the amazing brain - bc children's hospital foundation · the amazing brain advances in...

SUMMER 2016

SPEAKING OF

Miracle Weekendbreaks records The power of sleepEpilepsy careTreating trauma

The Amazing Brain

Advances in neurosciencesaid healing and rehabilitation

2 speaking of children summer 2016

spotlight on giving

Celebrating 30 years and $30 millionSave-On-Foods hits milestone in commitment to child health

Thirty years have created 30 million miracles, thanks to Save-On-Foods!

Save-On-Foods, its team members, customers and suppliers have been raising funds for BC Children’s Hospital since the 1980s.

Their support has benefited nearly every area of the hospital, contributing to the purchase of high-priority medical equipment, expansion of the Emergency Department, childhood disease research at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, and the Child Health BC initiative.

In 2016 Save-On-Foods fulfilled its most ambitious fundraising commitment to date. Its remarkable $20-million gift to Child Health BC was one of the biggest and most significant pledges ever made to BC Children’s Hospital. By building a strong system of health services for children and youth, providing pediatric training to caregivers province-wide, and leading collaboration with community health providers, Child Health BC improves access to care for children across the province, no matter where they live.

Cumulatively, Save-On-Foods has contributed $30 million to our hospital. This past May, Save-On-Foods team members joined patients, caregivers and special guest Expo Ernie, the official mascot of Expo 86, on a visit to BC Children’s to celebrate 30 years of giving and $30 million raised.

“We’re a local BC company, proudly serving customers in communities across the province. We know our customers and our team members rely on BC Children’s Hospital, so we are proud to help them any way we can,” says Darrell Jones, president of Save-On-Foods. “We can’t think of a better way to ensure bright futures for the children of BC than to make sure they get the care they need, close to home.”

Thank you, Save-On-Foods, for your long- standing commitment to the health and well-being of British Columbia’s children and families.

Top: official mascot of Expo 86 Expo Ernie and Darrell Jones, president of Save-on-Foods, celebrate Save-on-Foods’ $30-million milestone at BC Children’s.

LEFT: Save-on-Foods has been raising funds for Miracle Weekend annually since the 1980s.

inside speaking of children

www.bcchf.caSUMMER 2016

On the CoverNeurology patient Anakin Fretts and his

sister Arwyn. See story, page 6.

EDITORMary Frances Hill

CONTRIBUTORS Dana Kelly, Tavia McQuay,

Ellen Schappert

PHOTOGRAPHYIan Durning, James LaBounty, Lindsay Siu,

Stephanie Trimble

230, 4321 Still Creek DriveBurnaby, British Columbia, Canada

V5C 6S7 604.299.7311

CHAIRMAN, CEO Peter Legge O.B.C., LL.D (HON)

PRESIDENTSamantha Legge MBA

CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER Charlene Rooke

EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTORRick Thibert

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTIONKim McLane

PROJECT MANAGER Kristina Borys

IMAGING TECHNICIAN Mandy Lau

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 for Children,

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

Charitable Business Number: 11885 2433 RR0001BC Children’s Hospital Foundation,

938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4Return 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 maga-

zine, which is also distributed to government officials, public health units and libraries throughout the province.

Publication sales agreement #40659514

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

for Children.

A PUBLICATION OF

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spotlight on giving

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what’s on

speaking of people

caring for the future

healthy habits

what’s up, doc?

children speak

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departmentsfeatures6 The Road from Trauma

Family and caregivers band together to help one boy recover from severe brain injury.

Making History atBC Children’sA Nanaimo teen undergoes a life-changing craniotomy while she’s conscious.

Coping with SeizuresPossibilities of research give hope to families dealing with epilepsy.

2016 Miracle Weekend$20,018,608 raised for BC’s kids!

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photo above: patient Noor Cheema

As we come down from the excitement of Miracle Weekend and our astounding total of $20,018,608, it’s time to reflect on the generosity we’ve seen from every part of the province, and how it’s changing the lives of children and families who need critical care.

It was more than clear over June 4 and 5 that British Columbians who embarked on a year of fundraising and awareness activities, understand the great impact of their actions on the lives of children from across the province.

In this issue of Speaking of Children, we include a four-page section to acknowledge the people behind this enormous outpouring of support over the weekend – and the entire year. We are immensely grateful to all the families, individuals, organizations, volunteers and sponsors who have given their time and donations to improve the lives of children.

In these pages we also explore the remarkable world of the brain – the fascinating control centre that defines our movement, speech and perception. Caregivers, therapists and researchers at BC Children’s Hospital and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children

stand at the forefront of advances in epilepsy, rehabilitation therapy, neuromuscular disease, neuro-oncology, and spinal cord treatment – and we’re grateful to the community of donors who make this important work possible.

