Dec. 10 will mark the seven-year anniversary that Breanna Baxter died at the age of nine from a brain tumour.
Her mom, Koreen Huard, said the Christmas holidays are always a very difficult time for her and her family.
“Dec. 10 is pretty quiet for us, but we are able to get through Christmas a little better now,” Huard said. “It's still a day at a time.”
Helping to keep her memory alive, Breanna's photo graces the cover of the Calendar of Hope, a new fundraiser for the Breanna Baxter Pediatric Fund of the Northern Cancer Foundation. The calendar was launched Thursday.
There are 600 calendars available, and they sell for $20 each. Featured are different young cancer patients who are either fighting or have won their battle with cancer.
“I love having her picture out there,” said Huard. “She was beautiful. These photos and our memories are all we have left of her, and it will help us keep her memory going. It makes me feel better that I can help someone who is going through what Breanna went through, and hopefully, we're able to help other little ones going through their own journeys.”
Emmit Barry, who is almost two years old, is one of the children who fought cancer and beat it. He was diagnosed May 18 with liver cancer. He's one of the many faces of the Calendar of Hope.
“We just found out two weeks ago that he's fully recovered,” said his mom, Stacey.
“It's special to have him in this calendar, and for the money to go back to the cancer centre and the foundation. They've done a lot for us, they've been a really big part of our healing journey, and it's just nice to be able to give back. The staff here has been phenomenal, and we're very fortunate to have had the support we did.”
Tannys Laughren, executive director of the Northern Cancer Foundation, said the calendar is a way to “celebrate these amazing kids and their journeys, and for us to remember our very sweet Breanna.
“Having her photo on the calendar is a huge honour for us,” she said. “All of the families of the children featured in the calendar were incredible, and it's a great way for them to honour their children -- and to let them know they are our heroes. It's been a really great experience.”
All funds raised through the sale of calendars stay at the Northeast Cancer Centre to support the Breanna Baxter Fund. The fund was created to help pediatric oncology patients and their families who might be going through a tough time, whether it's for medication they might need or just extra support.
Calendars are currently available at the pediatric oncology clinic and at the Northeast Cancer Foundation office at the cancer centre.
“A lot of local businesses will be carrying them, but they just came in yesterday, so they are literally hot off the presses,” Laughren said.
