On January 1, 2019, Roux’s parents brought her to the emergency department of their local hospital. For weeks she had been unwell, vomiting, low energy, poor colour. An abdominal ultrasound was done and then a chest X-ray. Within 20 minutes of the x-ray, Roux was in an ambulance, speeding to SickKids.

She was diagnosed with liver cancer (hepatoblastoma), stage four, with metastases in her lungs. Roux began intensive chemotherapy on January 4. She was placed on a ten-cycle chemotherapy treatment protocol. She had surgery to resect the primary tumour on her liver part-way through the protocol, after four cycles of chemo.

Roux completed her tenth round of chemotherapy on June 12, 2019. In October, a post-chemo scan revealed that Roux’s cancer had recurred, or possibly never been completely eradicated by the chemo. There were spots in her lungs. She is back in treatment.

Of SickKids, Gillian, Roux’s mom says: “SickKids is the most remarkable medical facility I’ve ever had to deal with. The care and compassion from every individual in the hospital, from the lead oncologist to the kind people who keep our room as clean as possible during our stay, is bar none, the most detailed and thorough we’ve experienced. SickKids continues to impress us each and every time we are there... which is often. They think of everything and not only are patients the top priority, but their families are as well, and we feel that in abundance with each visit.”