Hi Charlotte,

My friend Fawn tells me that you’re facing some big challenges, and even though we don’t know each other I thought I’d pass on my wishes that you get completely better soon. I have two young children, my daughter is the same age as you.

I live way up in the High Arctic, on the north end of Baffin Island. It is one of those amazing places in this world that everyone should see, but few get to. Perhaps when you get better you can come up and see it, I’m sure my daughter would love to be your tour guide.

Get well soon.

Charlotte! I have a great idea. When you are better we will take a trip to visit my friend Clare up in Arctic Bay and we will see some Polar bears!! For real!! And then we’ll go over to Whitehorse, where Fawn lives and visit with Jade!

xoxoxo

Uncle Pat

Hi Charlotte! I am writing to you from California. I know that you don’t know me, but I heard about you from people who love and care about you. I wanted you to know that I am thinking of you and sending you the very best wishes that you start to feel better very quickly. I hope all the kind words and good thoughts coming your way will help you get well. Waving hello from California to you.

Your new friend,
Robin

Hi Charlotte,
I’m Fawn’s sister and I live just a hop, skip, and a jump from you. It got cold overnight and there’s snow on the ground now, but with all these warm thoughts flying towards you from all over the world, I wouldn’t be surprised if it melted just a bit! I’m sending you some warm thoughts of my own, with lots of strength and love wrapped in. When you’re better and go visiting up North, maybe I can tag along!
Thinking of you,
Nemmy

Hi Charlotte, I just heard about you and what you are going through. It sure sounds like you’re having a rough time. Its nice to see you have so many loving people around you though that will stand by you no matter what, and for that you must be extremely happy! You seem to be touching lives all around the world. Keep on keepin’ on!

Dear Charlotte,

I wish you strength and courage. I am thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers.

Ferda

Hi Charlotte,

We’ve never met, but I know your dad. I went to school with him a long time ago. I remember your dad being a pretty strong guy. I bet you’re pretty tough, too, just like your dad!

I hope I get to visit you someday soon, maybe when you go to Whitehorse to visit Fawn and Jade! :)

Dear Charlotte,

I know life seems pretty tough and unfair right now. You should hold your head up high with hope just the same. I have a little cousin in Halifax who suffered from brain cancer for many years from the age of 4 years old. We were so scared when we found out. He had to go through all the same treatments you have to go through. Even though it is very hard and it may seem like the treatments never end, I promise you they do. I am happy to say that today my cousin is completely cured and very happy. He is just a normal regular boy who likes to have fun and just be a kid. You wouldn’t even know he was ever sick. Just like my little cousin, I know in my heart of hearts that you will be just as lucky. I can’t wait to see you pictures of your playing and just being a happy, normal little girl when this is all over. Just remember, you have a lot of people who love you and are thinking of you. Though you don’t know me, when I read what Fawn had written, I felt I should let you know that their is always hope. When you feel sad or scared, remember to hug the person closest to you as tight as you can and all those bad feelings will just melt away. I will be thinking of you every day. Hugs and love are being sent your way my dear. You are a blessing in this world. Happy Holidays sweetie!

Nadine. A. Donovan

Hi, Charlotte -

My friend Fawn tells me that you haven’t been feeling well lately and have had to spend a lot of time at CHEO. One of my three kids spent a lot of time there, too, and even though the people at CHEO are nice, I know you’d probably rather be at home with your family.

So, my kids and I are sending you special healing wishes through the air with our friends the faeries, who visit lovely children in their dreams. They know where to find you, and will leave kisses on your cheek from us as you rest and recover. (Don’t worry: There are no germs in faery kisses…)

Maybe one day, we’ll get to meet you. My littlest son is your age, so I bet we’d have a lot of fun!

Hi Charlotte,

I have a friend who had to go to see doctors because she got sick. She didn’t like going to the doctor. She was very brave though and now she is well again. I know that sometimes it is hard to be brave. Just remember that lots and lots of people love you. We are all cheering for you to get better.

Hello Charlotte from the southern part of Saskatchewan! We heard your beautiful song on Fawn’s FB page and wanted to let you know that we will be thinking of you & wishing you a very speedy recovery.

Wishing you and your family all the best for the new year!

Colleen, Terence, Adrianna (10) and Peyton (8) – the Cote Family

Hi Charlotte,

What a beautiful name you have :-)

My friend Fawn told me about your story. I am from Ottawa too.

I hear you are a very brave little girl and although at times you might get really scared, you will have your parents there to take care of you. I am sharing lot’s of Prayers and I know that there are very many more people doing the same thing.

