Twice

Ellie's eldest son Jack has the honour of joining the ranks of being a childhood cancer survivor. When Jack was eight years old, he was playing street hockey with his younger brother, Noah, who poked him in the side with a hockey stick. This hit ruptured a Wilms tumour they didn't know Jack had. Although Jack's illness was an incredibly difficult time for their family, many hidden blessings and life lessons were revealed. The first part of Ellie's story is about a little boy who bravely fought cancer. It will provide a parent's perspective on the challenges they experienced, and how they picked up the pieces and moved forward. Two years later, Ellie received a breast cancer diagnosis, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, which interrupted their lives once again. Twice they navigated their way through the storms of cancer. As one friend remarked, "O'Briens aren't sissies when it comes to fighting cancer." Ellie's response? "Damn straight."