Eliana’s Story
Before childhood cancer entered their lives, Gabrielle and Bryan describe their family as always on the go. Living in Cloverdale, they were surrounded by extended family and a strong neighbourhood community. Their days had the familiar rhythm of raising two active kids, revolving around family, work, school, and hobbies like hockey, baseball, equestrian events, and after-school activities.
Eliana, seven years old at the time, was full of energy and personality, and just about to start playing hockey like her brother Everett - Bryan had even planned to coach her team. “She has such a big, vivacious personality,” Gabrielle shares. “We were so excited to watch her play.”
Stepping Into Survival Mode
Eliana started feeling unwell in August of 2024, and the family moved through weeks of specialist appointments, tests, and bloodwork. When the hematologist called with the diagnosis of leukemia, it was completely unexpected. It felt like a nightmare, and things moved quickly. “Twelve hours later, we are checking into BC Children’s, and our life is taking a very different direction than we could have anticipated,” Bryan recalls.
From the start, Gabrielle and Bryan committed to doing whatever was needed to support Eliana’s journey, while also being intentional about keeping life as steady as possible for Everett, knowing this diagnosis affected their whole family. “This is a major life event for all of us,” Bryan explains. “We wanted to make sure no one was left behind.” During treatment, they rallied their support system and leaned heavily on their close-knit family and community to manage the logistics of hospital stays, work, and home life - taking everything day-by-day.
Feeling Seen in Hard Moments
WCK became part of their journey early on, when Eliana received her Port Shirt while in the hospital. Adapted specifically for kids with ports, the shirts weren’t just functional - they felt thoughtful. “It made her feel seen,” Gabrielle shares, “to receive something made exactly for what she was going through.” The shirt was soft, comfortable, high-quality, and purple - Eliana’s favourite colour. She loved it.
Food support quickly became one of the most meaningful ways WCK showed up for their family. Having been admitted to the hospital overnight, with no clear timeline, meant living in survival mode, and food wasn’t something they had capacity to think about. Meals available through WCK’s freezer on the oncology unit made a difference. “When you’re in that headspace, you’re not planning ahead,” Gabrielle says. “Having food there, it really mattered.”
At home, Nourish at Home provided consistency during unpredictable days. Having a freezer stocked with ready-to-heat meals, like pizza and butter chicken, favourites for both kids, removed one more stress during treatment and long clinic days. Gabrielle shares that the simplicity mattered: choosing from a curated list felt far less overwhelming than navigating online grocery shopping, “It takes the mental load away,” she says. When your day is full of heavy decisions, anything that can simplify basic needs becomes crucial.
Practical Support, Right When It’s Needed
One caregiver session in particular that Gabrielle attended stuck with her: a call focused on transitioning out of active treatment and into maintenance. She knew this phase was coming for their family, and had been feeling really anxious in anticipation of it.
For her, that session came at exactly the right time and the speaker’s expertise, empathy, and lived experience made Gabrielle feel deeply understood. “It was very impactful, and I truly mean that. I still remember how I felt getting off the call. I wrote notes and everything, and I just thought, ‘That’s exactly what I needed right now.’”
For Gabrielle and Bryan, what stands out most about WCK is how timely and practical the support feels. “Everything WCK does is specific to what families actually need when they’re in the trenches,” Gabrielle shares. She hopes donors understand how meaningful these practical supports are.
For their family, the power of real-time, everyday support cannot be overstated. “When you’re going through something traumatic like this, it’s easy to forget to eat,” Bryan reflects. “It seems like such a little thing - but it’s such a big thing.” WCK meets families in their hardest moments and the steady, consistent support makes a lasting impact.
Now in the maintenance phase of her treatment, Eliana continues to show remarkable strength. She’s strong-willed, creative, and full of spirit, with a love for music, dance, and Taylor Swift of course - Shake It Off became her pump-up song on treatment days. “She has pizzazz for days,” Gabrielle beams. Their family continues to take everything day-by-day, together.