We will all look forward to hearing about your adventures up North, when you are all better.

Sending you a very big Virtual {Hug}

Jenny

Hi Charlotte and family,

Sending you well wishes and lots of prayers for a quick and speedy recovery!

Stay strong!

Music, love and genius……

There are few things you will hear in your life that will fill you with dread like a cancer diagnosis. When it is for your young child it is of particular gravity. We likely all have been touched in some way by illnesses that are unexplainable. Perhaps some of you have experienced the raw emotion of asking a higher power to take you instead. I know we have felt this dread and fear and begged that cancer would surrender and leave, or that we could mercifully take Charlotte’s place.

Once we accepted that our wonderful baby would face what may be the fight of her life it was clear that fear and dread were useless to us. Even though they are still riding the back of the bus we turned our attention to the opposite of fear. Hate is not fear’s opposite. It is love that can truly conquer all. Love supported by hope, belief and genius.

When first meeting the incredibly brilliant CHEO oncologist Dr Raveena Ramphal and listening to her very empathetic and concise diagnosis and protocol I knew I was in the presence of human genius. Like love genius is definable better in action than by words. And genius like love and like music is awe inspiring. I was in awe of Dr Ramphal. At the end of her caring and brilliant presentation to parents that were shell shocked she asked if we had any other questions. Surprisingly I had 3 questions for her.

First:
Where in the world is the absolute best clinic for this child to be cured, spare no expense? Her response was right here at CHEO with her.

Second:
Are you the most brilliant doctor in the world to treat this disease. Dr Ramphal paused and smiled and said she MAY not be the MOST brilliant in the world.

Corollory to question 2:
Are you in the top 5?
Another confident smile accompanied a firm “yes”. At which point my fear retreated to the back of the bus and I knew the fight was on. For those that know me well this was not a good moment for this cancer.

Third: Will you and I agree that statistics do not apply and that we believe 100% in a full recovery? Her smile answered that one for me.

CHEO is a brilliant place filled with genius. We are blessed in this community to have them. I am asking you to forego your next pair of fancy shoes, your next night out, your next new sofa or even your next new car and give generously to help these geniuses soothe and save our kids. We offer our heartfelt gratitude to all of those who work for and support CHEO every day. And we also thank all of our friends and family for their generous support and love. A special thank you to the members of the Strings of St Johns and our good friend Donnie Deacon for putting on today’s benefit. And a very special thanks to those in Charlotte’s primary care at CHEO. After just one cycle of chemotherapy the tumour has receded quite a bit more than expected. She has had to stay at CHEO this weekend in isolation for some side effects but as you all know she is here in spirit!

Music, love and genius. How does one describe them in words? They are only truly observable in action. Today in Charlotte and CHEO’s honour we are so pleased to share with you the genius of music with love from our orchestra. Join us in loving Charlotte and fighting evil with that love.

Our last work today is the Brook Green Suite composed by the master Gustav Holst. This is one of my favorite chamber orchestra compositions. It is filled with hope and light and love.

As you listen to the the first movement imagine a sunny little girl growing up with her brothers and playing her days away with her fairy filled imagination.

In the second movement there is a darkness that intertwines in her peaceful world and seeks to topple her from her fanciful fun.

The third movement is where she takes up her sword like a modern day Joan of Arc and together with her super-hero brothers and an army of soldiers that love her rides to vanquish the evil that dares invade the princess’ castle.

The last chords signal the power of music, the victory of love and the triumph of genius.

The Brook Green Suite truly is Music For Charlotte.

Hi Charlotte, I’m a friend of Fawn’s in Whitehorse, Yukon at the far northwest corner of Canada. A very long way from where you live! It’s -28 which is COLD and we have lots of snow on the ground just now. Like you my three daughters were six years old once too, though they’re in university now. Two are twins and they know your brothers are hanging in there with you. Do you like music? I hope so. Sending our very best wishes for some music, fun and laughter in the days ahead. You now have a very big Canadian family thinking about you. A big hug and smiles for you.

Hi Charlotte,

I’m a friend of Fawn’s and heard this beautiful song written for you. I wish you a complete recovery. I am sure you are a little ray of sunshine for the people who know you, and I am so pleased to know that you are well surrounded by love. You should know that as I listened to Fawn singing to you in the video above, I squeezed my five-month old baby boy in my arms and danced around my living room thinking of what a sweet little girl you must be. We are often in Ottawa to visit Baby’s grandma, so perhaps we will meet one day, either during my time in Ottawa or during your visit to Whitehorse when you get well.

