Shanelle Baria - Battling Cancer For My Son

I was 37 weeks pregnant when my world shifted in an instant; I was diagnosed with leukemia. There was no time to process it the way you might expect. Treatment had to begin right away, which meant making the difficult decision to deliver my baby early by C-section.

The moment my son, Kaesen, was born should have been one of simple joy. Instead, it was layered with urgency and uncertainty. Almost immediately after his birth, I was transferred to the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre to begin treatment.

In the middle of everything, there was a light: they allowed Kaesen to stay with me.

Those first weeks were unlike anything I could have imagined. One full month of inpatient treatment while learning how to be a mom, recovering from surgery, and navigating a cancer diagnosis all at once. It was overwhelming, exhausting, and at times frightening. But I wasn’t alone. My husband stood by me every step of the way, supporting both me and our newborn son with strength and love that carried us through the hardest days.

Eventually, we reached a milestone I had been holding onto: we were able to go home. Transitioning to outpatient treatment brought a small but meaningful sense of normalcy. Being in our own space, creating routines with Kaesen, and having moments that felt like “regular life” again made all the difference.

My journey isn’t over. I still have months of treatment ahead, eight months of continuing this fight. But every step I take is for my son, for my family, and for the life we’re building together.

This isn’t the path I expected, but it’s one I’m walking with determination, resilience, and hope.