Our Champions
“Cancer can touch you, but not your soul; neither your thoughts, nor your heart.”
Julianna Burke
Julie is a vibrant 11 year old girl who is in the fight of her life. When I say fight of her life, it's so huge I personally can not begin to imagine what this fight is like for her. You see Julie was diagnosed In January 2019 with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. Julie has an amazing smile and energy about her and she lights up a room when she comes in. It wasn't until Jim and I spoke to her dad that we knew what was really going on with Julie.
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When we first met Julie at the RMH she was doing everything every child wants to do. Playing with friends, playing games on her ipad and giggling with her friend Kinley. Up until December 2018 Julie was a healthy 10 year old playing hockey, riding horses and just being a kid. How does a 10 year old active child go from being perfectly healthy to stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma cancer in a blink of an eye? Julie is currently undergoing Radiation treatments and Chemotherapy. Sadly this isn't her first round since her diagnosis and its taking its toll on her poor little body. This round of treatments alone is 5 weeks of radiation and 33 weeks of chemotherapy.
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Julie has had biopsy's and blood samples taken and sent to Sick Kids in Toronto so more testing and research could be done on Julie's type of cancer. This will help them understand more of hers and help others later who may also have Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma.
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On June 20, 2019 Mike and Keri (Julies Mom and Dad) had a meeting with the Oncology team and the PICU medical doctors and have received devastating news. Julie’s Cancer has come back and is now in the peritoneal fluid surrounding her organs. Her liver is in failure which does not allow for treatment.
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June 23, 2019 this sweet warrior lost her battle with this unforgiving illness. Julianna will forever be remembered for her spunky nature and beaming smile.
Below is a link for Julianna's facebook page to learn more of her story. She is truly a Warrior Princess.
On August 17th we will be raising funds for the Alberta Cancer Foundation and are asking for your help. Please donate to your favourite driver registered. Your donations will help so many fighting cancer.
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Julie's story can be seen at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1288417427976742/