While every one of the children we focus on in this issue must deal with his or her own complex condition, their stories share one thing in common: their ongoing treatment and care has been made possible through the compassion of our donors.

Thank you for your commitment to the health and well-being of BC’s children and, of course, for making Miracle Weekend such a success.

Warm regards,

Teri Nicholas, MSW, RSWPresident & CEO BC Children’s Hospital Foundation

Great Minds


well said

BC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

Board of Directors

Mr. David Podmore,Chair

Ms. Leslie Arnold

Mr. Kevin Bent

Mr. Robin Dhir

Mrs. Lisa Hudson

Mrs. Tammi Kerzner

Mr. Mike Lam

Mr. Raymond Li

Mr. Don Lindsay

Mr. Bjorn Moller

Mr. Geoff Parkin

Dr. Erik Skarsgard

Ms. Andrea Southcott

Mrs. Diane Zell

Foundation ExecutiveTeri Nicholas, MSW, RSWPresident & CEO

Hitesh Kothary, CPA,CAVice-President & Chief Financial Officer

Debora Sweeney, CFREVice-President & Chief Strategy Officer

Maria FaccioVice-President & Chief Philanthropy Officer

Lillian Hum Vice-President & Chief Philanthropy Officer


Brain PowerThe brain is a remarkable thing. As our most adaptable organ, it controls our every movement, thought and emo-tion. In children and youth, it is both fragile and capable, as the body’s supervisor of vital growth.

In this issue of Speaking of Children, we explore a few of the fascinating findings that come out of BC Children’s Hospital’s neurosciences program, and learn more about the resilience of children and families with severe neurological conditions.

You’ll read about how a child and his family are dealing with the effects of severe epilepsy with help from a team of BC Children’s Hospital caregivers. You’ll meet the first patient in a decade to undergo an “awake craniotomy” at BC Children’s, and learn how caregivers at BC Children’s and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children helped one boy recover from traumatic brain injury.

We’re also proud to introduce Dr. Patrick McDonald, our new head of the Division of Pediatric Neurosur-gery. He stands with a respected team of neuroscientists who work with Sunny Hill therapists at the forefront of neurological research and treatment in BC.

The children and families of BC deserve nothing less.

Neurosurgery patient Maria Potyrala. See story, page 8.


Nearly two years ago, when Anakin Fretts almost lost his life in a car accident, his parents Daniel Fretts and Joleen Dew lived in anxiety and fear. How would they deal with the care of their son after a traumatic brain injury stole his ability to speak, see and move?

Today, they light up at the mere mention of their son’s name, and marvel at how he’s pulled through his ordeal so well, and with his sense of wonder intact.

“He talks to us about the origin of life,” says Daniel. “He’ll come out of nowhere and say, ‘Did you know the universe is expanding at the speed of light?’ The other day he asked me, ‘Do all the planets orbit in the same speed around the sun or do they go in different speeds?’”

That thoughtful imagination is pure Anakin – and illustrates the ways in which a brain so seriously damaged by a severe traumatic event can respond to treatment and rehabilitation.

Dr. Douglas Cochrane, Anakin’s neurosur-geon at BC Children’s, says that to treat severe traumatic brain injuries like Anakin’s, specialists focus on managing secondary injuries, such as inhibiting brain swelling and repairing skull fractures. The doctor credits Anakin’s strong support system – his family and caregivers and therapists at BC Children’s Hospital and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children – for giving the teen the fortitude he needed to recover.

The accident transformed the lives of the entire family. On September 21, 2014, Anakin was a passenger in a car with

family friends, out on a much-anticipated camping trip on Lasqueti Island. The driver lost control and the car crashed, leaving Anakin with a severe traumatic brain injury.

He suffered from severe diffuse axonal injury, which causes lesions in white matter tracts over a broad area. The trauma caused incra-cranial pressure, hematoma, skull fractures, menin-gitis and hydrocephalus. The injury left him unable to walk,

talk and breathe; he struggled with double vision and light sensitivity, hearing loss and a serious adrenal deficiency. Specialists installed a ventricu-lar peritoneal shunt, a tube that travels to his abdomen, to relieve pressure on the brain from hydrocephalus.

Before the car accident that nearly stole his life, Anakin was a popular kid in Powell River. “Every-thing came easy to Anakin,” says Joleen. He was bilingual, athletic, and an avid reader who’d consume a novel in one sitting. He’d earned a junior black belt in karate and regularly goofed around with his little sister Arwyn, 5.

