Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation

Dear friends,

Thank you for visiting Shani's tribute page.

Shani was diagnosed at the age of 15 with osteosarcoma a rare and aggressive cancer that affects mostly children and teens. For 18 months she battled this terrible disease. Her life was a roller coaster of emotion, pain and frustration. But with all that, she remained steadfast in her determination to fight as long as she could. We all surrounded her but those who lead the fight at the tip of the spear were the wonderful doctors and nurses lead by Dr. David Mitchell of Hematology/Oncology department of the Montreal children's hospital. The efforts of Dr Mitchell's team never ceased. Their care, devotion to Shani, availability to us and their love of the job is immeasurable. We too as a family, found comfort in their care and we are eternally grateful for all that they did. At one point last year at the beginning of the summer, we were at another hospital for a brief time, when we returned to Montreal children's, Shani said to me, "Dada, I'm so happy that we're back here, I really missed everyone, I feel good here"

Although I was sad about what she said, I also felt the same way....The Children's had become a "home away from home". Shani passed away August 28th 2019 one month shy of her 17th birthday, but she lives on in all of us. Not long after she died we received a copy of her English exam she had written for her final year in High school.

It was then that we really understood her sentiments about the Children's.

I am posting small excerpt here below..I am hoping after you read this that you would consider donating to The Montreal Children's Hospital. Shani benefitted from the technology, the expediency, the compassion, and the determination of those who cared for her within those walls.

As a parent you never want to be in this position, but if you were, you'd want to have all the tools necessary to deal with it and donations from you kind people, make this happen.

A donation to Shani's page will benefit Sarah's Floor a 12-room in-patient unit and Day Centre. It is the hub of the MUHC’s Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division. Sarah’s Floor provides a serene and home-like environment. It houses a library, television and game room as well as other services for patients’ families. The staff and volunteers who work on Sarah’s Floor understand that creating a hospital experience that is as comfortable and anxiety-free as possible for their young patients is an important part of their treatment.

Here is is an excerpt of Shani's Composition.

Home is a state of mind determined only by you – By Shani Duskes

I’ve called numerous places home in the past. A couple in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, some more in Jerusalem, and one more at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. I’ve spent a myriad of nights and days at the Children’s; they were filled with pain and suffering but also with love and laughter. In a sense, I had created a home away from home and at this point, I’m attached. I’ve created a trusting bond with the nurses in the Hematology/Oncology Clinic; they’ve become like second mothers to me. They helped me build a home in a place I never thought possible. I’ve spent countless hours playing with the mothers of other ill children and spent hours talking about nothing with a pastor who wore sparkly pink lipstick. I’ve built an unforgettable friendship with the puppy therapist, Maya. It’s all these people and the memories I made with them that make the hospital my home.

Honouring our Beautiful Shani Duskes