speaking of children, spring 2012

spring 2012

bcchf.ca

EPILEPSY CARE

GAIT LAB

CHOKING HAZARDS

MIRACLE WEEKEND PREVIEW

Sunny HillOne-of-a-kind rehabilitation

and developmental care

for BC’s kids.

superhero news

2 speaking of children spring 2012

Christen Dodge is a proud employee

of CIBC. Her dedication to BC Chil-

dren’s Hospital helped move her bank

to designate its $1-million gift to

the Campaign for BC Children to the

Oncology Inpatient Unit in the new

Children’s Hospital.

Ten years ago, when Christen’s broth-

er, Cody, was 10, doctors found an

inoperable tumour in his brain after

a routine eye exam. Since then, Cody

has been receiving regular cancer treatment at BC Children’s

Hospital. Despite his illness Cody leads an active life, work-

ing on fishing boats and playing soccer in his spare time. He

believes in living life to its fullest.

Inspired by her brother’s fighting spirit and the unwavering

support of Children’s caregivers, Christen is an active ambas-

sador for the hospital, championing fundraising initiatives

at her workplace and volunteering her time to serve on the

banks division committee for the annual Miracle Weekend.

Recently Christen became the chair of CIBC’s 2012 employ-

ee fundraising campaign for BC Children’s Hospital, leading

activities at over 150 CIBC branches across BC.

“For half of [Cody’s] life he’s had to battle,” said Christen.

“I want to help give the Foundation more money to fund

research and more treatment options for these kids. I want

to help find a cure.”

Like Christen, many passionate people from all walks of life

– from the mining and retail industries, to hospitality and

real estate and development – give their time and energy to

support the hospital through employee-led campaigns and

Miracle Weekend. Volunteers are the backbone of many of

the Foundation’s events and their successes.

CIBC’s million-dollar gift to the Campaign for BC Children in

May 2011 follows a number of gifts from other banks. In 2008,

BMO made a $2-million gift to the Emergency Department

of the new Children’s Hospital, which is expected to open

in 2017. That gift was followed by a $2-million contribution

from RBC toward mental health in 2009. And in November

2011, Scotiabank committed to a $1-million gift in support of

Child Health BC and its regional subspecialty clinics.

With the participation of banks, other corporations and

individuals across the province, BC Children’s Hospital

Foundation has raised $139 million of its $200-million goal.

Left: Christen Dodge; Below: Members of the Miracle Weekend banks committee. Left to right (front row): Andrew Gordon, HSBC; Susanne Kingshott, Scotiabank; Mark Simoes, CIBC; (centre row): Daniel Lee, HSBC; Rob Wilkins, Scotiabank; Alex Fan, CIBC; Christen Dodge, CIBC; (back row): Russ Aunger, Scotiabank; Jacqueline Poissant, Canadian Western Bank; Yiwen Guo, TD; Leah Iverson, TD; Berenika Straczek, RBC. Missing: Garth Stoll, HSBC; Angel Tabernero, RBC; Wayne Brown, BMO; Mike Dunnigan, Scotiabank; Bruce Hogg, BMO.

Banks rally around BC’s kids

spring 2012 speaking of children 3

www.bcchf.ca

MANAGING EDITORStephen Forgacs

EDITORWinnie Tam

CONTRIBUTORS Mona Bhullar, Rebecca Keillor,

Joanna Newman, Janice Williams

PHOTOGRAPHYVincent L. Chan,

Invisionation Photography; Irvin Cheung; Brian Hawkes,

Brian Hawkes Photographic Inc.; James LaBounty;

Suzanne Paxton, The Image of You

ART DIRECTORGabriele Chaykowski

PROJECT MANAGER Casey Crawford

PRODUCED BY

For more information about the editorial content of Speaking of Children or to make a donation

to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation or Sunny Hill Foundation, please contact

604-875-2444, toll-free at 1-888-663-3033 or [email protected].

Charitable Business Number: 11885 2433 RR0001

BC Children’s Hospital Foundation 938 West 28th Avenue

Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to SOC Editor at address above.

Speaking of Children is published three times annually by BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Supporters who donate $50 or more receive a

one-year subscription to the magazine, which is also distributed to government officials, public

health units and libraries throughout the province.

Publication sales agreement #40659514

spring 2012

inside speaking of children

features6

8

10

14

Relearning LifeA three-year-old rebounds after losing the ability to sit up, walk and swallow.

Motion CaptureSunny Hill’s gait lab assesses children with walking challenges.

Giving VoiceElectronic devices and a customized wheelchair help a teenager communicate and lead an active life.

2012 Miracle Weekend PreviewOur 2012 Miracle Weekend chair and Champion Child share their thoughts and stories.

BC Children’s Hospital Foundation raises funds for Children’s Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for

Children and the Child & Family Research Institute.

A PUBLICATION OF

superhero news

well said

ask the expert

speaking of people

what’s on

healthy habits

what’s up, doc?

children speak

24

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departments

10

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6

Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children

is dedicated to caring for children with

complex rehabilitation and developmental

needs. For over 25 years, Sunny Hill has

helped tens of thousands of BC’s children

and youth learn and regain basic life skills –

from walking and talking, to swallowing and

communicating – giving them the chance

of a brighter future.

Sunny Hill is a sister facility to BC Children’s

Hospital, and its child rehabilitation and

development programs are unique in the

province. When a child has a serious accident

and requires rehabilitation, or is born with

a congenital condition that affects their

learning and development, families turn to

Sunny Hill for the support they need.

