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Benny Plots

Benny Plots

Benny Plots beats cancer and scores big

Benny Plots scores the winning goal and his Gloucester Griffins Bantam Lacrosse team wins the provincial lacrosse championships. Two years earlier, Benny is on the operating table at CHEO as surgeons remove a malignant tumour from between his 7th and 8th rib. Benny is 12 years old.

"Mom, it hurts when I lift my arm." Benny was showing his mother Robyn, a lump he had discovered on his side, just below his armpit. "It was October 2nd, 2007," recalls Robyn ."I remember it like it was yesterday. I called my family doctor, she sent us to CHEO.

They did blood work and took x-rays, everything seemed fine. Yet, there was a lump, they could see it. The doctors were baffled.

"I was scared when I heard I had cancer," says Benny. Within four weeks of his first appointment, Benny found himself preparing for cancer surgery. During recovery, Benny and his mom discovered how many people loved Benny and how lucky they were to have CHEO as their hospital. Benny's tumour was slow growing and not typically found in children his age. After several hours in the operating theatre, surgeons were confident they removed the entire mass. Part of Benny's rib was removed and skin from his back was grafted to reduce scarring. Still, Benny will have a lifelong reminder of his scare thanks to a large scar on his right side.

"Before Benny was diagnosed with cancer, we had just bought all his goalie equipment for hockey," recalls Robyn "He managed to play just three games that year before our plans abruptly changed." Benny is a team player. Thanks to the teamwork of his family physician, the staff at CHEO and a medical system that worked in his favour, Benny was up and running in no time.

"He is an interesting lad," says Reg MacDonald, President of the Gloucester Centre Minor Hockey Association. "The doctors wanted him to sit around. Just after his surgery, there he was, running around the arena." Benny and his mom will forever be grateful to Reg and his Gloucester Cougars hockey teammates. As Benny recuperated, the league created stickers with Benny's sweater number "33" and held fundraisers in his name. "They gave half the money to us and half to cancer research. We were able to buy new equipment when Benny was clear to play hockey again." says Robyn. Robyn, Benny and their entire family are thankful for the treatment and care they received. "I have to thank Dr. Klassen, Dr.Bass and Dr. Major for everything they did. I can't say enough about the people at CHEO," says Robyn.

Today, both Benny and his older brother David, are very active boys. Hockey and lacrosse equipment share space alongside the dining room table. Thanks to his active spirit and the love and care of his family, friends and complete strangers, Benny plans on scoring more winning goals, for years to come.