A five-year-old Edmonton-area girl was up early Tuesday morning, barely able to contain her excitement – she was getting ready to meet her idol.
That girl is Ava Hadfield and she has an aggressive tumour on her brain stem, it’s so aggressive that the cancer has kept coming back despite chemotherapy, radiation and multiple surgeries.
Now, faced with few options, her family has been checking items off of Ava’s ‘wish list’ – including participating in a beauty pageant, collecting lipstick and having a puppy.
In mid-July, CTV’s Carmen Leibel talked to Ava and her family about one major item on that list, meeting pop star Taylor Swift. Shortly after the story first aired and rush of support for the meeting on social media, it was confirmed the singer would meet with Ava.
The family has had an outpouring of support in recent weeks – and they have a difficult road ahead.
A recent scan has shown Ava’s tumour has grown again – the family is looking into an experimental drug that is being tested in Toronto.
“I guess I’m happy that we still have an option left,” Mandy Hadfield, Ava’s mother, said. “At the same time it’s hard to know this is probably the last option we have.”
Meanwhile, the family is putting those thoughts aside, as Ava excitedly put together a gift for Swift Tuesday afternoon, made up of items she said are the star’s favourite things.
The meeting was set for Tuesday evening, before Swift takes the stage in the first of two concerts at Rexall Place.
With files from Carmen Leibel
