Brady’s journey began in October of 2010 with the common sniffles and cough. Over the next three months, ups and downs and many trips to the emergency room, there were signs that something was not right with Brady. Frustrated with Brady’s health concerns, Leah and Brian, Brady’s parents, decided to take him to the emergency room once again. “Never in a million years would I have thought that I would soon be finding out the worst news any parent could ever receive,” says Leah.
The paediatrician said that he is 99% sure Brady has leukemia or lymphoma.
“My world is crashing into millions of pieces. How could this be happening! Is he going to die?” cried Leah.
Brady soon underwent surgery where he got a bone marrow biopsy and a double lumen port inserted. Two weeks later, the test results came in and they confirmed Brady has Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cancer of the lymph nodes with the tumours being in his neck, chest and stomach.
Brady was such a role model and inspiration to his family over the course of the next 4 months. At only 8 years old he was so strong and positive, he never complained.
In April 2011 Leah and Brain had noticed the tumour in his neck had shrunk considerably. “What a GREAT feeling,’ says Leah. But in August 2011 at Brady’s three month check up, the doctor gives the family more bad news, the cancer is back.
“This time Brady was scared and it broke my heart. He wasn’t worried about treatment or being away from his brothers or friends, he is worried about dying,” says Leah.
Brady was so strong during the entire process. He went through three rounds of chemo, a stem cell harvest and with a smile on his face.
“We are now staying in Saskatoon where he’ll stay until his blood cell counts can recover. Brady is getting better one day at a time!” say Brian and Leah. Brady is getting very excited for his wish trip to Turks and Caicos. He is most excited to walk on a white sand beach and swim in the crystal clear blue waters.
Brady also took part in the 2012 Exile Island Saskatoon event with the Rexall Tribe (pictured above, Brady, second right right).
