A new documentary is set to debut, telling the inspiring story of a woman from Prince Edward Island who defied the odds after being diagnosed with a rare cancer. Michelle Hughes, diagnosed with Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE), a rare form of sarcoma, was told three years ago that she likely had only three to five years to live.
Instead of succumbing to her prognosis, Hughes embarked on a 120-kilometre triathlon on the third anniversary of her diagnosis, running, cycling, and swimming from Moncton Hospital, where she received her diagnosis, back to her home in P.E.I. A friend filmed the journey, resulting in a documentary titled
*The Journey Home*.
“I feel so empowered by what I did,” Hughes shared with CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin. “It was unbelievable.” This feat was even more remarkable considering Hughes had no prior experience with swimming or cycling and had only started running after her diagnosis.
For Hughes, the mental challenge was greater than the physical one. “Physically, I just told myself I would get there eventually,” she said. “I wanted to show my children that cancer doesn’t define me—that Momma can do things she never thought possible.”
During her months of training, Hughes faced several challenges, including side effects from her cancer treatment that affected her ability to eat and drink, causing weight and muscle loss. After finishing her treatment on July 10, it took her just over a month to regain enough strength to take on her triathlon challenge.
Her husband, Ty Hughes, said it was inspiring to watch Michelle embrace her athletic side, but he was also concerned on the day of the triathlon, August 20. He had to manage her safety on the roads and ensure she stayed fueled and hydrated, and admits he might have come across as “kind of cranky” in the documentary.
While the couple didn’t initially set out to make a documentary, their friend Lance Phillips, with whom they had worked on other projects, took the initiative. “We asked Lance if he’d be interested in filming some footage,” said Ty Hughes. “But Lance, with his creative vision, decided it had to be a full documentary—and it turned out amazing.”
Michelle’s primary message through the documentary is one of hope. “When I first left Moncton Hospital, the doctor gave me five years to live, maybe three. The drive home felt so hopeless, wondering if I would ever see certain things again,” she recalled. However, a second oncologist gave her a different perspective, saying that while she might die within that time, she could also live much longer—potentially up to 40 years.
“I ran with that, literally,” Hughes said. “I’ve never lost hope this whole time.”
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