Caius's courageous battle against cancer

Caius was a typical rambunctious two-year-old who loved playing with his cars and trucks when flu-like symptoms began to appear every few weeks in September 2016. His mom Megan and dad Russ thought he was simply picking up flu bugs as toddlers often do. But when he became non-responsive for nearly a minute one afternoon, his grandparents whisked him to the ER.
A CT scan showed Caius had a brain tumor the size of a small baseball. "We were in shock," Megan recalls. "We were told he needed surgery ASAP and they didn't want to send us home." The family tried to come to terms with the unthinkable - Caius would undergo brain surgery the very next day.
The following morning, a pre-surgery MRI revealed further troubling news; a blood vessel was feeding the tumour. The situation was very complex and high risk. Caius underwent surgery a few days later. To everyone's tremendous relief, the surgery was very successful.

Three weeks later Caius began vomiting after each meal and his balance was noticeably off. "I had a gut feeling something was very wrong," recalls Megan. Doctors hoped to attribute his symptoms to post-surgical recovery but scheduled an MRI.
On November 1 their fears were confirmed. The cancer was back and had spread throughout his brain. Caius had a very rare brain cancer. Surgery was not an option. His chance of survival - a mere one percent. Fortunately Caius's talented pediatric oncologist at CancerCare Manitoba had a plan.
Despite the risks they were told existed, Megan and Russ knew they had to fight for their young son. Within hours he received chemotherapy and later that day was given the first of three radiation treatments. "Everyone acted so quickly and that's what saved his life," said Megan.
Caius was kept sedated for nearly a week while everyone watched and waited, hoping and praying. It was touch-and-go but Caius pulled through. He spent the next month regaining his strength.
READ 'CREATIVITY FOR A CAUSE' 
For the following six months, Caius received a high dose of chemotherapy every three weeks. In the middle of it all, Megan gave birth to their daughter Emlyn. In October 2017 a follow-up MRI indicated Caius's brain was tumour free - it was the best possible Thanksgiving gift his family could receive!
As the result of his extensive treatment, Caius has experienced vision changes and some hearing loss. He wears hearing aids though and loves them. Remarkably, Caius has no signs of brain damage.
Now four-years-old, Caius attends pre-school, loves to tell knock-knock jokes and pretend he's rescuing people. "I'm going to be a doctor and help people," Caius recently declared.
Caius remains under the close watch of the pediatric oncology team at CancerCare Manitoba and takes a low dose of chemotherapy daily.
"We look at his life as a miracle," said Megan. "We have seen the benefits of people's generosity and truly believe Caius is here today because of people we will never meet. The amazing supporters who give to Hockey Fights Cancer each and every year in support of pediatric clinical trials."
The Winnipeg Jets host Hockey Fights Cancer on Nov. 29 when Caius will join three other CancerCare Manitoba Foundation child ambassadors in participating in a ceremonial puck drop before enjoying star treatment for the game. Help kids like Caius by showing your support on Nov. 29 and at all November home games where mystery autographed mini sticks and pucks will be sold along with raffle tickets for the chance to win one of eight autographed lavender warm-up issued jerseys which players will wear Nov. 29 to bring more awareness to the cause. All proceeds of the Jets' HFC campaign will stay right here in Manitoba to benefit more kids like Caius.
For more information on Hockey Fights Cancer, visit
winnipegjets.com/hfc
or get your tickets for HFC Night at
winipegjets.com/tickets
.