Leo is 10 years old.
On December 5, he learned that he was suffering from bone cancer. Accompanied by his mother, Julie, his father, Stéphane and his sister Arielle, Léo engaged in a courageous fight against illness.
Since then, Léo has started chemotherapy treatments and spends a lot of time in the hospital. Leo is resilient, tenacious and above all he is determined to beat the disease.
In order to preserve his health, Léo no longer goes to school and he can no longer play hockey. He misses spending quality time with his friends and is very sad about no longer being able to play his favorite sport.
Photo Félix Séguin
Despite his health problems, Léo still has the same level of passion when it comes to talking about the Montreal Canadiens. Leo knows all the players and all the statistics.
He particularly likes Cole Caufield. He’s his favorite player. His dream was to meet No. 22 of the Canadiens. This is what happened Monday morning in Brossard.
Thanks to the great generosity of Geneviève Paquette (vice-president community engagement) and Chantal Machabée (vice-president communications), Léo was the guest of the organization. Léo attended training and visited the Canadian locker room. I was a privileged witness since I accompanied Léo on this day with my colleagues from TVA Sports.
“It’s impossible for me not to smile,” he told me as we watched practice together. Leo’s happiness level increased significantly moments later when Caufield left the ice to meet Leo and give him his stick.
The players who passed by also took the time to greet Léo. Samuel Montembeault and Jake Allen stopped to take a photo.
Photo Félix Séguin
Caufield then arranged to meet Léo in the locker room. Caufield was waiting for him with the captain, Nick Suzuki. Caufield and Suzuki were generous with their time and spent a good fifteen minutes talking with Léo. They even invited Leo to visit the room where the team’s sticks are stored. Suzuki gave him his.
Photo Félix Séguin
In short, happiness, happiness. What happiness for Léo!
“I have no words to describe what I have just experienced,” he told me with great emotion at the end of his visit. “I’m going to bring Cole and Nick’s sticks with me to my hospital room when I get my treatments.”
Photo Félix Séguin
“He needed a day like this. He experiences ups and downs. This day comes at a very good time,” his parents told me.
They put their professional careers aside to devote all their time to their son. Julie and Stéphane are fully aware of the battle that awaits Léo. A few years ago, they suffered the pain of losing their eldest daughter following a courageous battle with cancer.
Photo Félix Séguin
Good luck to the family. Good luck to Leo.
The Canadian, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki. They are much more than victories and goals. They are also a kind of cure for illness. Leo’s day proves it.
The TVA Sports cameras followed Léo during this day. A report will be presented, Saturday evening from 6 p.m., in the Canadian-Lightning pre-match.