Three weeks after his admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at BC Children’s, Anakin showed signs of his brain’s fierce ability to heal: he removed himself from his ventilator,

under the watch of BC Children’s intensive care team. Anakin arrived at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children in late

November and came under the care of Dr. Tamara Zagustin and her therapeutic team. Occupational therapists, physiotherapists and specialists in speech, aquatic and recreational therapies helped restore his abilities to express himself.

“A brain within an environment that facilitates the right stimulation at the right time has the best opportunity to develop to its maximum potential,” says Dr. Zagustin, a pediatric phys-iatrist formerly with Sunny Hill’s Acute Rehabilitation program. “After a brain injury, that is what rehab facilitates; this can only be achieved when you have optimal medical management to facilitate neuro-recovery.”

During Anakin’s time in the PICU and at Sunny Hill, Joleen and

Powell River teen recovers from severe brain trauma by MARY FRANCES HILL

Powell River teen recovers from severe

AnakınA FORCE CALLED

talk and breathe; he struggled with double vision and light sensitivity, hearing loss and a serious adrenal deficiency. Specialists installed a ventricu-lar peritoneal shunt, a tube that travels to his abdomen, to relieve pressure on the brain from

Before the car accident that nearly stole his life, Anakin was a popular kid in Powell River. “Every-thing came easy to Anakin,” says Joleen. He was bilingual, athletic, and an avid reader who’d consume a novel in one sitting. He’d earned a junior black belt in karate and regularly goofed around with his little sister Arwyn, 5.

Three weeks after his admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at BC Children’s, Anakin showed signs of his brain’s fierce ability to heal: he removed himself from his ventilator,

under the watch of BC Children’s intensive care team. Anakin arrived at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children in late



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Daniel rejoiced in small victories: Anakin’s first smile, his first step. At Sunny Hill, he graduated from a wheelchair to a walker, and gradually redeveloped his speech. Seeing these positive signs, the couple was eventually able to let go of their fear.

“Thinking about the future made us scared, desperate and pan-icked,” recalls Daniel, who also gives credit for Anakin’s recovery to hormone replacement therapies. “But Anakin’s heart continued to beat; he survived the odds and continued to live. When we held his hand it was warm, and he smiled at his name. So we said to our-selves, ‘We are happy with this. We are happy with now.’”

Drs. Cochrane and Zagustin point to the support of Anakin’s

family in his recovery.“True, Anakin has ‘grit’ and strength, and a desire to return

to normal, but he needed his family to rekindle the desire for recovery,” says Dr. Cochrane.

Anakin was able to return to school in March – but not before he took on a few chores.

Joleen and Daniel laugh as they recall the day Daniel looked out to the garden outside the family home, only to see his son occupied with some work.

“As soon as he could walk, Joleen had stuck a weed- whacker in his hands.”

OPPOSITE: Anakin hard at work at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children.

HERE: Anakin with his family: dad Daniel, mom Joleen and sister Arwyn.

feature story

ABOVE: Maria Potyrala today. INSET: with mom Clodagh and dad Mark. FAR RIGHT: Maria’s neurosurgeon at BC Children’s

Hospital, Dr. Ash Singhal.

WIDE AWAKE

Making history with an “awake” craniotomy at BC Children’s Hospital by MARY FRANCES HILL



Nothing could have prepared Maria Potyrala for the Great Science Class Halluci-nation of 2015.

For Maria, 16, it started as an ordinary moment in an otherwise ordinary day. She was chatting with two classmates during class when she noticed something weird.

“[My classmate’s] face morphed into mine and the rest of the room became white,” says Maria. “It’s like I was talking to myself, but it was her talking. I went into this state where I’m having a seizure but they don’t realize it because I’m standing there quietly.”

It was indeed a seizure, and definitely one of the strangest she’d experienced in a series that would eventually lead BC Children’s Hospital neurologists to the dis-covery of a benign glioma, a lesion that had grown on the surface of her brain tissue.

With that diagnosis, and the decision of BC Children’s Hospital neurologists that she had the right temperament and initiative, Maria would make history as the first patient to undergo an awake craniotomy at BC Children’s Hospital in a decade.

An awake craniotomy is as it sounds: a procedure in which part of the brain is exposed while the patient is conscious and answering basic questions from the surgi-cal team. Caregivers gauge their patient’s answers while they stimulate tiny sections of the exposed brain surrounding the offensive mass.

When the patient is asked to identify an image, for instance, and the patient is rendered mute, surgeons then know the area they’ve just stimulated relates to speech and should be avoided.

The surgeon-patient dialogue helps the team remove the mass so pre-cisely that the cut doesn’t touch even a millimetre of the brain section that controls a vital element of

speech, movement or perception.

