{"id":2384,"date":"2021-12-21T16:03:30","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T16:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ca\/ontario\/8308\/"},"modified":"2025-05-30T12:28:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T12:28:35","slug":"8308","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ca\/ontario\/2021\/12\/8308\/","title":{"rendered":"Family Perseveres through Hardship to Volunteer on Christmas Kettles"},"content":{"rendered":"

After receiving support from The Salvation Army Picton Community Church, 10-year-old Robbie Watson continues to give back even in uncertain times.<\/p>\n

Robbie and his family have continued the tradition of volunteering on Salvation Army Christmas Kettles this year.\u00a0He\u2019s back on the ice for recreational skating and is more like his old self, following a diagnosis of brain cancer and a summer of chemotherapy treatments.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re doing public skating once a week to get him back into doing what he loves. I can’t even think that we just spent four or five months going through intensive treatment,\u201d says his mother, Abby.<\/p>\n

\"\"While the word cancer is not used in the home, Robbie is moving forward with life, and he\u2019s named the tumour, \u2018Lumpy\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cRobbie says he\u2019s got Lumpy and he\u2019s an Avengers fan, so he says he\u2019s going to stomp it out. He hasn\u2019t lost his smile and he\u2019s still happy,\u201d Abby says.<\/p>\n

While Robbie is a bundle of energy now, it wasn\u2019t long ago, back in July when he woke up with a noticeable lack of energy. His pupils were also dilated, an indication of pressure on the brain.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew there was something wrong with him for a week. \u00a0He just wasn\u2019t himself, but he never complained,\u201d Abby recalls.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

After several hospital visits, an ultrasound and CT scan revealed a brain tumour and a positive diagnosis of germ cell cancer. Six rounds of chemotherapy followed, with the first treatment taking place on Robbie\u2019s birthday on July 30.<\/p>\n

As Robbie began treatment, the community responded by raising more than $11,000 through a GoFundMe campaign, and additional support from The Salvation Army Picton Community Church, led by Corps Officers Joe and Donna Ludlow.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe community support has been tremendous and we\u2019re thankful for The Salvation Army and their support,\u201d said Abby.<\/p>\n

The Watson family is using the break as Robbie waits for word of future treatment to volunteer on The Salvation Army Christmas Kettles this holiday season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kids have helped me three times so far. And I think I’ve had two shifts by myself. We\u2019ve done five so far in between doctor\u2019s appointments and bloodwork. When my daughters are home from school they volunteer as well,\u201d Abby says<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWe are so thankful for the response with everything from food to gas gift cards that help with numerous trips and hospital visits in Belleville, Kingston and Ottawa. Volunteering on The Salvation Army\u2019s Christmas Kettles is rewarding and it\u2019s the least we can do to help others who have supported us,\u201d Abby says.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As the family waits to see what treatments or surgery is in Robbie\u2019s future, right now he is living life to the fullest as a lively and energetic 10-year-old, playing hockey and building with Lego.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe actually has a great diagnosis. He is 80 per cent to 85 per cent cancer free. And then there\u2019s an 80 per cent chance that it will never come back either. His diagnosis is fantastic compared to a lot of others,\u201d says Abby, with a hint of hopefulness in her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wouldn’t have made it this far without the support that we have received from The Salvation Army, wider community and friends and family. \u00a0There\u2019s been so much help and so much care. Thank you everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After receiving support from The Salvation Army Picton Community Church, 10-year-old Robbie Watson continues to give back even in uncertain times. Robbie and his family have continued the tradition of volunteering on Salvation Army Christmas Kettles this year.\u00a0He\u2019s back on the ice for recreational skating and is more like his old self, following a diagnosis […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2385,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"location":[],"class_list":["post-2384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-interest"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFamily Perseveres through Hardship to Volunteer on Christmas Kettles - The Salvation Army Ontario<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ca\/ontario\/2021\/12\/8308\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Family Perseveres through Hardship to Volunteer on Christmas Kettles - The Salvation Army Ontario\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"After receiving support from The Salvation Army Picton Community Church, 10-year-old Robbie Watson continues to give back even in uncertain times. 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