Sending you lots of love, hugs, and kisses,
Carole and Baby Henri-Georges

We will be praying for you and your family Charlotte and hoping that you will soon be out of the hospital. May healing thoughts and prayers will be coming your way. I too spent lots of time in hospital when I was a child and know that being surrounded by love, prayer, family and friends will make a huge difference to you and your family. God bless you Charlotte!
Michele from a snowy Saskatoon Saskatchewan

Hi Charlotte,
As much as you could, and would have every right to, and not one person on this planet would judge you for it; you could totally be sad and stay sad every single day. What you’re having to deal with, to fight & to conquer is hard. On so many levels. But every sad moment, is an opportunity for a happy moment lost. I’m not saying, don’t cry. Cry till it hurts if you feel like it. But grab the Kleenex, dry the tears and get back up. Not just because that’s what you gotta do to regain complete health. But because you deserve to be happy. You deserve to choose happy. You deserve to laugh & run & play for as long as you want to. As long as you choose too. And if you can, remember love is the way to healing. Try not to hate the cancer. Love it for what it has taught you. And then lovingly let it go. Set it free. And focus only on your healthy future filled with love & adventure. That’s what I’m envisioning for you. Adventure. Be well. Rest plenty. And count your blessings often.
Sending you love & light,
Patricia

Hi Charlotte,
I am friend with Fawn…I want you to stay strong and brave like Jade… And one day when you come and visit them here, I will stop by to say hi (and give you a BIG hugs)with my 2 little boys…Xavier is 6, and Maximus is 8.
You will get better…
XOXOXOXO
ita

Dear Charlotte,
My friend Fawn told me that you are sick right now, and I wanted to write and tell you that I hope you get better very soon. Because it really sucks to be sick. Here is a big squeezy hug for you (((((huggy huh-hug))))).

Love Nita

Hello Charlotte, this comes to you all the way from Germany. You probably don’t even know where that is. If you take a boat down the Ottawa River and keep going and going and going and going and going for a very long time, you will eventually come to a big ocean, and when you cross that ocean, you’ll get to Germany. So from all the way across that big ocean you have fans cheering you on. Go for it, sweety!

Hi Charlotte,

I went to university with Fawn and your dad. And when they ask me to say a prayer for you — well I listen. I truly hope the best for you and that you shine throughout this ordeal. Be healthy and strong.

Sara

Hello Charlotte, I am Fawn’s mother and I am living Germany now. You are a special and sweet girl! There are many many people love you, some you know and many people you don’t know. we are sending prays to you. I went though the same treatment 30 years ago as you are doing. Now,I am healthy and well . You are a great trooper and you can do it.You will be better soon. You will come with your brothers, your mom and dad visit us in Germany one day. There are many many castles in Germany. BIG BIG HUG and Love to you .

Hi Charlotte,
I just went through my own cancer battle (leukemia) in the general hospital right beside CHEO, where you are. I only finished chemo and a bone marrow transplant five months ago, but I am already running and playing with my kids. I still have some side effects and get colds quite often, but most of the time I feel pretty good. Yesterday we built a snowman! I am writing this to tell you that it is hard, really hard, to get through chemo. You will feel really sick. But the doctors and nurses will help you and you will get better — and the most important part is this, you must BELIEVE that you will get better, with all your heart. You will be home sooner than you think.
God bless,
Rachel

Hi Charlotte
Just wanted to let you know we’re thinking about you and your family. You’re going through a tough time right now, but you’re getting the best care possible.
When our daughter was little she had to have surgery and spend time at CHEO, so we know how wonderful the doctors and nurses are.
We live in Kanata, so if there’s anything we can do, please let us know.
We have some grandchildren here who would love to play with you and your brothers, and when you go to meet Jade and Halia in Whitehorse, maybe we’ll be visiting too.
Hugs from Jade’s Gran.

More moving and genius words have never been spoken before this. I stand with you in your fight and hope for the absolute best for you and your family in these trying times. Please take care of yourselves as much as you take care of that beautiful little girl. It is important that she sees your strength in this time of weakness for her. Many blessings be upon you!