BC Children’s Hospital neuro-surgeon Dr. Ash Singhal admits most people would be horrified at the prospect of being awake during brain surgery. But Maria was blessed with a particularly stable temperament – a trait that Dr. Singhal noted at their first meeting. Her nature influ-enced his decision to discuss the option of an awake craniotomy.

“She is a very calm, sensible girl, and that was really helpful to us,” says Dr. Singhal.

By that time, Maria and her parents Clodagh Domegan and Mark Potyrala had been through months of confusion and frus-tration. As far back as 2014, Clodagh and Mark had noticed Maria’s emotional swings had grown in severity and frequency over several months. Then the seizures began.

Clodagh recalls Maria’s first seizure: “She said, ‘What’s that funny smell?’ Then she said she felt strange, and then she sank to her knees and laughed.”

The effects of the lesion on her brain left Maria perceiving herself as a char-acter beyond her own body, suspended inside a bubble. The sense of otherworld-liness, odd smells and tastes were part of her “auras,” a tumour symptom that often takes the form of smells, mood changes and muscle twitches.

The work of honing down the lesion’s location began with a series of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sessions. They showed the lesion lay on the left side, dangerously close to the cerebral area that controls speech.

“That was concerning to us,” says Dr. Singhal. “We were in a delicate situation

where we could probably take out the mass but we couldn’t take out much more than just the lump, as it was surrounded by the parts of the brain that controlled speech.”

When she opted for the surgery, Maria felt no fear – just anticipation. “I just want-ed it out. I wanted it to be gone,” she says.

In November 2015, she got her wish. During the procedure, Dr. Singhal and the surgical team showed her simple images on a screen. A dog, a car, an umbrella – and asked her to identify them while they stimulated tiny sections of her exposed brain. “And then a picture of a broom came on, and I couldn’t say the word broom,” she recalls. “It was a weird feeling not to be able to make any sound out of my mouth. Then I remember [someone on the surgical team] saying, ‘Well, that’s not good.’”

At that instant, the team knew it had stimulated just past the mass and into the speech area that surrounded it; it led them to the safe removal of the mass, leaving Maria’s speech abilities intact.

Some eight months later, life is return-ing to normal and Maria is seizure-free. She’s back riding her horse, skiing, and looking forward to a healthier future. Her outlook is bright.

“I say, ‘If I can do brain surgery, I can do anything.’”

feature story


AT 15 MONTHS OLD, Caden Taylor was a happy, affectionate little boy who loved to play. He showed few signs, if any, of the condition that would soon take over his brain and his body.

“When you have the first seizure, it’s very frightening,” recalls Shaun, Caden’s father. “We thought it would be just a one-time febrile seizure, but it wasn’t.”

These seizures, the first signs of the form of epilepsy that would define the young boy’s life, gradually escalated to the severe end of the epileptic spectrum, sometimes occurring up to 100 times a day. His body often collapses on the ground in con-vulsions, which has resulted in head injuries, broken teeth and

countless scrapes and bruises. Shaun says he and Caden’s mother Angela would often lay

awake at night listening to Caden breathe. Sometimes they can settle his seizures with medication; at other times, they need to rush him to the emergency room.

“You are surprised you can cope with it,” Shaun says. “It doesn’t get easier. You just get better at it. You can work on very little or no sleep.”

Caden’s condition has had an impact on every aspect of the Taylors’ lives. They lived in Salmon Arm but eventually moved to the Lower Mainland because they spent so much time at

feature story

CARING FOR

CADENResearch offers hope to children transformed by epilepsy by DANA KELLY

At left: Caden taylor enjoys his west coast surroundings. Above: Shaun and Caden prepare for a surgery. At right: Caden’s sister hailey joins her brother and dad outside bC Children’s hospital.

BC Children’s Hospital, visiting up to 100 times a year. They slept at the hospital, sometimes for days on end, while doctors worked to stabilize Caden.

“BC Children’s is the best place to be in when the worst things happen because the level of care is exceptional,” Shaun says.

Dr. Mary Connolly, who heads the Epilepsy program at BC Children’s Hospi-tal, says she believes Caden suffers from Dravet syndrome, a rare genetic condition caused by a mutation in sodium channels associated with behavioural problems and intellectual impairment.

“Seizures have a huge impact on the developing brain, especially when they start in the first few years of life and if they are difficult to control,” Dr. Connolly says. “Abnormal brain electrical activ-ity interferes with brain development. It impacts learning, attention, language development and memory.”

Epilepsy is a common but complex neurological disorder that affects one in every 100 Canadians. It is defined by recurring seizures, which happen when neurons – the nerve cells in the brain that communicate through electrical messages – are disrupted. There are several differ-ent types of seizures and many causes:

abnormalities of brain development, scars from head trauma or infections, and gen-etic factors such as mutations in a person’s genetic makeup.

