For Mother鈥檚 Day, Langley鈥檚 Alisha Openshaw isn鈥檛 expecting too much.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 have any plans for Mother鈥檚 Day, maybe just get a well-deserved sleep-in and spend the day being spoiled by my boys,鈥� she said.

Twins Weston and Bennett are four, not quite old enough to make mom breakfast by themselves, but old enough to deliver it.

鈥淚f my husband helps, they would likely be able to bring it up to me,鈥� Alisha said.

It would be a rare day of rest for Alisha, who estimates she averages at least three days a week on the road, driving her sons in from their Langley home for cancer treatments at B.C. Children鈥檚 Hospital (BCCH) in Vancouver, a route so familiar and automatic that she can arrive without remembering any of the turns along the way.

Her boys were both diagnosed with the same type of cancer, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, within a few months of each other, in 2022.

Since then, 鈥渋t鈥檚 a whole new world,鈥� she commented, one of doctors, nurses and specialists, of chemo and other medical procedures, and sometimes long stays in the hospital,

Weston, who was the first brother to be diagnosed, has had a 鈥渞eally rough go,鈥� that included a six week stay in hospital that ended just in time for Christmas, Alisha advised.

Currently, both Weston and Bennett are doing well, 鈥渙ther than them both being bald now,鈥� but their hair is growing back, and the twins are becoming their usual rambunctious selves.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e both wild boys,鈥� she laughed.

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A video of their hospital visits, provided to the Langley Advance Times, showed the brothers happily rampaging through the hallways at BCCH with a toy wagon, showing they know where the switch is to open automatic doors, and the route to the outdoor play area.

鈥楾hey鈥檙e very familiar with the hospitals and the treatments,鈥� Alisha commented.

鈥淭hey鈥檒l be playing house, and [they will pretend] 鈥榶ou have to take your medicine鈥�.鈥�

The Mickey Mouse-loving twins enjoy playing with their older brother and cuddling with their 鈥楴ana鈥� 鈥� grandma and spending time with their 鈥楢untie,鈥� Alisha鈥檚 sister.

Alisha has also found support from what she described as a community of moms in similar situations.

鈥淲e call ourselves the 鈥榤omcologists,鈥� Alisha said.

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Alisha is telling her family鈥檚 story to support BCCH, which is the only hospital in the province devoted exclusively to the care of children and youth.

Donor funding, through the B.C. Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation, goes to providing medical equipment, help fund leading pediatric research and clinical care, and enhancing facilities, programs and initiatives.

The current campaign theme is 鈥渏oin the mighty鈥� 鈥� donate to help mighty mothers and mighty children.

鈥淚t has been a difficult journey at times, and I haven鈥檛 always felt very strong, but I have had to remain mighty,鈥� Alisha commented.

鈥淪taying mighty for my boys is knowing exactly when they need a big hug, or when to crack a silly smile. Mighty is telling myself it鈥檚 okay to walk away and have a long, hard cry. Mighty is knowing when to ask for help. As a mom, this is how I need to show up 鈥� staying mighty when things get tough.鈥�

Contributions can be made at .