Many children at Sunny Hill are not sick in the traditional sense. While some may fully

recover from injuries, many others are supported by Sunny Hill staff as they strive to

gain a greater degree of independence or the ability to communicate. It’s the goal of

every Sunny Hill specialist to help children reach their potential and to enhance each

child’s quality of life. By using a variety of methods and tools – such as physiotherapy,

customized wheelchairs and electronic communication devices – our staff help children

and their families achieve individual goals, cope with change and connect with those

around them.

When you give to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation you are not only helping kids at BC

Children’s Hospital; you are also supporting children and families at Sunny Hill. You help

us give them the specialized care they need in a warm and supportive environment. And

when construction of the new Children’s Hospital is complete, children and families will

be able to access these same services, as well as the hospital’s, on one site, eliminating

the need for families to travel between the two facilities and enhancing collaboration

among our caregivers.

I thank you for your support and hope you enjoy reading about some of the children

served at Sunny Hill in this issue.

Sincerely,

David DoigChair, Sunny Hill Foundation for Children

Board of Directors


well said

One-of-a-Kind Care BC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

Board of Directors 2012 as of February 1, 2012

Mr. Kevin Bent, Chair

Mr. Chris Carty

Mr. David Doig

Mr. Larry Gold

Mr. Doug Gordon

Mr. Peter Green

Mrs. Tammi Kerzner

Mr. Don Lindsay

Mr. Graham MacLachlan

Mr. Geoff Parkin

Mr. David Podmore

Dr. Ralph Rothstein

Ms. Sandy So

Ms. Andrea Southcott

Mrs. Diane Zell

Foundation Executive

Teri Nicholas, MSW, RSWPresident & CEO

Knut Nordlie, CFREVice President and Chief Operating Officer

Debora Sweeney, CFREVice President and Chief Communications Officer


Being able to walk, talk and swallow is something most of

us take for granted. But for some kids at Sunny Hill Health

Centre for Children, acquiring these skills takes hard work.

Located in East Vancouver, Sunny Hill cares for over 5,000

children with complex developmental and rehabilitation

needs from more than 300 BC communities a year. Each

of these children is unique, yet they share a common goal

– to maximize their abilities so they can lead the most

independent and fulfilling life possible.

In this issue of Speaking of Children, you will meet a toddler

who, with help from specialists at Sunny Hill, relearned

how to swallow, sit up and walk after mysteriously losing

these abilities overnight. You will also see how advanced

technologies are helping children walk, communicate and

participate in sports. BC’s children are fortunate to have

access to the specialized services at Sunny Hill. Your support

is helping to make them available to our province’s children

and families.

Maximizing Potential

The night Lisa O’Hara heard a strange noise coming from

her 17-month-old daughter Carleigh’s baby monitor, her first

thought was an innocent one. “I thought it was the wind,”

she says. She was shocked to find the sound was actually

coming from Carleigh, who lay unconscious in her crib and

was struggling to breathe.

This was to be Lisa’s first experience with her now three-

year-old daughter’s epilepsy or seizure disorder, diagnosed

after a week spent in BC Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric

Intensive Care Unit.

“It was surreal,” says Lisa. “Because I think a lot of people

think that when you see a seizure it’s convulsing and maybe

foaming at the mouth, and that’s not at all what she was

like. To me I didn’t even know how they knew she was hav-

ing a seizure. I was kind of in a daze.”

Lisa and her husband, Ryan, received the devastating news

that extensive testing on the electrical activity and struc-

ture of Carleigh’s brain revealed abnormalities in her

frontal lobes. And when Carleigh regained consciousness

she was a changed girl.

“She lost everything,” says Lisa. “She couldn’t swallow.

She couldn’t talk. She couldn’t do anything. All she did was

scream, but she had no voice because she was intubated.”


feature story

Relearning LifeCarleigh O’Hara lost her ability to walk, talk and swallow overnight. While the exact cause of her condition may never be discovered, her family is thankful that specialists at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children are there to help Carleigh deal with her challenges.

by REBECCA KEILLOR


What exactly happened to Carleigh that night is still some-

thing of a mystery. She has undergone over 100 tests, sent

as far afield as Amsterdam, and the results have all come

back negative. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or

ADEM, was at first suspected. ADEM is an infection that

affects the brain and causes inflammation or damage to

different areas within the brain, but a diagnosis was never

confirmed. What was confirmed was epilepsy with develop-

mental issues.

Epilepsy is a brain disorder, says Kim Tully, former acting

program manager of Nursing and Acute Rehabilitation at

Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, where Carleigh went

for her rehabilitation.

“Basically it just means that your electrical activity of the

brain doesn’t always function correctly; it might misfire or

it’s overactive. During this abnormal electrical activity a

person’s level of consciousness, body movements or sensa-

tions may be affected,” says Kim.

Epilepsy is not an uncommon disorder. Roughly 40,000

people in British Columbia and around 300,000 people in

Canada have epilepsy or a seizure disorder.

Because of the severity of Carleigh’s loss of development,

a specialized brain injury team at Sunny Hill stepped in to

provide the professional care she needed. This multidisci-

plinary team includes, among others, nurses, physicians,

social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists,

speech language pathologists, psychologists, recreational

therapists and staff who help with infant development.

“There was a therapist working with her every day on some-

thing,” says Lisa. “I can’t say enough about Sunny Hill. From

her social worker to basically all of the therapists and the

nurses, they were all fabulous. They just fell in love with

Carleigh. They were like our family.”

Staff at Sunny Hill set a goal for Carleigh: they wanted to get

her swallowing by herself and crawling before sending her

home. It took three months to achieve this. Lisa and Ryan

appreciated Sunny Hill’s family-focused approach, which

included a social worker giving them a tour of the facility

prior to Carleigh’s transfer from Children’s Hospital, and

arrangements for six months of acute care from the Com-

munity Brain Injury Program for Children and Youth in

British Columbia when Carleigh was discharged.

