As kids returned to school last week, they enjoyed the simple pleasures of a new school year – catching up with friends, playing outdoors, and discovering new subjects. But for 13-year-old oncology patient Nova, the chance to go back to school is something truly special and not taken for granted.
Nova spent over nine months at BC Children’s Hospital after being diagnosed with Renal Ewing’s Sarcoma last October. She just returned home to Castlegar with her family at the end of August. Even though she missed much of the last school year, Nova has shown remarkable courage and determination, inspiring everyone who meets her.
Nova and her mom and dad, Janelle and Jesse, want to share Nova’s medical story to help raise awareness and support for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Dream Lottery.
“Nova is an incredibly thoughtful person,” Jesse, Nova’s dad, explained. “She tends to think carefully before speaking, and when she does speak, you realize how brilliantly witty and funny she is. It’s really through music where she is most comfortable expressing herself.”
Nova lives and breathes music, and is an incredibly accomplished pianist, having won medals for the highest test score in her grade in all of B.C., two years in a row.
“Nova will play Disney movie songs all day, and learn music she’s heard in video games,” Jesse continued. “She’s always creating and playing something.”
Nova was planning a puppet play for the kindergartners in her school when she was diagnosed with kidney cancer.
“When she was given the news, it was one of the things she was upset about most,” said Janelle. “She asked me, ‘Will I still be able to do the puppet play?’”
When the family first arrived at BC Children’s from Castlegar for testing in October 2023, Jesse and Janelle didn’t realize their family would be staying in Vancouver for the next nine months.
“We packed for four days,” said Janelle. “We thought we were just going for scans. It wasn’t until this summer that we’ve been able to go back home as a family.”
Throughout that time, the music therapy program at BC Children’s was a very important part in Nova’s life.
“It was always special when Erin, the music therapist, came into the room to sing with Nova,” Jesse explained. “It is significant when something brings happiness to days that are otherwise hard.”
One of the first things Nova wanted to do when she was able to leave her bed was play the piano.
“At the time, she couldn’t quite sit up, and she was using a wheelchair that allowed her to lean back,” said Janelle. “She was so tired, so quiet, but then she went into the music room, straight to the piano, and just started playing.”
“Although so many things had changed for Nova, the piano was something that remained a constant,” Jesse said. “It was a way for her to touch that part of her life before the surgery.” Music was especially important during chemotherapy – a procedure that can last hours and can cause severe nausea.
“I 'like like like' it when the music therapists come to sing for me when I'm getting chemo,” Nova said. “It helps me fall into a deeper sleep and helps me feel not so sick.”
Nova and her family continue to visit BC Children’s while Nova receives active treatment. These days, Nova can be found recording music mixes and playing on the ukelele while her sister Maddie takes the lead on drums.
"Having the ability to express themselves is something every child should have at hospital,” Janelle said. “Music is a big part of our lives back home. We are all so grateful that music could remain a part of Nova’s life during our time at the hospital.”
The Dream Lottery supports groundbreaking research initiatives at BC Children’s Hospital, where over 1,500 dedicated research professionals are pushing the limits of what’s possible in children’s health care. Funds from the lottery expedite the transformation of innovative ideas into life-saving treatments – ultimately helping more kids like Nova get back to being kids.
Every year, over 130,000 kids and youth from all corners of BC and the Yukon rely on BC Children’s for specialized care. The winner of the Dream Lottery can choose one of 10 packages, including dream homes in Surrey, Vancouver, Vernon, Sooke, Langley, Courtenay, Maple Ridge, Kelowna or Burnaby or $2.3 million in tax-free cash.
Tickets are available until Oct. 11 or when they sell out. They can be purchased at bcchildren.com.
