld. Her family discovered she’s a thrill seeker – the faster, the higher, the spinier, the better! Lily loved the rides and rollercoasters, the parade and the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom, and spending time with the characters. In her mom’s words, “The trip was so special; to watch the girls enjoy the magic was absolutely incredible.”