“At Sunny Hill we encourage the families to be a part of the

team, right from day one,” says Kim. “We bring them on

board, explain to them what’s going on, who’s involved and

really see what goals and hopes they have for their child,

and try and build that into the treatment plan.”

The transition from Children’s Hospital to Sunny Hill will be

made smoother for patients when the new hospital opens

in 2017 and Sunny Hill is relocated to the hospital’s campus.

Having Sunny Hill at the same site as the hospital will

eliminate the need for Sunny Hill patients like Carleigh to

travel to Children’s Hospital for follow-up care, IV therapy

or X-rays, as they currently do.

To date, Carleigh’s progress has been slow, physically and

mentally. She is still in diapers, is unstable on her feet and is

not yet talking. But she is improving and, Lisa says, Carleigh

is a happy child.

“She’s always had a smile. That’s something all the ther-

apists at Sunny Hill would say about Carleigh,” says Lisa.

“She was a joy to work with because she was happy to see

them. I try to update all the therapists and send them pic-

tures and stuff because I really felt like they cared and

wanted to see the best for my child.”

To make a donation to Sunny Hill

Health Centre for Children, please

visit www.bcchf.ca.

Christian Martinez stands at the edge of the mat, patient-

ly awaiting his cue. The 11-year-old’s body is speckled with

electrodes and reflective markers – each one strategically

placed at a joint or muscle. He gets the signal and starts

walking. With each step, Christian’s movements are cap-

tured, recorded and translated into digital 3D images.

Motion capture technology has been widely used for years

in video game development and movie production. It’s what

makes animated characters look so life-like – whether it’s

the athlete in a video game or the character of Tintin in the

recently released movie. It also has its uses well beyond the

realm of video games and movies – it has found its place in

the world of medicine.

Christian continues his walk across the mat. He’s not per-

forming the movements as part of an animated character

role; he’s taking steps, one at a time, so Alec Black, direc-

tor of the Shriners Gait Lab at Sunny Hill Health Centre for

Children, can assess his stride, or gait.

“Motion capture technology allows us to conduct non-inva-

sive diagnosis – measure and evaluate walking patterns

– so we can understand and resolve complex gait problems

in children,” says Alec. “In our lab, we see children with

cerebral palsy, spina bifida as well as those who have had

traumatic brain or spine injuries or have lost a limb.”

Christian was diagnosed with moderate cerebral palsy

when he was nine months old and intermediate intellectual

delay at the age of four and a half. “I noticed that he wasn’t

developing like other babies his age,” says Christian’s moth-

er, Blanca. “He wasn’t crawling or making any baby sounds

and was reaching his milestones much later than his peers.”

After diagnosis, Christian began intensive therapy to help

him with his speech, language and mobility challenges.

“Christian’s orthopedic surgeon (Dr. Richard Beauchamp) told

us that Christian would benefit from extensive physiother-

apy sessions because as his body was growing, his muscles

were beginning to stiffen, compromising his ability to walk,”

says Blanca. Christian’s first visit to the gait lab was when he

was four years old; he’s been back several times since then.

“When a patient first arrives, they go through a physical

assessment with one of our physiotherapists,” says Alec.

“This includes a number of muscle tests and joint range of

motion measurements. Then we place 16 electrodes over key

Christian Martinez gets tested at the Shriners Gait Lab at Sunny Hill with the help of occupational therapist, Val Ward.

feature story

Walk this Way The Shriners Gait Lab at Sunny Hill uses high-tech video game gear to find solutions for children with walking-related disabilities.

by MONA BHULLAR


muscles of a child’s body, like we do for Christian, as well as

reflective markers at specific anatomical points. These allow

us to measure the electrical impulses of Christian’s muscles

in action, while at the same time the motion capture cam-

eras allow us to capture his movements digitally.”

The recent addition of equipment that measures foot pres-

sure – the distribution of forces exerted on the ground

and absorbed by the body while walking – has further

enhanced the work of the gait lab team, which comprises

orthopedic surgeons, physiotherapists, kinesiologists and

engineers. “With the extra markers and the addition of the

foot pressure measurement equipment, we get an even bet-

ter understanding of the different foot segments,” says Alec.

“We can see what Christian’s feet are actually doing and by

comparing his walking with normal gait patterns, we can

quite accurately determine if his feet are functioning prop-

erly. If we do find problems, we can make the appropriate

surgical, orthotic or therapeutic recommendations. In Chris-

tian’s case, he was fitted with custom orthotic foot braces to

help him walk better.”

Before computerized gait analysis systems were developed,

clinicians relied solely on observation. “As we know, there

are a multitude of complex movements and relationships

between body segments as a person walks,” says Alec. “Even

for a trained clinician, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to see

and understand the interplay taking place.”

The team at the lab, which is one of only three such clinic-

al facilities in Western Canada, sees about 250 children each

year; since 1997, they have helped thousands of children find

solutions to their walking-related challenges.

“The braces have really helped,” says Blanca. “Christian can

hold his body straighter and is walking with a little more

ease. And the visits to the gait lab have made a difference.

We’ve noticed that Christian’s endurance has improved

and he’s not getting tired as quickly as he used to. He’s also

becoming a lot more confident in himself.”

Once the exercises are finished, Alec lets Christian have a

little fun. The sixth-grader, with his wires and markers still

attached, breaks out in dance and watches, grinning, as

the 3D skeletal image on screen dances with him – in

perfect sync.

Below: Christian and his mom, Blanca.

