Marie-Fée Pellerin has an extraordinary destiny. Not because his father, Fred Pellerin, is one of the best storytellers in Quebec, but because at just 14 years old, he was diagnosed with cancer. An illness that she finally conquered and which motivated her to get involved in the cause of sick children. She tells us her story!
On December 24, 2019, Marie-Fée’s life changed. For a year, she had complained of back pain, difficulty breathing at night and great fatigue. The doctors didn’t understand what was wrong with her. Until this Christmas Eve.
The diagnosis falls: she has cancer. A tumor has grown between his lungs. “I had a mass that shifted my heart 8 centimeters to the left. The doctors told us that we had to go to Sainte-Justine hospital the next day. The night of the 24th to the 25th was horrible. I wanted to hear that I wasn’t going to die, but no one could tell me that. So, I promised myself. I promised myself I was going to fight. »
Sainte-Justine, its fortress
A promise made to herself that will help her hang on. A promise that will even convince her to choose the heaviest treatment to be sure to beat her cancer. And despite the complications, Marie-Fée does not lose hope. “At Sainte-Justine, I told myself that no matter what happened, it was impossible for me to die. I was surrounded by the best doctors in Quebec, they have more than one trick up their sleeve. At Sainte-Justine, I could not die. »
Important to talk about it
Today, the illness is behind her. Her hair, which she had lost during treatments, grew back. And this year, with her father, Marie-Fée became an ambassador for Sainte-Justine hospital. More precisely for the Grand Sapin campaign. Each $5 donation helps light one of the 550,000 lights on the big Sainte-Justine tree. Donations directly help the hospital.
To encourage people to give, Marie-Fée tells her story. Besides, you may have seen her on the show Everybody talks about it !
“I’m not trying to be popular. I’m just sharing my story because before I didn’t know that children could get cancer. It can affect anyone, so when it hits you, you’re happy that people are raising money. It’s not always easy to talk about it, but it’s worth the sacrifice. »
And what is Marie-Fée dreaming of now? To become a doctor. “It’s a great way to help. Looking after children is wonderful. »
And you, is there a cause that you would like to defend?
Maël Brunet, trainee journalist
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