Stéphanie Bernard
École secondaire de Saint-Anselme

As teenagers, we all had the feeling at some point that we were invincible, that nothing terrible would ever happen to us. Stéphanie Bernard must have felt like this once too, that is until the day she was diagnosed with Stage 2 cancer of the lymph nodes. She was 14 years old at the time and for her the news seemed almost surreal, like a bad dream. Now, a year and a half later, she sees life in a whole new light and wants to tell all the young people around her that there’s always a way out as long as you never give up. The Saint-Anselme high school student’s story is quite a lesson in life.

What first alerted Stéphanie’s mother in fall 2008 was a tiny little lump under her left collarbone, a little lump that was going to cause tremendous havoc. A month later, after numerous tests and analyses, there was no doubt about it. The young girl was definitely suffering from cancer of the lymph glands. And to such an extent that she was immediately taken into care and started undergoing treatment the following week.

“The shock was hard to stomach. What’s strange is my first thought was: “Oh no, I’m going to lose my hair.” Today, I realise there are worse things than losing your hair. Actually, my outlook on life has changed completely,” admits Stéphanie with a touch of evident shyness.

Two months of intense treatment and a series of scheduled operations and chemotherapy followed. Despite the negative consequences and side effects, Stéphanie had no intention of putting her life on hold for any period of time. Thankfully for her, she already had high academic grades and this helped her keep the pace and not get too far behind. And, as an additional source of motivation, Stéphanie continued to be steadfastly involved with her dance troupe, which was scheduled to perform at the local finals of the Secondaire en spectacle contest. “Because I was in treatment at the time, I was too weak to take part in the whole performance. But I did dance at the beginning and then at the end. What’s more, we won the public choice award. It was a wonderful source of motivation for me. And because I was so involved, I managed to forget my illness for a little while.”

In February 2009, all Stéphanie’s efforts were rewarded when she received the good news that the cancer had gone. But thinking the battle was already won was simply out of the question. For a period of five years, Stéphanie has to go in for a follow-up examination every three months to make sure the disease isn’t making a comeback. “For now, everything’s fine and I feel in top shape. I’m confident and I know that in four years time I’ll be able to say I’m completely cured.”

Stéphanie takes advantage of the present moment and makes up for all her absences by investing a great deal of time in her studies and remedial classes. She also became a member of her school’s Opération Enfant Soleil committee and participates in fund-raising activities for the organization. She has also joined a group of students who are getting ready to take part in a humanitarian trip to Nicaragua next year. And as she dreams of a career in the arts, she will be participating in her school’s huge annual theatrical production where she will be an extra and will help create the costumes and decors, the part she enjoys the most.

“Despite her ailing body, Stéphanie never once forgot the importance of succeeding at school and getting involved as a means of pulling through. In between treatment and operations, she never stopped participating in various activities, something that is definitely worthy of praise,” says the school’s counsellor in spiritual life and community involvement Mireille Brousseau.

In spite of her painful experience, Stéphanie never once lost her smile, sociability, optimism and will to succeed. “I’ve showed people that, whatever the ordeal, you must never lose faith. I have continued to hold my head high and I never lost confidence. By persevering, you end up by realizing that there’ll be better days ahead,” she says in conclusion.

Stéphanie Bernard
École secondaire de Saint-Anselme