Gait lab director, Alec Black, shows Christian his 3D skeletal image.


Ben Fullerton and his mom, Lori.

feature story

Ben Fullerton is much like other 13-year-olds; he enjoys

video games and chats with friends online. It’s his other

accomplishments that set the Langley teen apart: he plays

power soccer and met the CBC’s Rick Mercer recently at a

practice and, for two consecutive years, has placed third in

the Pacific Northwest Optimist Communication Contest.

Ben has accomplished these feats – from the everyday to

the exceptional – all from the seat of his power wheelchair.

Ben was born with a type of cerebral palsy that affects his

ability to walk and speak.

“Ben has normal thinking ability, it’s just that his body

doesn’t cooperate,” says his mother, Lori. “He’s unable to

speak and be properly understood and he’s unable to write.”

That’s where Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children’s assist-

ive technology team comes in. “The creativity of the people

at Sunny Hill is astounding; they always find a way to make

things work,” says Lori.

The team has helped Ben find a way to speak his mind, set-

ting him up with a speech-generating device – a talking

computer – that enables him to communicate. “We work

closely with each child, their family and their community

health team to determine if we can improve a child’s day-

to-day life through the aid of assistive technology,” says

Nicole Wilkins, Ben’s occupational therapist at Sunny Hill.

“Ben controls the movements of his wheelchair and the

movements of his computer mouse all by lightly tapping his

head against switches that are built right into his wheel-

chair headrest,” explains Nicole.

“As Ben’s body grows, we continuously make adjustments

to the seating, head array, and display,” says Nicole. “All the

pieces have to be perfectly aligned. It’s extremely compli-

cated but well worth it. Ben’s a totally amazing kid.”

Lori couldn’t agree more. “The device has really given Ben an

independence to communicate,” she says. “He uses words,

symbols and pictures that have been programmed into the

computer to help him communicate. It takes a long time,

but Ben doesn’t give up.”

Assistance of a Special KindAdvanced, custom technologies help a teenager communicate and play.

by MONA BHULLAR


BC Children’s Hospital Foundation is grateful for the leadership and support of Dr. Doug Cochrane, who has stepped down as a governor, an appointment he has held since 2005.

The Foundation is pleased to welcome four new governors.

Robin Dhir is the president of Twin Brook Developments Ltd., which focuses on the development, construction and man-agement of residential real estate. He is the founding chair of the A Night of Mir-acles gala, which, since 2009, has raised $678,000 for BC Children’s Hospital. Robin plays an active role in the community and is on the Board of Directors of Canada Place Corporation.

Bjorn Moller recently retired as CEO of Teekay Shipping, one of the largest ship-ping companies in the world. He had been with the company since 1985. Bjorn has served on several professional asso-ciations and is vice-chair of the Mulgrave School Foundation Board in West Van-couver.

Russ and Karen Grant are ex-Winnipeg-gers who retired to Victoria in 2008 after a 40-year stopover in Calgary. Karen was a clinical nurse who trained at Winnipeg Children’s Hospital and worked with chil-dren with learning difficulties at Calgary Academy. Russ is an engineer from the University of Manitoba and spent his career consulting in the energy industry. They are both looking forward to being ambassadors for the Foundation on Van-couver Island.


OUR EXPERTS ANSWER COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT PLANNED GIVING.

What are the benefits of naming

a charity in my will?

A common misconception about planned giving or estate planning is that

it is only for the wealthy. The truth is everyone can make a difference and

support their charity or charities of choice through a bequest in their will.

1. Simplicity: It is easy to leave a legacy gift. Just a few sentences in your

will are all that is needed. Visit a lawyer or notary experienced in estate

planning to help you include your charitable bequest(s) in a new will or add

a codicil to an existing will.

2. Flexibility: You can revise your will throughout your life as your situation

changes. In fact, it’s wise to review and update your will regularly, and

particularly after major events in your life (e.g. marriage, birth of a child,

divorce, death of a parent etc.) as these events may have an impact on your

ability and desire to include charitable bequests.

3. Versatility: You can structure the bequest in a manner that best suits

your needs. A specific bequest leaves a specific amount of money or

property to a charity; a residual bequest donates all or a portion of your

estate after all debts, taxes and other bequests have been made; and a

contingent bequest (also known as a “disaster” clause) allows you to donate

your estate to a charity when circumstances make it impossible to carry

out your primary bequest (e.g. if your spouse predeceases you).

4. Tax Relief: While not a primary concern for everyone, you can reduce

taxes payable upon your death by including charitable bequests. Your estate

may use charitable receipts to reduce taxes owing in the year of death up to

100 per cent of your net income and in the year preceding death.

The final benefit of leaving a charitable bequest is knowing that your legacy

gift to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation will support advances in child

health for years to come.

When including a gift to BC Children’s Hospital in your will or any other

document, please remember to use our correct legal name: British

Columbia’s Children’s Hospital Foundation. For more information on how

to support BC Children’s Hospital through a bequest in your will, please

contact a member of our expert team below.

ask the expert

Charitable BequestsNEW GOVERNORS WELCOMED

DIANE HAARSTAD Philanthropy Officer

604-875-3679 [email protected]

JANICE WILLIAMSPhilanthropy Officer

[email protected]


CRYSTAL BALLThe 25th annual Crystal Ball, presented by The

Radcliffe Foundation, raised a net total of $1.2

million toward the Campaign for BC Children.

