Delilah Telford-Hodgins, a six-year-old girl from Otter Lake who over the past two-and-a-half years has been fighting leukemia, has rung the bell, signaling the end of her weekly chemotherapy treatments.

In June 2020 Delilah was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of cancer that affects the stem cells that become white blood cells, and has been in remission after the first month of treatment.

After two-and-a-half-years of commuting from Otter Lake to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa for treatments, Delilah’s last day of chemotherapy was Oct. 15. She rang the bell Nov. 10.

“It was a big day for her,” said Lindsay Telford, Delilah’s mother. “She got through what was thrown at us so I think she can get through anything. She’s a pretty resilient little girl.”

Commuting between Otter Lake and Ottawa, while also having to take care of Delilah’s siblings – her older sister Olivia and younger brother Lindon – has been time consuming and expensive, according to Telford.

“It’s been a long two and a half years, I can’t believe where we’re at at this time in our life. I am grateful for all the donations that everybody has given,” said Telford, which includes a GoFundMe set up in the early days of Delilah’s treatment and someone who gave her $1,000 before their first Christmas.

While she’s now cancer free, Delilah still faces medical issues.

“She’ll have monthly visits at CHEO for the next few months where she gets blood work. Then after that, she’ll see a doctor for the rest of her life,” said Telford about Delilah who is still on medication that is meant to strengthen her immune system.

Delilah also has some complications related to her skin, though they are being treated.

Telford specifically praised both CHEO and the Ronald McDonald House in Ottawa for the support they gave her and her family throughout the treatment. She was also very grateful for her work situation which allowed her to take time off as needed or work from home.

Now that the bell has been rung, Telford says she is excited to leave the past behind and work towards providing a bright future for Delilah and her siblings.

“So I’m going to start doing some traveling with them. I want to take them to Florida and sit on the beach and just kind of do that kind of stuff,” said Telford. “I’m excited for her to go to college and I’m paying into a college fund and a disability fund so she’s ready for anything that might come at her.”

As for what she’s learned from the two years of dealing with her daughter’s treatment, Lindsay said:

“I would say that I have definitely grown as a person. Stronger. I feel stronger for my kids and realize that life’s too short. Don’t take anything for granted. It just made me realize how resilient this little girl is. I feel like we can get through anything after this.”

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