The diagnosis came as a shock. Michelle and her husband, Ty, were told the cancer had likely been growing silently for years. A liver transplant was initially considered, but when additional scans revealed it had spread to other areas, that option was no longer viable.
Despite the challenges, Michelle chose to focus on the time ahead — not in fear, but with purpose.
With the support of a sarcoma specialist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, she began treatment and shifted her mindset. Her doctor encouraged her not to dwell on timelines but to fill her days with meaning and joy. Inspired, Michelle and her family moved to Prince Edward Island to be closer to loved ones. An experimental oral therapy helped slow the cancer’s progression, and Michelle found healing not just in medicine, but in movement.
She began walking short distances, then running with a stroller, eventually completing 5K races and half-marathons. On the third anniversary of her diagnosis, she finished a full triathlon — swimming in the ocean, biking more than 100 kilometers, and completing a long-distance run, all while surrounded by her cheering family.
Michelle also started documenting her experience online. Through heartfelt, honest videos — often filmed in everyday moments — she offered support, encouragement, and insight to others facing serious illness. Her message, “Chase joy,” became a beacon for thousands who followed her story.
In between treatments and training, Michelle created something lasting for her children: a digital journal of her life. From simple family dinners to milestone moments like first days of school, she records memories that her children — Juliet, Adeline, and Hatton — can cherish for years to come.
Her story has helped raise awareness for EHE, a little-known condition, and shown how resilience, love, and determination can shine even in the face of uncertainty. Through her strength and openness, Michelle reminds us that while we may not choose the challenges life gives us, we can choose how we face them — with courage, community, and the pursuit of joy.