The Crystal Ball committee, chaired by Diane

Norton, treated guests to the delectable culinary

creations of Four Seasons’ executive chef Ned

Bell, perfectly paired with wines from Painted

Rock Estate Winery. The event was made pos-

sible by crystal sponsors Canaccord Financial,

The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, New Gold Inc., PNG

Gold and Universal Packaging; crystal in-kind

sponsors the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver

and Contac Services; and other generous spon-

sors and guests. Visit www.bcchf.ca/crystalball.

HOLIDAY TEAOver 350 guests attended the 2011 Holiday

Tea at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver.

This annual event celebrates and honours the

generosity of the hospital’s Children’s Circle

of Care, Circle of Courage and Caring for the

Future Society members, as well as other hos-

pital supporters. Teri Nicholas, the Foundation’s

president and CEO, Dr. Eleanor Reimer, head

of Pediatric Anesthesia at BC Children’s, and

cancer patient, Lindsey Lourenco, and her dad,

Tony, all addressed guests from their unique

perspective. The tea was generously presented

by the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver. Event

photos can be viewed at www.flickr.com/bcchf/.

A NIGHT OF MIRACLESThe third annual A Night of Miracles, co-pre-

sented by Fasken Martineau and RBC, took

place at the Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle

Downtown. Bringing together more than 400

community and business leaders, this sold-out,

black-tie event raised over $300,000 toward

the South Asian community’s five-year pledge

to raise $3 million to support the construc-

tion of an interventional radiology room in the

new Children’s Hospital. Guests were treated

to an evening of fantastic entertainment and

culinary delights. The event was made possible

by VIP sponsors BMW, Faronics and HSBC;

entertainment sponsors KTL Transport and

Dealfun.com; cocktail reception sponsor Ody-

ssey International, and evening sponsors

Ampri Group, The Beedie Group, KPMG, Lucky

Janda, Lawson Lundell, Nature’s Path and

Smythe Ratcliffe.

speaking of people

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FOR CHILDREN WE CAREOn February 4, the 2012 For Children We Care

gala raised $669,999 for Operation Superhero

– a campaign initiated by the Chinese-Canad-

ian community to raise $5 million in three years

to name the Oncology Inpatient Unit in the

new Children’s Hospital. Organized by the

Chinese-Canadian community, this annual

black-tie event attracted close to 1,000 guests

to the Vancouver Convention Centre. To date,

Operation Superhero – including proceeds from

the 2012 gala – has raised $3.8 million.

FESTIVAL OF TREESThe 2011 Vancouver Festival of Trees, presen-

ted by Union Securities, celebrated its silver

anniversary by raising $160,000 for the Cam-

paign for BC Children – the event’s biggest total

yet. Venue sponsors Four Seasons Hotel Vancou-

ver and Pacific Centre graciously displayed the

beautiful trees decorated by corporate and com-

munity participants. The People’s Choice Award

went to The Delf Group Inc. Congratulations!

2011 marked the 20th anniversary of the

Victoria Festival of Trees, which raised a record-

breaking $126,000 in support of BC Children’s

Hospital. The event was once again hosted by

the Fairmont Empress. More than 15,000 votes

were cast for the 77 beautifully decorated trees.

Two other island communities also hosted

festivals. The Port Alberni Community for Kids

committee raised $14,500 and the Sooke Com-

munity for Kids committee raised $5,500.

Congratulations go to the People’s Choice Award

winners: in Victoria - Super Nurses for Super

Heroes; in Port Alberni - The Kinette Club of Port

Alberni; and in Sooke - Sooke Montessori.

WILLIAMS LAKE GIVES BACKThe Mahon family of Williams Lake knew they

wanted to give back. Their son, Gregorson, was

diagnosed with cancer when he was 15, and

after 30 chemotherapy treatments and three

surgeries at the hospital, Gregorson is now

in remission and back at home. In late 2010

Gregorson’s dad, Steve – an owner of Macon

Construction Ltd. – came up with the idea of

building a home with proceeds going to the

hospital. The home was completed in December

2011, with the help of many people in Williams

Lake, who donated services and supplies in

support of the construction.

Photos (from left): 1 Tree decorated by The Delf Group Inc.,

2011 Vancouver Festival of Trees People’s Choice Award

winner; 2 Crystal Ball honourees Marjorie-Anne Sauder,

Joseph Segal, Isabelle Diamond and Stephanie Carlson;

3 Will Westeringh, Fasken Martineau; Tim Manning, RBC;

Teri Nicholas, president and CEO of BC Children’s Hospi-

tal Foundation; Kevin Bent, chair of BC Children’s Hospital

Foundation’s Board of Directors; Robin Gill, Global Nation-

al; and Robin Dhir, Twin Brook Developments Ltd. at the

2011 A Night of Miracles; 4 Ken and Gladys Smith, and

their niece, Debbie Boyce (left), at the 2011 Holiday Tea;

5 The 2012 For Children We Care gala raises $669,999;

6 House constructed by Macon Construction Ltd.

what’s on

AUCTIONMART

This year marks the 10th annual

AuctionMart online auction, hosted by

The Province and The Vancouver Sun

newspapers. As always, bidders get great

deals on merchandise while, for the second

year, helping BC’s kids. AuctionMart runs

from March 24 to April 2. Ten per cent

of net proceeds from AuctionMart –

the largest online auction in North America

– will be donated to the Campaign for

BC Children. Register as a bidder today at

www.vancouversun.com/auctions.

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MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND

On Mother’s Day weekend, May 12 and 13,

treat your mom while helping BC’s kids

through the Caring a la Carte program.

