Young Kamloops cancer survivor relay’s for life

She and her family are coming together to raise funds and make a difference, and celebrate a little girl who has fought big.

She’s only 11 years old, But Livia Coles-Frank is a survivor.

“It was the hardest part of life so far, she did really amazing, she kept her spirits up quite a bit,” says Gayle Frank, Livia’s Mother.

2 years ago, in January of 2014, Livia was diagnosed with a rare form of muscle cancer. After several tests, doctors found a large tumor in her head, over 11 cm’s in size.

“She had an MRI scan of her face because the tumor is right behind her nose and filled her entire face, her nasal cavity and went down the back of her throat, her treatment plan was 54 weeks of chemo and 30 doses of radiation, she lived at BC Children’s for over a year.”

Livia’s journey began when she was 9 years old, after returning from a fishing trip with a runny nose, that would prove to be constant. Diagnosis didn’t come quickly, doctors dismissed her symptoms for a cold or allergies. It wasn’t until months of breathing problems and losing weight, that the cancer was discovered.

“She didn’t breathe when she was sleeping, she would fall asleep and the tumor would block her airway and she wouldn’t be able to breathe and her body would twitch.”

“Once we were admitted to Oncology at BC Children’s, things just move so fast, she had a tracheostomy placed and that really helped her with her nightime breathing,” says Todd Coles, Livia’s Father.

Now 18 months post treatment, for the first time Livia will participate in this year’s Relay for Life, the biggest fundraising event for the Cancer Society.

“To bring in funds we use for supporting people in our community who are travelling for treatment in Vancouver or Kelowna, it helps us with fun programs like Camp Good Times, so children from the Interior and all over BC can re-connect with their family, and of course we put in a lot of money to research, we’ve seen that make significant differences,” says Jennifer Harbaruk, Canadian Cancer Society BC & Yukon.

This year’s goal in Kamloops, is to raise $50,000. Armed with her team of family and friends, this little fighter will help make that happen.

“Personally I didn’t know too much about childhood cancer because she was diagnosed, but raising awareness on childhood cancer is really important,” says Frank.

Through it all, Livia’s vibrant energy and zest for life, has kept her going. And while her future holds monthly and yearly scans at BC Children’s Hospital, this family is staying positive and taking each day as it comes.

The Relay for Life event takes place Saturday, June 11th at the Riverside Park Bandshell, from 5pm to 11pm. There’s still time to register, online at www.relayforlife.ca/kamloops – or at the event prior to start time.

by Tanya Cronin

Young Kamloops cancer survivor relay’s for life

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