The Chelsey Diaries

Lilee-Jean Frances was born on December 5th, 2010; the best day of my life.

On October 13, 2011 a mass was found inside of her head after an emergency ultrasound.
Her father and I rushed her to children’s hospital where she had her first brain surgery (a biopsy).

On October 20, 2011 my little girl was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiformae (GBM), a stage 4 brain cancer most commonly found in males aged 40+. As she cried in our arms in pain, we had the choice to try treatment, or put her in hospice care. We chose to fight.

On October 21, 2011 she had her second brain surgery. Only 45% of the tumor was removed and chemotherapy commenced immediately.

Over the next 2 years Lilee-Jean went through over 24 cycles of chemotherapy, with 3 different protocols.

She also celebrated her first Halloween and her first birthday at the hospital, her second Christmas was only spend at home because her blood counts were too low to start the next round of chemo, her and I lived at Ronald McDonald house for 3 months, after living in the hospital for 4.
The tumor reacted so well to treatment she was a miracle of miracles.
We moved into our new Home together, and for almost a year she was a relatively normal toddler.

We watched as she grew up, changed, smiled and laughed. we counted each and every blessing.

On January 4th, 2013, Lilee had an MRI that showed a new change inside her head. It wasn’t 100% tumor, but it was the assumption her doctors were making. Another scan would be done in two months.

So I took Lilee on her first plane ride to see her grandpa in Banff, Alberta.

In February, Lilee became a princess in Disneyland, thanks to our very own fairy godmother.

On March 4, 2013, Lilee-Jean’s MRI showed the new tumor to be 4X the size it was 2 months ago. Once again, we were given an option to try a new treatment or to let things progress on their own.
And once again we chose to fight.

On May 21, 2013, her MRI showed a rapid growth, and we were given 3-6 months.

With the help of our Love for Lilee community, we started to Dance In the Rain.
Lilee-Jean went to Hawaii, Whistler, Tofino, and took the train to Jasper. She hosted a picnic for all of her Facebook friends.
She got pampered with mommy on an over night spa trip.
She got to pet horses (but didn’t want to ride them)
She had a humongous 2 and a half (ish) birthday party complete with her favourite princess, Cinderella.
She got dance lessons and had her first recital.
She went to music class.
She went to the waterslides, the movies, the drive-in and went boating on the lake.
She had her very first day at school.
She saw the penguins at the aquarium, and the animals at the zoo.
And over the span of two weeks in August, she trick-or-treated around her decorated neighbourhood for Halloween, Santa brought snow on Christmas Eve and she woke up to the most magical (and warm) Christmas morning, running down our little stairs saying “Santa came, Mommy! See that??” while pointing at our Christmas tree.

On August 27, 2013 a few days after we celebrated our Christmas, lilee’s pain was unmanageable at home, she had two terrifying seizures, and we admitted our selves into Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.

On September 6, 2013, after 10 long and no-long-enough, days, My sweet baby girl passed away in my arms, while her daddy played guitar.

Always & Forever, Lilee-Jean, I’ll love you.