Oscar Dorval’s story of overcoming cancer — twice — will be featured on Global TV this weekend as the six-year-old boy and his mom Angela Cruikshank are interviewed live during the BC Children’s Hospital Miracle Weekend Telethon.
The two-day telethon is meant to help raise money for BC Children’s Hospital. It will air on Global starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, and ending at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Oscar and his mom’s interview will take place during the first hour of the telethon on Saturday.
The six-year-old boy from Gibsons was excited about his upcoming TV appearance.
“He doesn’t generally get nervous,” Cruikshank said. “He’s a natural.”
Cruikshank said she was a little bit nervous, but was also looking forward to the interview.
“I love the excitement of it all,” she noted. “I also love talking about Oscar, and if in any way it helps BC Children’s raise more funds to help kids with all kinds of challenges, then it is worth every second.”
Oscar was diagnosed with a rare kind of kidney-based cancer when he was just three.
After nearly a year at BC Children’s Hospital undergoing surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation, Oscar was given a clean bill of health and allowed to go home.
At Oscar’s first check up three months later, the family got the devastating news that his cancer had returned, this time to his lung.
The young boy went back into BC Children’s Hospital for another bout of treatment and beat the cancer once again.
Just this week, Oscar had a follow-up check at the hospital that came back all clear.
“He had a chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasound today, and everything looks good, no signs of cancer,” Cruikshank said.
Oscar’s story of triumph caught the eye of one of the telethon producers who contacted Cruikshank to see if she and Oscar wanted to be part of the live TV show. The family was happy to help.
“Although we really want him to have a ‘normal’ life, helping BC Children’s is pretty important for our family,” Cruikshank said. “We don’t have money to give, but we give our time and energy to a place that works hard for kids.”
In preparation for the show Oscar was filmed dancing for a public service announcement about the telethon that’s running now until May 31, when the show airs. Tune into Global this Saturday starting at 7 p.m. to see Oscar and Cruikshank in the BC Children’s Hospital Miracle Weekend Telethon.
