William Bernaquez: profile in courage, determination, an inspiration

“Before I became sick, I wanted to register for organized hockey, so that’s what I did last September (2007),” he specified.

Like his idol Saku Koivu who beat cancer, William easily became captain of his Bantam B Laval-North Canadiens team based on his courage and his great determination.

At 14, William now plays our national sport proudly wearing sweater number 11, the same as that of his hero. The left-winger’s special left-leg prosthesis allows him to skate on ice. “Thanks to new technology, I can be just like the others. Even if I’m different, I can do the same things as other teen-agers. I sometimes experience difficulty in certain activities, but it’s mostly a matter of adaptation,” he admits with lots of joie de vivre. “I find it a little difficult to skate backwards, but all in all, I get along quite well,” he adds.

The young hockey player who’s in his first season of organized hockey has impressed many with his relative ease on ice. Without a doubt, the young man can be cited as an example for his teammates.

At the start of the season, William was named one of three Players of the Month by Hockey Quebec, from among all players in minor hockey in the province. Before his illness, William practiced with the Laval North Vikings football team and also played baseball. In addition to hockey, William also enjoys playing other sports such as football and soccer with friends. “I’m not interested in playing any team sport other than hockey. I’ve adapted well. Sometimes, I ask myself what’s with life with two legs?”

A month after doctors had diagnosed the illness, William was faced with a heart-wrenching choice: amputation of a part of his left leg or radiotherapy. “I opted for amputation because the radiotherapy would have changed nothing. It was worse than learning I had cancer. It’s the loss of a limb. It’s troubling.”

After the surgery, William suffered imaginary pain. “My mind believed I still had my foot and that I could move my toes. It was as if electric shocks were going through me. I was under (heavy) medication.”

He went through a number of blood tests. He went through chemotherapy. He was in and out of hospital for six months. “I found it hard to lose my hair. The medication was strong. I was in a hurry for the chemo to come to an end.” William also went through physiotherapy to help him adjust to his prostheses, of which he has three. “I have one for walking, one for playing hockey and another for swimming. I have a good chance of being well.”

The teenager’s illness is now in remission. He’s full of impatience. I can’t wait to be told in two years that I’m healed. It’s jumping around in my head.”

The tragedy has not prevented the young man from taking life by the horns. "It made me mature quicker. It's made me older before my time. Getting cancer makes you reflect on a lot of things," maintains William, whose aspirations are to become a sports announcer.