Joy was not just any kid; she was a kind, super funny, and chatty smartie who fell in love with badminton and creative designs at the tender age of five. Her passion for sports and arts shone through in everything she did. Joy played badminton at the provincial level, engaged in various school sports and clubs, and designed all sorts of quirky crafts. She was an avid reader and a seeker of knowledge, with a special fondness for math and coding.
“I want to be an architect, or study computers, and coach badminton part-time, be an artist, or I can…”
But all these dreams suddenly paused. In the spring of 2023, Joy confronted a harrowing series of misdiagnoses when her health rapidly deteriorated. Unusual symptoms like constant fever and sudden joint pains troubled her. Despite multiple hospital visits, no conclusive results emerged before March Break.
Among the most baffling misdiagnoses was osteoporosis—a bone disease typically seen in elderly adults over 60—suggested by a clinic doctor (quite a stretch for a 10-year-old). Another dismissed her joint pains as mere growing pains. Even renowned doctors at the city's largest emergency center overlooked the abnormalities in her blood test results, attributing her symptoms to "normal fever and flu."
After three months of having no clues, finally, on March 20, 2023, Joy was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL), the most common type of cancer in children at her age.
Following that was three-months of intense treatment, and daily hospital visits. That included LP tests monthly, blood tests, numerous medications, and rounds of chemotherapy. Her size and shape drastically changed as a direct result of her chemotherapy treatment. The steroid medication caused her weight to balloon, while daily chemotherapy brought on constant nausea and frequent vomiting, leading to rapid weight loss at times. She lost all her hair, and her skin became pale and sensitive……Joy’s family was very concerned and at the same time, helpless to the situation. Shedding a tear, telling ourselves “it’s only hair”, but in reality knowing it meant so much more.
But Joy remained unfazed. Gazing at herself in the mirror, running her hand over her thinning hair, she quipped, “I've always wondered what it would be like to be bald. Now I finally get to find out!”
With little energy to attend school or meet friends, the children’s hospital became Joy’s preferred place. She enjoyed chatting with the hospital staff—just like how she used to be. Nate, a social worker at McMaster Children’s Hospital, remarked, “I think Joy’s name suits her perfectly because she truly is a joy. She enjoys showing me new and exciting things on her phone, talking about her family... I genuinely cherish our conversations together.” Mackenzie, one of the nurses, recalled their first meeting, saying, “I saw her staring at the wall, drawing little wombats. Now, every time we see each other, we say ‘wombats’... She’s incredibly talented at drawing, like, very good. Picture for picture, she can capture everything so wonderfully.”
Joy reached the maintenance stage of treatment by the end of January, 2024. Dealing with daily nausea, eye issues, and other medical complexities has required ongoing treatment, but Joy remains upbeat. Her positive outlook and creativity continue to brighten the days of those around her. Now, Joy is thrilled to be back at school, where she eagerly engages in learning and reconnects with friends. She also returns to the badminton court, where her passion for the sport fuels her determination and joy.
It’s incredible to witness Joy gaining strength week by week, enjoying herself more with each passing day. She's becoming happier, stronger, with a healthy glow returning to her cheeks and her appetite coming back. As a child, she has taught us invaluable lessons that even adults struggle with—lessons that resonate throughout her journey as a cancer survivor.