Caden is now 18 years old but func-tions at the level of a three-year-old. His vocabulary and cognitive abilities are extremely limited and he must be supervised 24 hours a day. Complicating matters further, Caden is among the 30 to 40 per cent of people with epilepsy who do not respond to conventional treatments, including anti-seizure medication, a high-fat diet, vagal nerve stimulation and brain surgery.

However, Dr. Connolly believes advan-ces in genetic testing and the development of new therapies may help to improve his quality of life.

She recently embarked on an innova-tive research project with neurogeneticist Dr. Michelle Demos and other colleagues at BC Children’s research institute. The team is analyzing DNA in children whose cause of epilepsy is unknown, to identify more gene mutations associated with the disease. So far, they have discovered a genetic cause in 40 per cent of the children tested.

“When you know the cause, research

on new treatments will be more specific for that disease,” says Dr. Connolly.

The Epilepsy program at BC Children’s Hospital already offers comprehensive care for patients like Caden, but Dr. Con-nolly says monitoring them will be easier once the new Teck Acute Care Centre (TACC) opens next year.

Shaun Taylor is also looking forward to that day – and not just for Caden’s sake. As the new general manager of the TACC, he believes staff will be able to deliver the same exceptional care, but in a building designed with patients and fam-ilies in mind. The 640,000-square-foot, eight-storey structure includes 231 private rooms and family zones to allow parents to stay close to their children during treatment.

“It’s a stressful time when you’re taking care of a sick child. You’re the caregiver and you need to take care of yourself and that’s what this facility will help you do,” Shaun says. “And all of it would not be possible without the generosity of donors.”

Donors contributed $150 million to the construction of TACC through BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. The facility is scheduled to open in November 2017.



Grind For KidsGrind For Kids is a unique fundraising program that leverages the enthusiasm of thousands of people in the Lower Mainland who hike the Grouse Grind on a regular basis. Sign up as an individual or start a team, set your Grind goals, and ask friends, family and colleagues to pledge $1 or more for every Grind you do between now and the end of the season (typically in September). These efforts will help us reach our goal of raising $1 million for cardiology programs at BC Children’s Hospital. Visit www.grindforkids.com for more information and to register.

Dairy Queen Miracle Treat DayOn Thursday, August 11 participating Dairy

Queen locations across BC will hold their annual Miracle Treat Day. At least $1 from every Blizzard® treat sold will be donated to BC Children’s Hospital. In 2015, Dairy Queen raised over $490,000 for the hospital.

Tim Hortons Smile CookiesFrom September 12-19, visit your local

Tim Hortons and purchase a Smile Cookie

for $1. They’re delicious, cute as a button, and every purchase goes to a good cause. Proceeds from the sales of Smile Cook-ies from participating Lower Mainland locations support BC Children’s Hospital. It looks like the Smile Cookie craze has taken hold: Tim Hortons and its custom-

TOP: Hardy climbers celebrate a successful Grind For Kids event.

INSET ABOVE: BC Children’s Hospital perfusionist Vicky Harris, flanked by cardiac

surgeons Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi to her right, and Dr. Shubhayan Sanatani, at the Grouse Grind

for Grind For Kids, a unique fundraising initiativefor fit folks who climb the

Grouse Grind for a great cause.

what’s on

ers have raised more than $1.7 million for BC Children’s since 2002.

Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro Summits of Hope gives participants the chance to experience the adventure of a lifetime while making a difference for BC’s kids. Climbers will next seek the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro Oct 8-23, 2016. No climbing expe-rience is necessary! The Summits of Hope team helps you train for your trek and provides support as you raise funds for BC Children’s Hospital. Visit www.summitsofhope.com for details.

A Night of MiraclesA Night of Miracles is BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s premier South Asian black-tie fundraising gala. This year the eighth annual event will take place on Saturday, November 5 at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel. This

memorable evening will include a cocktail reception, entertainment (above), live and silent auctions, and plenty of opportunities to meet and mingle with like-minded community members. A four-course gourmet dinner created by Vikram Vij and hotel chef Jesse Hoch-hausen will be served, accompanied by a

selection of fine wines from Desert Hills Estate Winery.

Proceeds from the gala will support the purchase of a bronchoscopy system and telescopes, and a video laryngoscopy set for the

hospital. These vital tools will ensure our surgeons and

caregivers who treat children with lung, ear, nose and throat condi-

tions can provide the best care possible. At the same time, the equipment will help reduce operating time, making surgeries safer for even our smallest patients. To reserve a table or for more information, please contact Gillian Wallis at 604-875-2597 or email [email protected].



speaking of people

Patient art review BC Children’s Hospital Foundation hosted art critics and appreci-ators on May 24 for a Patient Art Review. The event included two panels of children and youth – all BC Children’s patients or sib-lings –who offered their opinions of art destined for the walls and hallways of the new Teck Acute Care Centre, to open in 2017. This is all part of the Children’s Healing Experience Project, an initia-tive to enhance the environment of the new hospital with art and technology installations.

