At Atlantic Canada’s largest children’s hospital, a special program is helping kids better understand their cancer diagnosis by letting them see the disease up close. The IWK Health Centre has created something called the Cellfie Project—a hands-on, educational experience that brings young patients face-to-face with their own cells.

Children who are diagnosed with leukemia are invited to wear a white lab coat and visit the hospital lab, where they get to look at their blood and bone marrow cells under a microscope. For many, it’s their first time seeing what cancer actually looks like inside the body.

Dr. Valérie Bourque-Riel, a pediatric blood and cancer specialist, guides them through this emotional and eye-opening journey.

“I ask them, ‘Would you like to see your cancer cells? Would you like to see your healthy cells? Would you like to learn what’s going on in your body?’” she explained. “Most kids say yes right away. They want to understand.”

During the lab visit, children become “honorary pathologists.” They are given their very own white coat and a USB drive filled with images of their cells. This helps them see how cancer affects their bodies and allows them to talk about their experience in a new and powerful way.

Some kids even bring their “Selfie Stick” to school to show classmates what their illness looks like and explain why they might look different—like being pale or losing hair.

“It helps take away fear and replace it with knowledge,” said Dr. Bourque-Riel. “And that changes everything.”

Along with this lab adventure, children are gifted a soft, crocheted stuffed animal to take home. These cute and cuddly toys are handmade—many by healthcare staff who want to spread kindness and comfort.

“Having something to take home, something they can hug and show their friends, really makes the experience special,” shared Allison Williams, a lab technologist at the hospital.

The Cellfie Project began in 2022. Since then, it’s grown steadily and continues to bring hope, learning, and comfort to more and more young patients and their families. By helping children understand their diagnosis, this unique program is making a difficult journey just a little bit easier.