10-year-old CHEO patient inspires others while navigating cancer treatment

Charley underwent chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and an 18-hour surgery to remove a large tumour from her pelvis. (Katelyn Wilson/CTV News Ottawa)

Most people notice Charley’s personality before they learn her story.

The 10-year-old has become a familiar face around CHEO, known for encouraging other patients and brightening difficult days.

But behind that positivity is a months-long battle with cancer that has tested both her and her family.

DONATE NOW: CHEO Telethon 2026

“Everybody says that I am one of the happiest kids they’ve seen on the floors,” Charley said.

Whether she’s chatting with staff, making crafts with a child life specialist, or offering words of encouragement to another child, Charley has become known for lifting others up.

“If I see somebody that’s scared or something, sometimes I’ll be in the wheelchair and I’ll say, ‘You got this,’” she said.

Her mother, Alyssa, says that ability to find joy has remained even through the hardest days.

“She could have the worst day of her life and something small will make her smile,” Alyssa said. “She’ll go out of her way to still make me laugh.”

Before the hospital stays and treatment, her mother says it all started with a pain in Charley’s leg.

What first appeared to be a limp that wouldn’t go away eventually led doctors to a devastating diagnosis.

“It was pretty shocking,” said her father, Damian. “Nobody wants to hear that their nine-year-old has cancer.”

Doctors discovered a rare tumour on Charley’s pelvis. By the time it was found, it measured approximately 16 centimetres.

“This had grown to quite a large mass,” said hematologist and oncologist, Dr. Raveena Ramphal. “In spite of that, she actually looked incredibly well.”

The diagnosis marked the beginning of months of intensive treatment.

Charley underwent chemotherapy every two weeks, along with radiation treatments, before facing what would become one of the biggest challenges of her journey, an 18-hour surgery.

“We consulted with a lot of people that said this was not dissectible, that it was just too big and too complex to try and take it out,” said orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Kevin Smit.

But in the end, they got the tumor out, saving Charley’s leg in the process.

“Seeing her go through that was almost just as hard as one of the first weeks,” Alyssa said. “It was probably one of the hardest weeks because I couldn’t do anything. She was just suffering, screaming and crying, and I couldn’t do anything.”

And somewhere along the way, she formed a special bond with her surgeon, a connection that made the hardest days a little easier.

“We treat a lot of really special kids but she’s very, very, very special and really just distinguishes herself from a lot of other patients that I’ve met with her smile and her joy and just her attitude and positive way of looking at life,” said Dr. Smit.

Throughout Charley’s treatment, her parents made the regular trips between Cornwall and Ottawa while also caring for her younger brother at home.

Damian says all he could do was support his daughter through the battle.

“I’m here because she’s doing the battling,” he said. “I’m just like the cheerleader here. Basically, I’m here to give her moral support.”

The family says CHEO staff helped them through every stage of the journey.

“We can’t say enough good things about CHEO honestly,” Alyssa said.

Doctors say caring for patients like Charley requires a team effort that extends far beyond medical treatment, including rehabilitation, mental health supports and specialized pediatric programs.

“She would have needed resources from the chemotherapy point of view, but also because of the surgery from the rehab point of view as well,” said Dr. Ramphal. “Donations like this can go a long way.”

DONATE NOW: CHEO Telethon 2026

After months of treatment, Charley is now nearing the end of her cancer journey.

While challenges remain, she says she refuses to let her diagnosis define her.

“It’s just a chapter,” Charley said. “Not the whole story.”

And when she looks to the future, she already knows what she wants to do.

“I want to be a child life specialist,” she said, “because I just love making other people happy.”

For anyone who has met Charley along the way, that future career choice comes as no surprise.

The 43^rd CHEO Telethon continues all week on CTV News Ottawa, CTV Your Morning Ottawa and Newstalk 580 CFRA, with the grand finale on CTV Ottawa on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Visit the CHEO Telethon hub for full coverage, more stories, and live streaming

You can make a donation to the CHEO Telethon online at www.cheotelethon.com or by calling 613-730-CHEO (2436).