Dalton Brown is a kind, helpful, funny young man who just graduated from the Grand Manan Community School (GMCS) on June 17. He is also a cancer survivor.
     Dalton was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in July 2009 at the age of 12. Dalton lived in the IWK Health Center in Halifax, N.S., for six weeks, then he and his family moved to Fredericton for the next eight months. The Fredericton hospital, the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, was Dalton's secondary hospital, but he still travelled to the IWK frequently for treatments and procedures including chemotherapy, radiation and lumbar punctures.
     Dalton's bloodwork began to improve and he was allowed to move back to Grand Manan, but he still had to travel to both hospitals for the next three and a half years. Finally, in October 2012, treatments were finished and Dalton was declared cancer-free. He still has to travel to the Fredericton and Halifax hospitals for regular follow‑up appointments and bloodwork; this will continue for the next couple of years. Dalton had wonderful care at both hospitals, and he met some special people who are still very close to him and his family.
     His family saw how tough it was for him, especially during his middle school years. Dalton is a stubborn person, and it definitely showed during these years. If someone told him he couldn't do something, all he wanted to do was prove he could -- so he said, "Just watch me!" Schoolwork was a struggle, considering that he missed so much school time and that the aftereffects of all the treatments hit him hard both physically and mentally.
     His education assistants (EAs) were very helpful, and that is one of the reasons he chose to take the educational assistant program at Atlantic Business College in Fredericton next year. Dalton has a gift for working with young children, so he is also pursuing the early childhood education program. Co‑op with Susan Jones' Kindergarten class and volunteer activities with children helped him realize he wants to make a difference in the lives of young ones.
     He knows what facing challenges head-on is like and is committed to living out his mantra -- "never ever give up" -- and he encourages others to do the same. His family is proud of him for achieving honours in his graduating year. He also won several prizes at graduation, including an ABC Entrance Scholarship, an IWK Foundation Scholarship and the Graeme Cunningham Memorial Award. That award was a poignant recognition, because it honours a young cancer patient who attended GMCS a number of years ago.
     Dalton's family is very excited for him to go to Atlantic Business College in September. They know he will work hard and will continue to touch the lives of others. Dalton has a strong support system in Fredericton already. His family and friends will miss him, but they are also proud of him because they know he will go on to accomplish much.
     Dalton Brown is a survivor who beat cancer. He will be an inspiration to others to keep going and to follow their dreams.