Hockey Fights Cancer funds life saving trials for children with cancer

Maiya is an adorable two-and-a-half-year-old with an infectious smile and outgoing personality. She loves playing outside, so much so that many days she wears her parents out and they have to coax her into the house with her favourite snack. She is their little explorer, curious about all the treasures she finds on her neighborhood walks.
It's hard to imagine when you look at her, but this little girl is living with cancer.

Her family's future was rocked earlier this year when her parents, Jeremy and Sierra, received the life-altering news she had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. As young parents, they faced the harsh reality their loveable toddler's life was at risk.
Late last December, Maiya slipped down two stairs in their Brandon home and fractured her ankle. While at the emergency, she had blood taken. The results were the first hint something wasn't right.
Maiya's mood and behaviour also changed quickly over a short period. She stopped being a happy toddler. She'd always had a good appetite, but her parents noticed she didn't want to eat anything. And she stopped walking. Watching her regress without knowing why was terrifying for them.
Can you imagine coming to terms with being told your baby has cancer?
A late-night phone call urging Jeremy and Sierra to take Maiya back to the emergency, as soon as they could, provided clues to their lingering questions about her health.
They tried not to think too far ahead, because the "what if" thoughts were unbearable. Coping with their emotions was so hard … they were just numb.
May 2022 - the end of Maiya's treatment - seems so far away.
The impact of Maiya's cancer is always present. The fatigue and mood swings. And it's heartbreaking to realize their two-and-a-half-year-old knows cancer terms. Childhood cancer is something you just can't imagine. Until you experience it.
Clinical trials, which Hockey Fights Cancer supporters have helped fund for many years through generous donations to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, have shaped Maiya's treatment. Your continued generosity is critical to them continuing to be available for her and other young children with cancer.
This November marks the Winnipeg Jets' ninth Hockey Fights Cancer (HFC) campaign. Fans have generously raised more than $850,000 over eight HFC campaigns to help local kids, just like Maiya, receive care right in Manitoba. While the pandemic has pressed pause on much of what we are used to doing and experiencing in life, cancer remains a challenging reality for many kids and families in Manitoba. Fans can support this year's virtual campaign by donating at
biggestfans.ca
or texting CARE to 20222 (to donate $10 or $20).