Amber's Story of Strength

Toronto mother Amber Madore is spending October 2012 in a much different way than she would have imagined a year ago. This year she is focused on taking part in the Making “Cents” of Brain Tumours campaign, raising funds and awareness to help the cross-country fight against brain tumours.

Amber’s connection to the cause began in March 2012, as she was nearing the end of her third pregnancy. “I just sort of knew something wasn’t right,” she explains. But despite several ultrasounds nothing was found amiss. Then as the due date for baby Christian neared, Amber heard the most devastating news any mother can hear: her baby, so close to his due date, had died in utero. “In that moment, all I could think was that the world should be stopping right now. Doesn’t everyone know this terrible thing has happened?”

Following his birth, Amber consented to an autopsy to try to determine what happened. More than three months later, the results led to the unexpected and shocking news that Christian had developed an extremely rare congenital brain tumour before his birth.

After learning the cause for the loss of her son, Amber began looking for further answers and ways to help others who experience the impact of a brain tumour. Soon, she discovered Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and learned about October’s Brain Tumour Awareness Month. Before long, she was reaching out to help.

This October, together with her sister in Ottawa, her brother in British Columbia and her mother in Fort Frances, Ontario, Amber is raising funds for the organization. “It is so important to fund research, we need more answers – we need causes, we need better treatments and more steps towards a cure for this terrible disease.” Between the four family members, they have eight coin boxes, “and we are certainly bringing in more than coins,” Amber says.

In addition to raising funds, Amber is also passionate about sharing her story. “I really want to help give comfort to others, to let people know they are not alone, no matter how they are impacted, whether they are the patient or the family.”

She says, “I never would have thought this would or could happen to me. You never feel like it can happen to you, but then when it does; you find a way to go forward.”

Following the loss of her son, Amber explains how she makes it through, “Every day it gets a tiny bit easier. There are some harder days and some easier days, but no matter what kind of day, I always think about him.”
 

Going forward, Amber plans to stay involved with Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and help in any way she can. “It’s one way I can continue to honour Christian and honour his memory.”

Give today to bring hope and support to patients and families across Canada.

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