Vancouver Whitecaps FC is honoured to have Sophie Cosgrave as Kid Captain of the club's home match at Providence Park in Portland against San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.
Shortly after her first birthday, Sophie was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood blood cancer called acutemyeloid leukemia. She was immediately admitted to BC Children's Hospital (BCCH) to undergo four rounds of chemotherapy. Despite the circumstances, Sophie's parents Maura and Alan Cosgrave remained dedicated to helping their daughter develop and live a normal life, and utilized the hospital's playrooms and child life specialists for support.
Another initiative that supported Sophie was her Beads of Courage Program where she collected over 500 beads to represent her strength, and mark each of her treatments and milestones.
"Battling a cancer diagnosis and watching your child endure treatment is extremely difficult for any family, and our time spent in the hospital is such a blur," said Maura Cosgrove, Sophie's mother. "[Her] Beads of Courage necklace was an important way for us to keep a detailed record of what she overcame."
When Sophie finished her chemotherapy, she received her Signature Heart Bead to symbolize her return home after spending five months at BCCH. Now three years old, Sophie has been in remission for two years and continues to be monitored by BCCH's oncology team with regular check-ups.
"We are extremely grateful to have Sophie's Beads of Courage necklace, to remind Sophie of her courage and resiliency as she grows," said Maura.
