Zoë Guimond
Age 8
of Norton NB,
Zoe Guimond was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in May 2003 after a series of X-rays revealed that her spine was collapsing, preventing her from walking. She was examined at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax and was given the news that it would be about a year before Zoe could start to walk again. She would have to undergo treatments for two and a half years including a bone marrow transplant, radiation and chemotherapy.
Affliction: Leukemia
Zoë Guimond’s story isn’t just about a brown-eyed 8-year-old who lost her beautiful brown hair, a year of school, the home where she grew up and some of her innocence to cancer. Zoë’s story is also about the Maritime family – a family who shows up on your doorstep when you need them the most.
In May 2004, Zoë stopped walking. A series of x-rays revealed that her spine was collapsing. Zoë was examined by oncology at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, and a bone marrow test confirmed that she had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The oncology team delivered the devastating news to her parents Chris and Jennifer; it would take about a year for Zoë to walk again and she would have to undergo treatments for two and a half years.
Zoë’s treatment included a bone marrow transplant, radiation and chemotherapy. During her treatment, the family realized that their home was unsuitable for Zoë’s condition. The family moved in with Jennifer’s parent’s home in New Brunswick.
Following Zoë’s transplant the family returned to a new home built by the community. Close friends who wanted to help the family set up the “Big Brown Eyes Fund.”
Zoë’s recovery continues, but she remains a little girl who loves princesses and dresses up like Tinkerbell. She is a little girl who understands what it means to be part of the Maritime family.
