For many families, welcoming a new baby into the world is filled with dreams about first steps, first words and endless milestones ahead. But for Jiuyi and Derek Roy, their beautiful baby girl, Selina, would teach them profound lessons about life, love and cherishing every fleeting moment.
From the beginning, Selina was a radiant light – curious, calm and quietly wise in a way that took people by surprise. But life would ask more of Selina than most babies. Diagnosed with two holes in her heart and a rare brain cancer, Selina’s short life was filled with medical complexities. Through it all, she held on, playful, vibrant and strong. Her parents lovingly called her their “warrior princess.”
“Selina had this way of gripping your finger tightly, as if to say, ‘I know you love me, and I love you too,’” Jiuyi says. “She found her voice and learned to smile, showing how resilient, smart and determined she was.”
During her chemotherapy treatments, Selina developed a serious infection, leaving doctors uncertain about how much time she had left. That was when the Roy family was introduced to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. This marked a turning point they now consider one of the most meaningful moments in their difficult journey.
Canuck Place is BC and the Yukon’s only pediatric palliative care provider, caring for over 920 children with life-threatening illnesses and the families who love them. Canuck Place provides pain and symptom management, medical respite care, art and education, music and recreation therapy, counselling and bereavement services and end of life care, all at no cost to families.
Canuck Place provided Selina with expert care focused on her comfort. Her parents, too, were supported at every turn through nourishing meals from the kitchen staff during their medical respite stays, restful spaces, spiritual guidance and compassionate counselling. Their spiritual care counsellor also introduced them to a Buddhist chaplain, who gave them solace and guidance during overwhelming times. But what made the greatest impact were the moments of normalcy, of joy and memory-making. At Canuck Place, they could pause, breathe and simply focus on being Selina’s parents.
“At that point in our life, we were the most vulnerable, and without realizing it we really needed Canuck Place. We had the freedom to focus on her with 100 per cent of our energy and we got to be with her all the time in her final moments,”Jiuyi shares.
One of the most powerful parts of their journey was the lifetime of memories they made with Selina, thanks to the support of Canuck Place recreation therapists. They got to visit a cat café, Queen Elizabeth Park Bloedel Conservatory and take in the magic of the Vancouver Aquarium. And with the guidance of Canuck Place, Jiuyi and Derek took Selina to the top of Grouse Mountain, where she watched the Lumberjack Show and was gifted a tiny wooden chair specially carved for her. This was an experience Jiuyi and Derek shared was only possible because Canuck Place taught them and gave them the confidence to take Selina on adventures and experience the world themselves.
“We still have the chair at the front entrance of our house, and whenever we see it, we think of Selina sitting in that chair for the first time,”Jiuyi says.
But perhaps their most precious memento is a soft seal plushie from the Vancouver Aquarium.
“If Selina had gotten a little older, we would have loved to give her a stuffed seal and call it ‘Seal-ina’ as a play on her name. The recreation therapy team got a seal from the Vancouver aquarium and put a recording of Selina’s heart in it. Now we can think about our time there, and hear our baby’s heartbeat,”Jiuyi shares.
Selina passed away in September of 2024, held by her parents in a space filled with peace and unconditional love. Canuck Place walked with the Roys every step of the way, helping them through the most difficult goodbye – not only supporting them in their grief, but managing challenging logistical choices such as contacting funeral homes and cremation services. This support ensured Selina could be laid to rest properly, honouring her legacy and supporting her parents along the way.
“Our time at Canuck Place reshaped our perspective on life. We learned that the most valuable moments are the ones happening right now,” Jiuyi reflects. “We realized that no one has to go through hardship alone. There is always kindness, community and guidance available for those in need.”
With the support of generous donors, Canuck Place continues to provide pediatric palliative care that helps families find strength in the face of heartbreak – and joy in the smallest moments of life.
This Mother's Day, you can help give the gift of time, comfort and love to families like the Roys. One more cuddle. One more smile. Cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
Visit canuckplace.org until May 31, and your gift will be matched by our generous partners. Double your impact and provide infinite love to families who face finite days.