Numerous restaurants will donate a por-

tion of proceeds to the hospital. Visit

www.bcchf.ca/mother-s-day-campaign for

more information.


miracle weekend

Tune in Saturday, June 2, at 7 pm through Sunday, June 3, at 6 pm

On Thursday, April 26, British

Columbians are invited to support the

22nd annual Jeans Day™. Purchase a

$20 lapel pin or a $5 button and wear

jeans to work or school to support BC Children’s

Hospital. Sign up to be a Jeans Day™ champion at

www.jeansday.ca and register your group today!

Get your buttons at Thrifty Foods, London Drugs,

Save-On-Foods, Overwaitea Foods, PriceSmart

Foods, Cooper’s Foods, Urban Fare and Costco

Wholesale. Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook

at www.facebook.com/jeansday.

Looking for a great team-building

experience for your company?

Step up to the plate at the 22nd

annual Slo-Pitch event at Softball

City taking place May 25, 26 and 27. Your team

could be the next top fundraiser in your industry

to receive a fun Vancouver Canadians experience.

Raise $3,000 as a team toward the $475,000

event goal and join 80 other teams to support

BC’s kids. Register your corporate team to play

(on one day only) at www.bcchf.ca/slopitch.

On Sunday, May 27 join BC’s

South Asian community for

the 14th annual A World of

Smiles Telethon benefiting

BC Children’s Hospital on

Shaw Multicultural Channel (cable 119), Shaw

Direct (channel 299) and your local Shaw TV

channel. The event, the result of a longstanding

partnership between Shaw and the South Asian

community, has raised over $3.3 million for BC’s

kids. Contact Tanya Linau at [email protected] or

604-875-2345 ext. 4643.

The Chinese-Canadian community is in the final

year of Operation Superhero – an initiative

dedicated to raising $5 million for the Oncology

Inpatient Unit in the new BC Children’s

Hospital. Proceeds from the 2012 Chinese-

Canadian Miracle Weekend will go to Operation

Superhero, and the event’s activities will

culminate on Saturday, June 2 with a telethon

on Fairchild Television from 9 pm to midnight,

and radiothons on Fairchild Radio AM1470 and

CHMB AM1320 from 9 am on. Contact Kitty

Cheung at [email protected] or 604-875-2513.

Register today for

t h e 2 7 t h a n n u a l

ChildRun presented by the Wilson Family. By

participating in the largest family fun run in

Vancouver, ChildRun participants raise funds

for childhood cancer research and care at BC

Children’s Hospital. On Sunday, June 3, runners

and walkers of all ages will follow a scenic five-

kilometre route through Queen Elizabeth Park or

the Thrifty Foods one-kilometre Fun Run route,

followed by a carnival celebration. Register for

this don’t-miss event at www.childrun.com.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR: MIRACLE WEEKEND’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY IS ALL ABOUT FAMILY I am privileged to be returning as chair of Miracle Weekend

this year, especially as we mark such a special anniversary

– 25 years of raising funds for BC’s kids.

The longstanding partnership between BC Children’s Hos-

pital Foundation and Global BC, my workplace, has created

a close, tight-knit family. Last spring, two of our reporters

experienced first-hand the incredible care at Children’s

Hospital when their newborn required urgent medical

help from the Critical Care team. That experience made our

connection even stronger and more meaningful, and I was

again reminded of why so many of us consider ourselves to

be members of the hospital family.

BC Children’s Hospital touches a vast number of people

and that is why your involvement is so important. Our chil-

dren – and all those who are part of our extended family

across the province – deserve to have access to the best

care possible.

If we think of Miracle Weekend as an engine, it’s fair to

say that this engine is about to kick into high gear – and

we’re going to need all the fuel we can get to reach our

destination. I know I can count on you, your families and

people across the province to help us reach our destination.

I look forward to celebrating Miracle Weekend’s 25th anni-

versary with you on June 2 and 3, 2012, on Global BC.

John Ridley, Global BC

Chair, 2012 BC Children’s Hospital Miracle Weekend

2012 BC Children’s Hospital Miracle Weekend

When I was 13, while on our first family vaca-

tion to Portugal, I started to feel terribly sick. I

couldn’t eat, I slept all day, and I felt weak, dizzy

and nauseous. After seeing several doctors, I

got a blood test, and then it all crashed downhill

from there.

I was rushed directly to a special hospital in

Lisbon where I saw children there with no hair,

and I thought I was going to die. They told me

I had a cancer called leukemia. My dad stayed

in contact with BC Children’s Hospital, and we

eventually arranged an air ambulance to take

me home to Vancouver.

I had never been so happy to be back home!

When I got to BC Children’s, they already knew

everything about me and my condition, and

they had a plan of action ready to start treating

my cancer. I started on a two-year-long night-

mare of chemotherapy. I missed my first year

of high school and had to give up dancing (my

passion), but treatment was working and my

cancer was in remission. But it was not to last.

Just weeks after my maintenance chemo

came to an end, I started having severe

migraines. The cancer had returned and taken

over my brain and spinal fluid. This time I would

need intense brain and full-body radiation

treatments. It was also my best chance to have

a stem cell transplant.

My parents and twin sister were tested for

donor suitability, but an anonymous donor was

eventually found. I went through the worst

chemo ever to prepare for the transplant. Then

came the day I received my bone marrow trans-

plant. I lived in an isolation room for over two

and a half months.

After many weeks it didn’t look like the

transplant was working. But then on my 16th

birthday, the results showed improvement and

I was finally allowed to step outside of my “cell”

into the fresh air outside! Now over a year later,

I am cancer-free! I struggle with a lot of the side

effects of four years of aggressive cancer treat-

ment, both physically and emotionally, but I am

still here thanks to the wonderful doctors and

nurses at BC Children’s Hospital.

