SASKATOON – A parent’s intuition is usually right and that’s exactly what happened to Marla and Aaron Bachman. They knew something was wrong with their six-year-old son Joel since November 2015.
Joel was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a malignant aggressive tumour in the back of his brain.
“It felt like I had a cramp in my head and I got so dizzy that I would fall,” said Joel, re-counting his symptoms.
On Dec. 10, 2015, Joel had a successful surgery to remove the two-inch tumour from the right backside of his brain.
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For Joel’s dad Aaron, the day had a special significance. That day, one year ago, he lost his brother suddenly in the same hospital.
“I think it was Derek’s way of telling us that, ‘hey I’m looking after him, I got him covered, we’re going to get you through this,’” said Aaron.
Joel’s amazing zest for life and tenacity led to a quick recovery. He was back on the ice practicing for his minor hockey team the Lumsden Lions in just two weeks.
Joel also loves WWE wrestling and has adopted his favorite wrestler John Cena’s motto: Never give up.
Fundraising bracelets and stickers have been made to help the Bachman family with expenses during Joel’s illness, including renting a house close to his treatment center. On Jan. 11, a fundraiser named ‘Pack the House for Joel’ was organized at the Lumsden hockey rink, where $10,000 was raised. A Go Fund Me page has also been created entitled ‘Never Give Up – Joel Bachman.’
“It means so much to us that so many people reached out to help us. It’s incredible and we thank everybody for that,” said Aaron.
Monday is Joel’s seventh birthday and he will begin his second week of a six-week treatment of radiation, followed by chemotherapy.
Joel says that when he grows up he wants to play hockey and be a scientist so he can save lives.
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