Kitchener Jr. Rangers rally around hockey mom and nurse
As an oncology nurse, Sarah Cochrane knows life is fragile.
She’s reminded about it daily while doing rounds at the Cancer Centre at Grand River Hospital.
“I feel like they’re a special population of patients because of what they’re going through,” said the Kitchener native. “They have that perspective on life — that each day is a gift.
“I’ve appreciated that looking after patients. Now, as a patient, I can appreciate it even more.”
Cochrane was diagnosed with breast cancer about three months ago.
“November 14th,” said the 43year-old. “That’s when I got the phone call.”
And that’s when her life changed. She didn’t have a history of breast cancer in her family and a mammogram taken about a year and a half ago came back clean. But, in early November, she noticed a lump in her breast.
“It kind of came out of nowhere,” she recalled. “I was like ‘Oh my gosh, what the heck is that?’ ”
There are several types of breast cancer.
Cochrane has HER2-positive, which can be aggressive.
She’s had five rounds of chemotherapy and has one more left. She’s scheduled to have surgery to remove the cancerous area in about a month. Then it will be five weeks of radiation.
“It was just kind of a wake-up call that this can happen to anybody,” said the mother of three. “You have to advocate for yourself if you find something isn’t right and make sure you get it checked out. Nobody is invincible.”
Sea of pink
On Sunday, she’ll get a pleasant distraction.
The spectator side of the arena at Sportsworld will be transformed into a sea of pink for a hockey game between the Under-14 Triple-A Kitchener Jr. Rangers and the Huron-Perth Lakers.
Cochrane’s 13-year-old son, Liam, is Kitchener’s goalie.
“We wanted to do something to highlight Sarah’s battle and other people who are going through a similar thing,” said Jr. Rangers head coach Dave Horne. “We want to get the word out so we can fill the arena and fill it with pink.”
A silent auction kicks off at 10 a.m. before the players hit the ice for the regular-season game beginning an hour later.
There will be special stickers made for Cochrane, breast cancer ribbon chocolates and a ceremonial puck drop with staff from Grand River Hospital, among other things. Players will also be decked out in custom pink sweaters, stick tape and skate laces.
All proceeds are pegged for the Grand River Hospital Foundation.
“We’ll help raise some money for my team for not only what I’m going through, but also for what I do,” said Cochrane. “It’s humbling. We’re very grateful. Hockey families have reached out and shown so much support from the beginning.”
Cochrane’s youngest son, Nolan, will also be there with his Under-12 Double B Blue Jr. Rangers, alongside his dad, Adam, and older sister, Nicole.
The family has been overwhelmed by the support.
There have been random dropins, car rides for the kids to practices and games, and special “Puck Off Breast Cancer” T-shirts, designed by Cochrane’s co-workers, which they wear when she comes in for treatment.
All of it is appreciated.
“You don’t know how many people have your back until you go through something like this,” said Cochrane, whose family billets Kitchener Rangers forward Justin Bottineau.
“I’m hoping that we see lots of people wearing pink and everyone is in a good mood and showing support and having fun (on Sunday).”
And, just maybe, there will be two points for the home side.
“I think we’ve tied Huron-Perth the last couple times we’ve played them,” said Cochrane. “So, a win would be nice.”