I am so happy to know that a new and

improved hospital will be built for sick kids in

BC. It makes a huge difference to a child of any

age when there is space to have a parent or

family member beside you night and day. I am

also very happy and honoured to be represent-

ing our hospital as the BC Children’s Champion

Child for 2012. I hope to help raise funds and

awareness in this role, and I am proud to do so.

Sincerely,

Lindsey Lourenco

Note: This past January, Lindsey’s cancer returned. Lindsey and her family, along with her care team at BC Children’s Hospital, are once again in the fight against leukemia.


MIRACLE WEEKEND EXECUTIVEChairJohn Ridley, Global BC

Vice-ChairRaymond Li, International Banking, RBC

Physician ChairDr. Erik Skarsgard, BC Children’s Hospital

MIRACLE WEEKEND FUNDRAISING CABINETBanksAlexander Fan, CIBC, Chair

ChildRunKendra Penrose, ActiveState Software Inc. & Jennifer Black, Charles Dickens School, Co-Chairs; Roshanac Heed, Vice-Chair

Chinese-Canadian Miracle WeekendRebecca Chan, Modern Beauty Centre, Chair; Venita Kwan & Stella Chan, Co-Vice-Chairs

Credit Unions, Insurance & Financial Services Susan Byrom, Envision Financial, Chair

Hospital LiaisonTerry Ho, BC Children’s Hospital, Chair; Debbie Cain, BC Children’s Hospital, Vice-Chair

Hospitality & RestaurantsDawn Li, Coast Coal Harbour Hotel, Chair; Nicholas Gandossi, Opus Hotel, Vice-Chair

Jeans Day™Ilda Brazinha, BMO, Chair; Cynthia Curll, BC Hydro, Vice-Chair

MiningColin Joudrie, Teck Resources Limited & Jason Weber, Kiska Metals Corp, Co-Chairs

Real Estate & DevelopmentGeorge Crowhurst, BC Hydro, Chair

Retail & WholesaleCalvin Johnson, Costless Express, Chair; Bruce Shepherd, Pacific Newspaper Group, Vice-Chair

Slo-PitchCam Rathwell, HSBC, Chair; Aaron Stewardson, Maynards, Vice-Chair

South Asian CommunityTBC

MIRACLE WEEKEND OPERATIONS CABINETCateringDavid Rooney & Nia Vekris, Co-Chairs

Donations ManagementCarolyn Davies, Chair

Guest ServicesChristina Papadimitriou, Chair

LogisticsNicole Victor, Chair

Play AreaBrina Soni, Chair

PresentationsDonna Blaker, Chair

RegistrationJohn Chandler, Chair

Telephones ManagementCarol Miller & Helen Roelofsen, Co-Chairs

TELUS PhonesLisa Stirling, Chair

COMMUNITY FOR KIDSPort Alberni, Barbara-Anne Kalugin & Steve Kalugin, Co-Chairs

Prince George, John Abbott & Rick Mintz, Co-Chairs

Upper Fraser Valley, Casey Hillton, Chair

Vanderhoof, Corleen McNolty & Michelle Roberge, Co-Chairs

THE MIRACLE WEEKEND SUPERHERO TEAM

on Global BC

Choking is one of the most common reasons

for emergency visits to BC Children’s Hospital.

Choking can occur at any age, but children under

two years of age are at greatest risk. Many foods

and objects that fit in a child’s hand can cause

choking or internal burns.

The most common offenders are coins,

nuts and raw carrots, and the most danger-

ous choking episodes often occur with grapes

and disc batteries. Choking can have serious

consequences, including death or permanent

disability.

HOW CAN I PREVENT CHOKING?Here are a few pointers to remember:

• Keep a careful eye on young children during

meals and snacks, and ensure they are seated

while eating.

• Introduce new food textures slowly and care-

fully.

• Check for small items of any type that a child

may choke on.

• Choose toys that are labelled as appropriate

for the age of your child.

• Teach older siblings not to give small items or

toys to younger children.

• Learn how to give first aid to a choking child.


healthy habits

Beware: Choking HazardChoking can happen quickly and can have devastating consequences within minutes. Keep a few safety precautions in mind and reduce your child’s risk of choking.

FOOD CATEGORY

Crisp, crunchy foodsThese include peanuts and other nuts, raw

carrots and celery, popcorn kernels,

sunflower seeds, fruits with pits, dried peas

and beans. Inhalation of these foods can

cause severe coughing and obstruction of

the bronchi (airway to the lungs), causing

wheezing and possibly pneumonia.

Round and rubbery foodsThese include hot dogs, whole grapes and

gel candies (such as “Fruit Poppers”). They

can become stuck between the vocal cords

and completely block breathing.

Gum and hard candiesThese can be inhaled and get stuck between

the vocal cords.

Fish bones (and other small bones)Small and fine bones can become stuck

higher in the throat and cause severe pain.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Don’t introduce these foods to children until they are at least four years old and can chew and swallow crusty bread, and raw apple and pear without coughing. Never give unpopped popcorn kernels to a toddler.

Cut hot dogs and grapes lengthwise and into small pieces until children are at least four years old, and can chew and swallow steak without coughing. Avoid gel candies, which are banned but still available in certain stores in Canada.

Don’t give children gum or hard candies until they are at least five years of age and can understand the danger.

Carefully pick out bones before serving fish and poultry.

Many choking incidents happen when children

are eating and running about at the same time.

Teach children to sit quietly during snacks and

meals, and to chew food thoroughly before

swallowing.

In addition, following are a few food

categories to watch out for, and some com-

mon non-food items that also pose a choking

hazard, and steps you can take to minimize

risk:

HOW CAN I KEEP MY CHILD SAFE AT MEAL TIMES?