About 20 young patients, ages five to 18, reviewed and com-mented on artwork by artists who submitted their resumes for the project. The children’s comments will play a huge role in the selection of artists and guide the artwork commissioned.

The younger crowd showed enthusiasm for pieces that inspired creativity, curiosity and interactivity, while the older cohort emphasized the need for simplicity, a subtle range of colours, and preferred images that illustrated a respect for culture and heritage. Though the groups focused on different aspects, they shared one thing in common: they all admired images that reminded them of home.

Their feedback will be shared with BC Children’s medical pro-fessionals and other stakeholders, and will play a dominant role in the final art selection. Over 600 artists from across Canada sub-mitted their interest between March and May through a public call for artists. A big shout-out to the children and youth who shared their keen insights and artistic acumen![1] Kids and families gave their input on some of the artwork destined for the halls of the new hospital during two patient panel review sessions in May. Their opinions on artistic

themes and colour choices will join those of caregivers and stakeholders as deciding factors in the décor and design of the Teck Acute Care Centre, to open in 2017.

GoinG bald for bC’s kidsMore than 500 family members, friends and staff gathered at BC Children’s Hospital on May 14 to shave their heads or cut off their locks in support of kids coping with cancer at the 17th annual Balding for Dollars Main Event. More than $50,000 was raised for cancer research, patient and family outreach, and bursary and education programs. The participants included BC Children’s Hospital oncologists Dr. Rod Rassekh and Dr. Bjorn Baadjes. Dr. Baadjes, who once wore long locks, sacrificed them all for the kids (see before and after photos, above). Thank you to the brave shave-ees.[2] Pediatric oncologist Dr. Bjorn Baadjes allowed his patients to cut his admirable locks in support of childhood cancer research at the Balding For Dollars event. Many other brave participants followed suit, including oncologist Dr. Rod Rassekh.

oCean radiothonThrough the generosity of the Vancouver Island community, the 14th annual Ocean 98.5 Radiothon for Kids raised $123,880 for BC Children’s Hospital. On May 13 and 14, Ocean 98.5 staff took over Centennial Square in Victoria to share stories about Van-couver Island children who received treatment at BC Children’s Hospital and to raise funds for an acute critical care ventilator for the hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Our deepest thanks go out to the staff at Ocean 98.5 and their listeners for their continued commitment to BC’s kids![3] Victoria’s Ocean Radiothon was a roaring success, thanks to the generosity of donors

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from across the Island and the efforts of families and kids like Emma Locke. She and her family have raised more than $1,500 so far for BC’s kids.

aUXiliarY to bC Children’s hosPital Spring is a busy time for the Auxiliary to BC Children’s Hospital as it marks its annual silent auction, with all proceeds going to BC Children’s Hospital. On April 26 and 27, the lobby of BC Children’s Hospital was lined with coveted goods from loyal, local donors as bidders vied for a variety of gift cards, spa certificates, Canuck player jerseys, Swarovski crystal figurines, jewelry and toys. The event is a popular one among hospital staff, patients and families, and reached the $10,000 goal, to support programs such as Child Life’s therapeutic clown, the Family Support Resource Centre, Mental Health patient outings and the Social Work Emergency funds. Then in May, the Christmas spirit came a little early for Auxiliary members when the group held its annual vote for the Holiday Card program. This year’s winners included a new painting by perennial favourite, artist Rod Charlesworth.

CelebratinG aMPCo’s PartnershiPAs BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Official Environmental Print Partner, AMPCO GRAFIX provides in-kind printing discounts to help promote the foun-dation’s fundraising events and campaigns. AMPCO GRAFIX is committed to conducting business in a man-ner designed to protect and restore the environment. The company has been a donor to BC Children’s Hospital for 25 years and a print partner since 2012. BC Children’s Hospital Foundation relies on the support of communi-ty partners like AMPCO Grafix to help provide the best possible care for BC’s kids, and we are grateful for their support and ongoing commitment.

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to learn More aboUt how to inClUde a Gift to BC Children’s Hospital in your estate plans, please contact our Gift and Estate Planning team at 604.875.2444 or toll-free at 1.888.663.3033. You can also email us at [email protected] or visit us at bcchf.ca/legacy.

Jennie and Chris Postma are philanthropists in the truest sense of the word.

When asked why she and her husband, who are monthly donors to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, have also made a gift in their Wills, Jennie’s message is simple: “We love kids,” she says.

