COATICOOK. Barely 11 years old, Charlotte Trudel embodies resilience in person. His strength, his courage and his sense of humor allowed him to face and win an important battle in the face of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She also celebrated her remission in the Sherbrooke stage of the Tour CIBC Charles-Bruneau, on July 3 and 4.
The story of this sparkling young girl began last fall, when she had just moved to Coaticook. “I woke up one morning and I had extremely pain in the legs. I was also bubbling. We went to see a physiotherapist. The specialist said it could be growth in growth. It persisted in such an extent that when I walked, it was as if I did it on nails, ”she image.
The family then went to Coaticook hospital, where blood tests were made. The patient was transferred to Sherbrooke. This is where he was announced the terrible news of his cancer. “I felt a little of fear, but not that much. I also cried a little, ”recalls Charlotte.
“She has not shed too many tears,” adds her dad, Jean-René Trudel. Charlotte is not the type to stay in bad emotions. This is what makes its strength, its resilience. What marked me more was her look when the oncologist taught her what she had. She had a tremolo in her voice and asked if she was going to die. That moment, I’m going to remember my whole life. It marked my mind. »»
This followed 35 days in the hospital. Chemotherapy treatments have multiplied to attack cancer cells. His return home was also synonymous with social isolation so as not to weaken his immune system more. “In recent months have been, for the most part, a large, quiet river,” said her mother, Marie-Andrée Bouchard. However, she had violent reactions to certain treatments. »»
Fortunately, Charlotte is fine today. “Very good, even,” corrects the one who can’t wait to go back to school and see her friends.
“We were very lucky because it was very receptive to treatments, despite a mutation that could indicate a greater probability of recurrence. I also think that she learned a lot from this experience, especially to take care of her. Charlotte gained a lot in maturity. It is as if she had taken 15 years at once, “said her mother.
Child hero of an event
Charlotte Trudel will be one of the children-heroes of the Tour CIBC Charles-Bruneau, one stage of which will take place in Sherbrooke, on July 3 and 4. “When it was offered to me at the start, I said no. I don’t know why besides. Maybe I was living a little more difficult. But, I was relaunched and I finally accepted. »»
In her role, she will encourage cyclists, will meet them, tell them about her career and “will water them when they are hot,” she says with a large smile. The one who defines himself as a “food” will also guide participants towards the best snack for an energy boost.
Charlotte’s parents were able to benefit from the Charles-Bruneau pediatric oncology unit in the Ciusss de l’Estrie-CHUS. “Research makes all the difference, hence the importance of giving,” believes Marie-Andrée Bouchard.
“In 1983, receiving this diagnosis was almost a sentence of death. Today, the survival rate borders on 90 %, ”says Jean-René Trudel.
It is possible to donate to the Charles-Bruneau Foundation by going to the address Tourccb.ca. The sums collected will be used to help more than 2,000 children with cancer in Quebec.