1. Fill in the blank: If a person has choked and still ____, that person should get checked out by a health professional right away. a) Coughs b) Droolsc) Has noisy breathingd) Has trouble breathinge) Any of the above

2. The epiglottis is a flap of cartilage that helps prevent food from “going down the wrong pipe.”a) True b) False

3. A lack of oxygen can cause brain damage within:a) One to two minutesb) Four to six minutesc) 10 to 20 minutes

Answer key: 1 e; 2 a; 3 b

Test your choking

knowledge

ITEM

Small hard objectsExamples of these include plastic toy parts,

metal hardware and fishing tackle. They can

cause coughing fits and end up in the bronchi.

CoinsThese are the most common foreign objects

swallowed or inhaled. Coins can become

stuck in the esophagus and can cause pain,

and often drooling and retching.

Disc batteriesLike coins, disc batteries are tempting to

young children. However, they are much

more dangerous because they can cause

severe internal burns and even death.

BalloonsDeflated balloons can become stuck between

the vocal cords and completely stop a child’s

breathing.

Dishwasher powder and caustic liquidsMost household cleaners and hair straighteners

or relaxers can cause severe burns of the

swallowing and breathing passages. Not all are

marked with warning labels.

ToysMany toys contain magnets; if swallowed,

they can cause serious damage.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Teach children not to put non-food objects in their mouths and not to hold them between their lips or teeth (unless they are proven safe items like teethers).

Never store coins in open bowls or containers that are within reach of toddlers. Sweep and check the floor every day to ensure coins haven’t fallen out of pockets etc.

Keep toys and electronics with removable disc batteries away from young children. Store unused or discarded batteries where children cannot find them.

Keep deflated and broken balloons away from young children.

Keep all caustic substances out of reach of children.

Always adhere to the age guidelines on toys. Check for small magnets and keep them out of reach of young children.

Information for this article was provided by Safe Start and Dr. Neil Chadha, an otolaryngologist at BC Children’s Hospital.

A good rule of thumb is to remember that if an

item fits in a young child’s palm, it is likely a

choking hazard. If you suspect that a child has

choked on an object, explain that to medical per-

sonnel as soon as possible and bring an example

of the foreign body if possible. A Heimlich

manoeuvre is necessary only if someone is

unable to speak clearly and is turning blue.

http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/er/choking.html

http://www.nhs.uk/planners/birthtofive/pages/howtohelpchoking.aspx

For more information visit:

BEHIND THE STETHOSCOPEYou would not see me with a stethoscope unless I was play-

ing with a child who was using one in a medical play kit!

I work in a fairly young profession called therapeutic recrea-

tion. Working at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, I use

recreation activities to help children reach their goals wheth-

er they are rehabilitative- or quality-of-life-oriented. I also

provide leadership support to a wonderful team that includes

recreation therapists, a music therapist, recreation/aquatic

therapists, early childhood educators, a department secre-

tary and recreation workers.

MEDICAL TRAININGI have a BA in Recreation Administration with a specialty in

Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Alberta. I am

currently involved in the BC Therapeutic Recreation Asso-

ciation as the director of Education and sit on the advisory

board for the Applied Degree Program in Therapeutic Recrea-

tion at Douglas College.

FAMILY / PERSONAL PICTUREMy husband also works at Sunny Hill, providing childminding

services. I have many nieces and nephews as well as many

godchildren. One of my nephews is on the autism spectrum

and he has taught me a lot about living with that diagnosis.

WHAT YOU’D NEVER KNOW ABOUT MEHmmm…that’s a tough one as I’m quite an open book. I guess

one thing would be that I played classical piano and was also

involved in competitive swimming growing up.

HOBBIESI like hiking, camping, snowshoeing, exploring back roads and

kayaking. I also enjoy reading, crossword puzzles, scrapbook-

ing, watching figure skating, musical theatre and various

fitness-related activities. I have been involved in Zumba

classes recently, which are lots of fun!

SECRET FANTASYI would love to be able to provide funding to help children with

disabilities access recreation opportunities in their commun-

ities. I have been fortunate enough to see what an amazing

difference it makes when a family is given assistance in areas

such as registration fees, adapted recreation equipment and

wheelchair-accessible transportation for their child, and it

would be very rewarding to help make this possible. I also

have a special friendship with a young man with cerebral

palsy who was a former patient and it would be wonderful to

help him fulfill his dreams of living a more active life.

IF I DIDN’T HAVE TO WORKWhen I retire, I plan to be involved in more physical activity,

and enjoy more time with my family and friends. I’d consider

getting a dog and probably get involved as a volunteer with

something completely different than what I’ve done in the

past. More time to travel and read would be a bonus too!

PHILOSOPHYI try to be a positive role model and live my life with com-

passion every day. I believe that being involved in recreation

activities of one’s choice is vital for one’s overall health.

WHAT I’M READING NOWI enjoy reading at least part of the newspaper daily and I’m

just finishing Younger Next Year for Women by Chris Crowley

and Henry S. Lodge, MD.


Sheila Kennedy

what’s up, doc?


Do you have a story about BC Children’s

Hospital to tell? Please submit your Miracle

Kid stories to [email protected].

children speak

Seven-year-old Lily O’Dea raised $150 for BC Children’s

Hospital by asking her friends to make a donation in lieu

of birthday gifts. She shares her reasons for supporting

the hospital in her letter below.

Dear Children’s Hospital . . .

PM 40659514

YEARS OF MIRACLESFOR BC’SKIDS

Saturday, June 2AND

Sunday, June 3, 2012

www.miracleweekend.com

speaking of children, spring 2012

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