Equally important is their gratitude for the care their grandsons received at BC Children’s Hospital.

As infants, Jennie and Chris’s grandsons Andrew Olydam and Conrad Tiedeman needed specialized treatment, and the only place they could get it was BC Children’s. Andrew, born in 1984, suffered from acute bouts of swelling. His condition, a malformation of the lymph vessels that supply the lining of the small intestine, is so rare that his local pediatrician had never encountered it.

At BC Children’s, Andrew received the care he needed – including a special diet that allowed him to grow normally even though his body couldn’t digest fat. Still, until he was two years old, Andrew’s immune system was severely compromised, and he was in and out of the hospital.

Then, in 1989, Andrew’s cousin Conrad was born at 30 weeks, weighing a mere three pounds. With both lungs collapsed and one punctured, he wasn’t expected to survive his first 24 hours.

But Conrad had other ideas. He clung to life through two weeks on life support and six months on a ventilator. By the time he flew home to Whitehorse – decked out in nasal prongs and accompanied by paramedics – Conrad was 14 months old. He had spent his first year and two months at BC Children’s.

Fortunately, both boys’ stories have happy endings. Andrew and his wife welcomed their first child in late 2015. Conrad recently graduated from university with a combined degree in political science, economics and history.

“We hope doctors and nurses can do for other people’s grandchildren what they did for our grandsons,” says Jennie.

The Gift of a Second Chance

caring for the future


TOP: Andrew and Lianna Olydam and baby Elisabeth. ABOVE: Conrad Tiedeman graduating in 2012.

When it comes to child develop-ment, the importance of bedtime should never be underestimated. In fact, a strict and regular routine of uninterrupted sleep is essential to childhood growth and develop-ment, according to Dr. James Lee, a BC Children’s Hospital pediatric neurologist who specializes in clinical neurophysiology and sleep medicine.

“At any stage, sleep is essential to optimal functioning during wakefulness and is in fact necessary for survival,” says Dr. Lee. “The important role of sleep in promoting neurodevelopment at least partly explains why sleep time is greatest in the newborn period, when brain development is greatest.”

Newborns spend half of their time sleeping in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is essential to neurodevelopment.

SLEEP STAGES: The importance of routine As children age, their rate of brain development drops, as does the time spent in REM sleep. Although it’s important to consider that the amount of sleep a child needs will vary throughout that child’s life, many underestimate just how much sleep children require as they develop.

Teenagers in particular tend to be the most sleep-deprived age group due to their educational, extra-curricular, and social demands. Encourage your teen to follow consistent sleep schedules – including on weekends – to ensure maximum brain development and alertness, advises Dr. Lee.

“As an individual grows from infant to adolescent, there are many expected changes that occur to the natural sleep cycle and to that individual’s sleep needs,” he says. Although each child in one stage may have different needs than the next, it is important to encourage consistency and routine. No matter the age of the child, this is crucial in developing good sleep habits – or sleep hygiene, he says.

SLEEP HYGIENE: Starting young with good habitsSleep hygiene – the habits and practices that lead to regular, uninterrupted sleep – may not be a part of our everyday lingo, but it’s vital to health and growth. Dr. Lee says there are many simple ways to improve a child’s sleep hygiene. Putting away tablets and phones and turning off video games is essential, he says.

“Encourage avoidance of electronic devices leading up to bed-time, keeping the home darker and quieter in the evening, and promoting calmer, quieter activities before bed,” he recommends. “Keeping a consistent sleep-wake routine and avoiding naps in older children and adolescents are also important parts of maintaining good sleep hygiene.”

healthy habits


HEALTHY SLEEP,

HEALTHY BRAIN

BC Children’s Hospital neurologist explores the importance of sleep on

child developmentby TAVIA MCQUAY


Dr. James Lee, neurologist and sleep

medicine specialist at BC Children’s

Hospital.

How, as a parent, do you know if your child is experienc-ing sleep issues? Children may have daytime problems like excessive sleepiness or falling asleep in unusual or inappro-priate situations, like in the classroom, says BC Children’s neurologist Dr. James Lee. More often, however, children may not be sleepy and instead may exhibit signs such as poor academic performance, hyperactivity or irritability.

Daytime symptoms can be caused by poor sleep hygiene, but it may also be caused by disrupted or poor-quality sleep due to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia (difficulty getting to sleep, staying asleep, or both), and parasomnias (sleep terrors, for instance).

“Look for snoring and difficulty breathing, which are suggestive of OSA,” advises Dr. Lee. “Other symptoms can include excessive moving or sweating at night, and, in severe cases, even poor growth. Complaints of leg discomfort may indicate restless leg syndrome, which can contribute to difficulty sleeping.”

