Brandon Sun 'It's so hard seeing your kid so sick' By: Drew May Advertisement Christmas looks different this year for almost every family in Westman as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. But for Jeremy and Sierra Bates, that also includes a cancer diagnosis for their young daughter, Maiya. Maiya was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in February 2020, just a few weeks before COVID-19 arrived in Manitoba. Maiya Bates. (Submitted) While so many people had their lives turned upside-down by the pandemic, the Bates family was also dealing with the "heartbreaking" realization their daughter had cancer, Sierra said. The family’s journey began just after Christmas last year, when Maiya had a fall at daycare and fractured her leg, Sierra said.