Nadine.A.Donovan

Hi Charlotte & Family,

Although I do not know you, I want you to know that you are a very loved, special, sacred, and very precious little girl. My heart, strength, courage, love, positive thoughts and energy will be sent out to you and your family every morning, afternoon, evening and bedtime until you have overcome this obstacle in your life. Medicine comes in all different forms, it comes in a pill or liquid but it also comes in the form of a hug from daddy, a kiss from mommy, or laughing and playing with your brothers and those are the best forms of medicine that help our body get better. I will pray and think of you and your beautiful family often and send you my strength, courage, bravery, love, energy, thoughts, and prayers.

Be Well Charlotte and family,

In Friendship and Love

Dan

Hello Charlotte,
Heard you haven’t been feeling well lately. We are sending you and your family lots of love, strength and good health. Our three year old son, Derin, said that he is also sending you super powers to get better soon. We hope that perhaps when you go to visit our friend Fawn and her family, you can also all come and visit us in Victoria, BC. Derin says he would love to show you how to skip stones in the ocean.

Stay strong,

Pinar, Craig , Derin and Derya

Hi Charlotte

My friend Fawn told me that you are needing some cheer and support. So I thought I would send you a link to a recording of me singing my kids’ favourite bed time lullaby. I sing it to them every night before bed and they find it soothing and comforting and I hope you do too (my kids are Mia and Ian and they are 5 and 2).

I wish you a speeding recovery and hope you have lots of time to play and have fun while in treatment.

Love and best wishes from The Cole Family in Kilbride, Ontario. xo

Dear Charlotte: Your name has always been my very favorite!! I always thought if I had a little girl I’d name her CHARLOTTE!! I don’t have any children of my own but I have a God-daughter named Seraphina. I really hope that you feel better very soon and I am sending you warm wishes and happy thoughts for a speedy recovery. All the best to you little Charlotte and to your loving family too. I live in Vancouver, BC where we get lots of rain but usually before Christmas we have snowy mountain peaks. Sometimes there’s snow for the kids to build snowmen. I hope you get to do that this winter too!! Bye for now. Karin Plato

Hi Charlotte: I worked with your Dad a while ago and when you and your brothers were born, he used to bring you to the office for a visit. Everyone was always so happy to see you and I have always kept in touch watching you grow through your Dad’s facebook page. What a beautiful girl your are – love those big blue eyes. Remember, everyone has an angel looking over them and I’m sure you have one on each shoulder! I hope soon you will be well enough to enjoy some winter sports with your brothers and have fun at Christmas time!

Dear Charlotte:

I have been praying for you and I have a feeling that you will be just fine. Life sometimes throws huge challenges at little people, but, many times, these little people, like you, surprise everyone by rising to the top and achieving what might seem impossible. I was 16 when life threw a hardball at me, and guess what? I’m still here and am 47 with 2 grown up kids! Miracles have touched me and they will touch you, too, if you close your eyes and try to see a tomorrow where all the bad things you are experiencing now are just memories and cannot harm you. People give rosaries to me sometimes, and I know that these rosaries are not for me, but are for people in serious need for help. I am supposed to send the rosaries on their way. If you give me a mailing address, I will mail you a rosary. The beauty of it is that you don’t need to be religious to use it or say any specific prayers. Just hold it when you’re in pain, close your eyes tight, and imagine someone who loves you a lot and blow that person kisses.

Hang in there!

Love and hugs,

Marina

What a beautiful song that Fawn composed for you(our special granddaughter)We love you with all our heart and know you will be well soon ..

Hi Charlotte,
I just happened to read Fawn’s blog and came to know you are sick. My prayers are with you. I live in Toronto. I am pretty sure, you are going to be better soon. I would love to send you one of my handmade cards, which I make only for the special people.
Just go through this. The world is waiting for you to come back healthy and happy.
Love and regards
Bindhurani

Charlotte,

Your dad cared for me when I was little like you. He, your Uncle Pat, Uncle Geoff, Aunt Jane and Aunt Peggy looked after us, played with us and made us laugh when our parents would go out. They were fun babysitters!

Those same people are caring for you now and have asked that we do what we can wherever we may be.

I may live far away from you yet I can and am sending you all of the positive energy I have and think of you every day. You are strong and brave Charlotte. And when you don’t feel strong and brave, you can ask that others be strong and brave for you – and know that we will.

Sending you much love,

Margo, Curt, Liam and Harry

The final postcard is from a sunny girl named Charlotte who after 10 months of bravely enduring chemotherapy is now healthy and free of the cancer that almost took her from us. Blessings to all who have prayed and thought of her, wrote wondrous music, sent support and love and were so supportive. Charlotte is back to running the show with her triplet brothers and will start second grade soon with her new head of hair blooming so beautifully.
Be well all
Jack