Lauchlan McCabe, fifteen, will miss his graduation of grade 9 at the end of this month because he is receiving treatment for leukemia at the IWK health center.
But his class would not let him graduate without an adequate ceremony.
That is why his schoolmates and teacher traveled about 230 kilometers to Halifax from Rural Pei to celebrate the end of the high school with him at the Children’s Hospital.
“It was great,” said McCabe. “Different, but really great.”
McCabe, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia, said he was surprised to see that some of his friends had shaved his head in solidarity. He also received snacks and a luxurious toy as graduation gifts.
His teacher, Paige Richards, helped coordinate the visit of a day along with the hospital staff and the Vice and Vice -Consolidated School’s vicecipal.
Last Thursday, Richards, the vice president of the school and a father went to the bright and early road with 14 students, almost the entire class, and promoted Halifax about three hours and 40 minutes.
“It was one of the most difficult things for me because they knew that in recent weeks, Lauchie was not right. They knew he was sick,” Richards said, remembering the morning that the school told students about the disease of their classmate.
But once the day came to see McCabe, he said that his students “made it so natural.”
“They are cheating, being silly, and I was very proud of them,” Richards said.
Everyone gathered in a theater inside the hospital, ordered Pizza and had a small graduation ceremony, where McCabe received their grade 9 diploma and a physical education award.
McCabe’s mother, Janessa McCabe, said it was difficult for family to listen to the diagnosis, but helps to know what they face and receive the right treatment. She said the community in Pei has been incredibly supportive. Her sister and a friend have launched a gofundme to help the family with the cost of driving to and from Nueva Scotia, where McCabe’s son will receive her first treatments.
Leukemia is a form of cancer that is directed to the blood -forming tissues of the body, including bone marrow and lymphatic system.
McCabe said that seeing everyone appears to his son during these difficult times was really emotional.
“You simply appreciate the thought and effort that was dedicated to that,” he said. “It was nice to see him with his friends.”
Lauchlan McCabe said his treatment is scheduled to last at least 2 and a half years, but the first month is the real challenge.
He said he is determined to go through the treatment and expects to protect the network of his hockey team, the Eastern Express, once again.
