The “Dream” of a survivor

Photo Stevens LeBlanc
Charles Edward Mercier wants to team up with his dog’s Dream to provide pet therapy to sick children. “I think that it can make a real difference in their lives and help them during their treatments. ”

Pierre-Paul Biron

Thursday, 4 January 2018 00:00

UPDATE
Thursday, 4 January 2018 00:00

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A young man of Lévis selected by the children’s wish foundation while he was fighting a brain tumor has chosen to give back to other sick children asking for a dog than it will to make the pet therapy pediatric.

Charles Edward Mercier did not hesitate a second when his doctor announced in the fall that he would be eligible for a child’s dream. Even if he was fighting himself a rare brain cancer, a germinoma pineal gland, the young man could not remove from the mind the image of young children that he frequented the hospital.

“It was a shock to me to see so many sick children,” says Charles-Edward, who has himself failed to stay there because of its large tumor. “I never felt sick, compared to them. I saw them suffer and I thought of what it would be to have a dog to accompany them. I thought that it would change their life, ” adds the one who has celebrated his 18th birthday during his fight against the disease.

“It was either that or nothing at all “

This is how that Dream has happened in his life. The small golden retriever over the age of four months allowed him to confront his own end treatments of chemo and radiation, and he will become an ally to the young patients. Then he would have been able to apply for a travel or other gifts for him to Dreams of children, Charles Edward had rather wanted to give back. “It was either that or nothing at all “, he says with aplomb.

Still young, the endearing little beast will go through a long process of training, which will begin in January with specialists of the Academy Tops-K9. “It was the time of fun to play with Dream and, then, it will start to work,” explains his benevolent master to that the puppy obeys already rather well… if a treat him hanging at the end of the nose !

Flirting with death

Happy to be able to give back to sick children through Dream, Charles-Edward Mercier has almost never know this happiness. In fact, it is by chance, last June, he learned he had a brain tumour, an accident that saved her life.

“I had an eye-squinting for a month and my girlfriend insisted that I go see. As soon as the doctor saw me, she sent me to emergency and I was operated two days later to relieve pressure in my brain, “recounts with impressive maturity the robust strapping lad of 6 ‘7”. “The doctors have told me that a week or two more and I was dead. “

After having restored the pressure in his brain, the doctors were able to initiate treatment to reduce the mass that was on the pineal gland. After four cycles of chemotherapy, 21 days and 5 weeks of radiation therapy, Charles-Edward is an excellent way to be pulled.

“The last tests, there was a 91 % decrease of the tumor with the chemo. There are still tests in January and February, and then I’m going to have to be followed for 10 years “, stresses the one who is excited to resume his course in mechanical engineering of construction machinery, next fall. “I haven’t really felt sick, but to stop school and work, it has been the hardest. “

Charles Edward Mercier, 18 years old

Photo Stevens Leblanc

• Brain tumor (germinoma pineal gland)
• Centre hospitalier de l’université Laval (CHUL)

“Dream, it is a bit of my gift of cancer. I know he’s going to follow me for a long time and, most importantly, that it will be able to help sick children who need these moments to forget about the disease. “

Charles Edward Mercier

The 25 000 realizations of childhood Dreams

For the leaders of children’s wish, a story full of generosity like that of Charles-Edward and Dream testifies to the mission of the organization, which has recently reached the magic figure of 25 000 dreams.

The application of Charles Edward Mercier may seem simple, but it will make a real difference in the lives of sick children for years to come. His dream will snow ball and allows him to ” give it forward “.

“It happens to us the opportunity to see children use their dreams to project themselves into the future and help other children. It is a symbolic very strong because that is what ” Dreams of children “, explains Pierre-Luc Berthiaume, director for the East-of-Québec, touched by the generosity of the young man.

The example of an athlete

In the last few weeks, another dream of a child came in touch with Mr. Berthiaume and the other members of the organization. Jayden Strauss, a young athlete of 18 years, passionate about sport shoes, has had the chance to design his own pair of Nike shoes in the course of the 25 000th dream of the body.

Suffering from a virulent cancer, the young Albertan has done his first several weeks with her own shoes at the foot. “He had been bed-ridden for many weeks and he insisted to walk when he put on his shoes,” says Mr. Berthiaume.

Despite the tragic death of the young man in the month of November, the foundation has chosen to push this dream to the end by launching the clothing range King Jay, in honor of the boy. “This way, Jayden will survive through the mark and, as all the money goes to children’s wish, it will enable other young people to live their dream. It is left for another 25 000 with a dream like this, ” said Mr. Berthiaume.