This year’s Mother’s Day was extra special for a North Vancouver mother who got to see her child recover from cancer.
Sheryl Harrop’s 13-year-old child, Teagan recently recovered from ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer found in bones and soft tissues.
“Last Mother’s Day, we were in the hospital,” said Sheryl. “So this one’s quite special.”
Teagan began treatment at BC Children’s Hospital in December 2022 and continued with chemotherapy and surgery for almost an entire year.
They say they had an incredible journey and support system with staff at BC Children’s Hospital.
“We knew it had to be done and that we were in good hands. And in order for the treatment plan to progress and for the chemo to kill all these cancer cells, it had to do all this other damage to bone marrow,” said Sheryl.
Teagan’s fight started after doctors found a “grapefruit-sized tumour” on their rib. Teagan says the unpleasant process of chemotherapy started after that.
“All your hair falls out, and your blood cell count drops, and so you get very tired, you bruise easily, and you can get sick very easily,” said Teagan.
“It was a very hard thing to do week in and week out.”
Now Teagan is cancer-free and returning to school full-time. They say they’re still in close touch with the BC Children’s Hospital support staff.
“I’m still checking up with [B.C.] Children’s Hospital every three months for a CT scan, and they are lovely every time. They are very good about keeping the whole family involved.”
Teagan says the love and support of their mom are what kept them strong through their fight with cancer.
“We’ve been through a lot in the last year, and so I’m so excited that we get to celebrate her [on Mother’s Day], and just really thank her for all that she did. Because she did do so much.”