Silas

Silas is an expressive and witty 13-year-old boy who is quick to crack a joke. In his spare time, he attends navy cadets, plays badminton, rides his bike, and loves to play video games with his friends.

Silas is also undergoing cancer treatment.

His journey at CHEO started in July 2024 after a routine checkup with his family doctor. During their examination, they noticed that Silas’ lymph nodes were swollen on the left side of his neck. A blood test, chest x-ray and ultrasound later, Silas’ parents received an urgent call from their doctor who shared the news that he might have cancer.

From there, additional tests were quickly arranged at CHEO—another ultrasound, more blood work, a CT scan, and a biopsy.

Silas’ mother, Yvonne, says the call she received from their CHEO doctor is etched in her memory.

“I still remember when Dr. Fortin called to share the neck biopsy results,” Yvonne recalls. “She gently explained that Silas would also need a bone marrow biopsy. We cried over the phone while she patiently explained what to expect and comforted us.”

Silas was diagnosed with T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma.

Duncan, Silas’ father, says the news came as a shock, but through their love for each other and their unshakeable faith, they were able to have a peaceful, serene weekend before the start of what has now been a nearly two-year road to recovery.

“We’re a religious family, so we pray together every day—that weekend was no exception,” Duncan remembers. “We don’t know why, but during those few days, it felt really peaceful—we sat on the couch and watched movies and television, we played around and just spent time together as a family.

“After we prayed, we prepared ourselves. We thought, ‘maybe we’ll have to see him in Heaven.’”

Mercifully, this wasn’t in the cards for Silas and his family, as he’s now in the maintenance phase of treatment. He’s had his port removed, was able to go back to school, and regained his energy. The path to get there hasn’t been easy, however.

One of the most nerve-racking moments came when Silas was so ill from chemotherapy that he couldn’t stop vomiting and felt so discouraged that he said he didn’t want to live anymore. Yvonne contacted their case manager, who moved his next appointment up immediately. When they arrived at the Medical Day Unit (MDU), he collapsed due to extreme fatigue and muscle loss. No wheelchairs were near, so she carried him as he vomited in a bag. “A child life specialist soon arrived with a wheelchair and a bowl, and the nurses and physician came right away to comfort him,” Yvonne says. “He was saying he wanted to die, so one nurse came forward, gave him a big hug, and told him, ‘You won’t die. We’re here with you.’ That kindness meant everything.”

That support, both medical and emotional, is exactly why Silas and his family are excited to represent CHEO as a McDonald’s Dream Team family at this year’s CN Cycle for CHEO.

“Everyone at CHEO has been amazing. They make us feel like part of a family. Over the past year, we’ve built such a strong bond with the team that being there feels like coming home. We share both laughter and tears with them.”

Silas echoes that sentiment, saying that CHEO changed his view of what a hospital stay could be like.

“Normally, when I think of a hospital, it’s like a little bed, some curtains and you’re probably in a room with four or five people,” Silas says. “But I could have fun at CHEO…a Child Life Specialist brought an Xbox and some games to my room so I could play with my dad after supper, Zedd [the therapeutic clown] was really funny, and there were a lot of nurses. They were very nice and awesome,” he adds, with a smile.

Silas and his parents were also extremely grateful for the academic support offered at CHEO, especially since he had to miss his first year of middle school. Thanks to the M.F. McHugh Education Centre’s presence on campus, Silas felt confident in his ability when returning to school at the end of the school year.

When asked for his thoughts when he was offered to participate in this year’s CN Cycle for CHEO, he grinned and said, “Oooh, I’m gonna be famous!”

Silas is looking forward to riding his bike with his father in this year’s event. We hope you will consider joining him, too.

Stories of the 2026 McDonald’s Dream Team