An Edmonton girl with terminal brain cancer checked off flying in a plane and going for a dog sled ride from her bucket list this weekend.
Global News has been following Rheanna Trepanier‘s bittersweet journey to complete the items on her wish list. The 10-year-old has four brain tumours and doctors said she only has months to live.
READ MORE: 10-year-old Edmonton girl with 4 brain tumours chasing bucket list before Christmas
She came up with a list of things she wanted to experience, and through the generosity of strangers she got to check off two items on Sunday: a plane ride to Yellowknife where she went dog sledding.
Mike Soloy lives in Yellowknife and has never met Rheanna. He was contacted by his friend Carrie Bujold, who used to live in the North but now resides in Edmonton. Together and with the help of some friends, they arranged the trip.
“We just wanted to do something on our end and make her smile, you know, take her mind off things, and take her family’s mind off things,” Soloy explained.
“Just come up here and experience Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories. Dogsled rides, skidoo rides, check out some of the restaurants.”
Rheanna’s mom, brother and sister got to share in the adventure with her. “This is prime time and we actually hit the -30 weather too, so they got the real experience.”
Canada North supplied the plane tickets to Yellowknife for the family. Beck’s Sled Dog Kennels & Tours provided the dogsled ride. A local restaurant also surprised Rheanna with a cake.
“The timing, like what a time of year, right? It’s Christmas. It’s the giving season. You’re supposed to make people smile.”
“I have kids too,” Soloy explained. “I like to do a lot of stuff for kids. I coach hockey, coach sports, I’m a like a big kid, right? So if I have the opportunity to make someone smile, I’m going to do my best to make it happen.”
Watch Below: Rheanna Trepanier, 10, captured the hearts of viewers when she bravely shared her story about a sudden diagnosis with terminal brain cancer. Now, she’s tackling her bucket list as she fights to stay healthy. Rheanna and her mother, Marissa Trepanier, join Gord Steinke in the Global Edmonton studio on Dec. 5 to talk about her journey.
Rheanna has two different types of brain tumours: anapaestic oligodendroglioma (Grade III) and glioblastoma (Grade IV).
According to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, glioblastomas are the most common and most aggressive type of malignant brain tumour, and are difficult to treat because the cells are very resistant to conventional therapies like chemo. Oligodendrogliomas are not as aggressive as glioblastomas, but have a very high rate of recurrence and gradually increase in grade over time.
Rheanna’s symptoms began around Halloween. She quickly underwent brain surgery, and received the terminal diagnosis on Nov. 21 – which also was her 10th birthday.
READ MORE: Edmonton girl with fatal brain cancer checks tank ride off her bucket list
Rheanna is in the middle of six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation to try to give her as much time with her family as possible.
Her family has dropped everything to make memories with Rheanna, but it’s been a challenge. Her mom Marissa is a single parent who lost her oil and gas industry job earlier this year.
READ MORE: Global Edmonton gets a visit from 10-year-old with terminal brain cancer
Some of the things Rheanna has already checked off her list: meet Connor McDavid and watch the Edmonton Oilers play at Rogers Place, and go for a ride in a military tank. She’s also got to be the boss of a local Home Depot for a day and appeared on the radio last week.
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