When 15-year-old Diamond first walked into her local hospital in Cochrane, Ontario, in February 2024 for swollen lymph nodes, no one in her family could have imagined the road that lay ahead. “Diamond was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma Stage 2 in March of 2024. Her whole life was uprooted… She never returned home until July 10th 2024.”
What followed was an intense and emotionally draining four months. “She did not get to see her room again, sleep in her own bed, see the family dog, or some family and friends for 138 days.”. The entire family, mom, dad, and Diamond’s three younger brothers—relocated from their small northern town to Toronto, over 700 kms away, so Diamond could undergo treatment. “Diamond underwent 4 rounds of chemotherapy over those 4 months with numerous complications in between, to come out on top and she rang the bell July 5th 2024.”
While those first few months were spent living at Ronald McDonald House in Toronto, Hope Air entered their lives later, right when they needed it most. “We learned about Hope Air one day while visiting with a friend who spoke about the services that they offered. They had been flown down to an appointment to Ottawa and they mentioned that their accommodations were paid for as well. We went online to do a bit of research ourselves and the rest is history.”
From that moment, everything changed. “Hope Air has been our saving grace, and we are truly humbled by the selflessness and dedication of your pilots, staff and everyone involved in making these flights possible.” For a family that had already endured so much, this kind of support was more than transportation, it was a gift of hope and relief. “The efforts go far beyond simply transporting people, you are helping them through some of the most challenging moments of their lives.”
Their flights weren’t just functional, they were memorable. “We honestly felt like celebrities being flown to the red carpet. We never expected to be picked up right from our hometown!”
Diamond and her family have flown with both commercial airlines and volunteer pilots. One pilot, in particular, left a lasting impression. “Our first flight ever was with Kyle J. He has a special bond with Diamond and he would reassure her through her other flights with other pilots that everything would be fine.”
The emotional bond between Diamond and her Hope Air experiences became deeply personal, even permanent. “There is also a picture of Diamond’s tattoo… the plane is for Hope Air. She had never been on a plane before in her life.”
Without Hope Air, Tracey believes the family would have faced serious emotional and financial hardship. “There definitely would have been a lot of stress and anxiety just from the 8 hour drive to the city, let alone the financial burden it would have left.”
Now, Diamond is doing better, attending follow-up appointments every three months at SickKids Hospital in Toronto. “We have been fortunate enough to be flying with Hope Air since Diamond moved home.”
To Tracey and her family, Hope Air is nothing short of a lifeline. “Hope Air is so incredibly important to Canadians as it not only eases the logistical and financial challenges of accessing care, but also reminds us that kindness and humanity still shines bright in this world.”
And to the volunteer pilots: “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the incredible gift of your time, skill, and compassion. Your willingness to fly us to medical appointments made a world of difference during a very difficult time. Your kindness and professionalism brought not only comfort and safety, but also hope. We are truly grateful for all that you do, and we will never forget the impact you’ve had on our journey.
When 15-year-old Diamond first walked into her local hospital in Cochrane, Ontario, in February 2024 for swollen lymph nodes, no one in her family could have imagined the road that lay ahead. “Diamond was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma Stage 2 in March of 2024. Her whole life was uprooted… She never returned home until July 10th 2024.”
What followed was an intense and emotionally draining four months. “She did not get to see her room again, sleep in her own bed, see the family dog, or some family and friends for 138 days.”. The entire family, mom, dad, and Diamond’s three younger brothers—relocated from their small northern town to Toronto, over 700 kms away, so Diamond could undergo treatment. “Diamond underwent 4 rounds of chemotherapy over those 4 months with numerous complications in between, to come out on top and she rang the bell July 5th 2024.”
While those first few months were spent living at Ronald McDonald House in Toronto, Hope Air entered their lives later, right when they needed it most. “We learned about Hope Air one day while visiting with a friend who spoke about the services that they offered. They had been flown down to an appointment to Ottawa and they mentioned that their accommodations were paid for as well. We went online to do a bit of research ourselves and the rest is history.”
From that moment, everything changed. “Hope Air has been our saving grace, and we are truly humbled by the selflessness and dedication of your pilots, staff and everyone involved in making these flights possible.” For a family that had already endured so much, this kind of support was more than transportation, it was a gift of hope and relief. “The efforts go far beyond simply transporting people, you are helping them through some of the most challenging moments of their lives.”
Their flights weren’t just functional, they were memorable. “We honestly felt like celebrities being flown to the red carpet. We never expected to be picked up right from our hometown!”
Diamond and her family have flown with both commercial airlines and volunteer pilots. One pilot, in particular, left a lasting impression. “Our first flight ever was with Kyle J. He has a special bond with Diamond and he would reassure her through her other flights with other pilots that everything would be fine.”
The emotional bond between Diamond and her Hope Air experiences became deeply personal, even permanent. “There is also a picture of Diamond’s tattoo… the plane is for Hope Air. She had never been on a plane before in her life.”
Without Hope Air, Tracey believes the family would have faced serious emotional and financial hardship. “There definitely would have been a lot of stress and anxiety just from the 8 hour drive to the city, let alone the financial burden it would have left.”
Now, Diamond is doing better, attending follow-up appointments every three months at SickKids Hospital in Toronto. “We have been fortunate enough to be flying with Hope Air since Diamond moved home.”
To Tracey and her family, Hope Air is nothing short of a lifeline. “Hope Air is so incredibly important to Canadians as it not only eases the logistical and financial challenges of accessing care, but also reminds us that kindness and humanity still shines bright in this world.”
And to the volunteer pilots: “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the incredible gift of your time, skill, and compassion. Your willingness to fly us to medical appointments made a world of difference during a very difficult time. Your kindness and professionalism brought not only comfort and safety, but also hope. We are truly grateful for all that you do, and we will never forget the impact you’ve had on our journey.