In this episode, I’m sharing my conversation with Alexx Friesen. Alexx is a Child Life Specialist who works in Toronto. She has worked with families in hospital settings, as well as in hospice and palliative care. She also has experience in oncology, both as a professional, as well as a patient. She herself is a childhood cancer survivor. Her experience as a patient when she was a child led her to this career and it gives her such a unique perspective and skill set to work with families in these extremely difficult scenarios. She is a kind and happy person who is so creative and insightful into the experiences of children. She is also so well-equipped to be doing this very important work.

You can find Alexx online at @childlifealexx.

In this episode, I share my conversation with Michelle Da Costa. Michelle is the mother of three girls. Her youngest daughter is a childhood cancer survivor. Michelle is also a Parent Liaison with @OPACC Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer. I had the fortune of meeting Michelle at a parent drop-in while my own child was in treatment, and our conversation had a deep impact on me. Michelle tells the story of her daughter's experience with cancer, and how it inspired her to become a support and a resource to other oncology parents. It is remarkable how Michelle has turned her own struggle into purpose, and how she shows up week after week, in service of all the families who are now walking the path she travelled so many years ago.

In today's episode, I am speaking with two representatives from Make-A-Wish® Canada.

You are very likely familiar with Make-A-Wish Canada. This is the charitable organization that grants wishes to children with critical illnesses. But you may not be aware of some of the interesting facts about Make-A-Wish Canada that I learned from this conversation:

• In 2023, Make-A-Wish Canada brought wishes to 1,389 wish kids and their families across Canada.
• A wish might be a chance to travel, to meet a celebrity, to have an experience, or to have an item or piece of equipment. And some kids are hoping to realize other dreams like recording a song or writing a book. The wish coordinators are so thoughtful and creative at helping kids to uncover their wishes and bringing them to life.
• Nearly 50% of children in Canada waiting for a wish have been diagnosed with Cancer. Wishes are considered to be an essential part of treatment and can even improve outcomes.

In the words of Make-A-Wish Canada, “Wishes are transformative, replacing fear with confidence, sadness with joy, and anxiety with hope. Make A Wish believes that through these experiences, children can discover that anything is possible.”

If you are interested in getting involved with Make-A-Wish Canada, either to donate, to fundraise or to volunteer, you can find them online at makeawish.ca.