In the end, Dr. Lee advises parents to regard their children’s sleep as the prime regulator – and yardstick – of good health and growth.

“While there is still much that we don’t know about the function of sleep, we do know that it is heavily involved in learning, development, and regulation of many of the body’s endocrine and metabolic functions.”

do you know if your child is experienc-

IS YOUR CHILD GETTING ENOUGH REST?

Test your sleep knowledge1. SLEEP HYGIENE RELATES TO:

a) The number of times your child gets up in the night to visit the bathroom.

b) The practices and habits that lead to regular uninterrupted sleep.

c) How clean your child is when he or she hits the hay.

2. DAYTIME ISSUES THAT CAN BE WARNING SIGNS OF SLEEP PROBLEMS INCLUDE:a) Hyperactivity and defiant behaviour.b) Hunger pangs throughout the day.c) Poor spelling.

3. WHAT IS THE MOST ESSENTIAL FACTOR IN GOODSLEEP AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT?a) Consistency and a regular uninterrupted sleep

routine.b) More time in the REM sleep stage, especially

for infants.c) A Dora the Explorer duvet cover and flannel

sheet set.

Answers: 1b; 2a; 3a

BEHIND THE STETHOSCOPE: I am a pediatric neurosurgeon, so I deal with conditions of the brain and spinal cord in children that require surgery. This includes hydrocephalus (a build-up of fluid in the brain), brain tumours, congenital anomalies, spina bifida and trauma. One of the things I love about pediatric neuro-surgery is the diversity of conditions we deal with.

I also obtained a master’s degree in bioethics shortly after I started my practice. My main interest in ethics relates to conflicts of interest in research. I recently moved to Vancouver after 14 years working atWinnipeg Children’s Hospital.

TRAINING: I attended medical school at the University of Toronto and also did my neurosurgical residency there. My pediatric neurosurgery training was at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. I obtained a master’s degree in bioethics from the Joint Centre for Bioethics at….you guessed it, the University of Toronto. FAMILY/PERSONAL PICTURE: With both kids in university, my wife and I have recently become empty- nesters. We participate in a variety of outdoor activities and after many Manitoba winters, look forward to them not involving parkas and temperatures of -30 Celsius.

WHAT YOU’D NEVER KNOW ABOUT ME: I played alto sax in several bands in high school and univer-sity and am teaching myself to play bluegrass mandolin.

WHY I BECAME A NEUROSURGEON: All through medical school I wanted to be an obste-trician. One day I accompanied a class-mate to a neurosurgery operation. When the neurosurgeon showed me how to drill a hole in the skull, I was hooked.

HOBBIES: Other than music, I spend much of my free time running, cycling, cross-country skiing or reading. My goal is to one day complete an ultra-marathon.

SECRET FANTASY: To open a combi-nation jazz café/brew pub/coffee shop.

PHILOSOPHY: Pretty simple: be kind.

WHAT I’M READING NOW: Right now I’m reading a few things: The Places in Between by Rory Stewart, about his walking trip across Afghanistan in 2002; The Sense of Style, a guide to writing by Steven Pinker; and When Breath Becomes Air, the posthumously published memoir of Paul Kalanithi, a young American neurosurgeon diagnosed with terminal cancer during his residency training.

what’s up, doc?

BC Children’s Hospital’s new Head of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery

Dr. Patrick McDonald


relates to conflicts of interest in research. I recently moved to Vancouver after 14 years working atWinnipeg Children’s Hospital.


IF I DIDN’T HAVE TO WORK... “I’d travel, write and continue to do and teach pediatric neurosurgery in developing countries.”

Do you have a story about BC Children’s Hospital to tell? Please submit your Miracle Kid stories to [email protected].

children speak


Hi, My name is Michaela.

For my entire life, I’ve had one wish: to have two legs the same length. I wanted to walk without a limp, to live without back pain and without aches in my knees and hips; most of all, I wanted to do ballet.

When I was born, it was discovered that I had a fairly rare condition called congenital posteromedial tibia bowing. As I got older, this caused my left leg to be about seven centime-tres shorter than my right leg.

The difference in my leg lengths limited my activity, includ-ing dance. My leg length difference made ballet not only extremely difficult but also painful. I continued on with every other type of dance, but sadly accepted that ballet would have to be put on hold.

That is, until I met Dr. Cooper at BC Children’s Hospital! Dr. Cooper broke my tibia and fibula, and surgically placed a device called the Taylor Spatial Frame onto my left leg.

In the first month or so of wearing my frame I would cover it up, as I always got strange looks when I was out in public. However, after a couple of months, I became proud of my leg and learned to love telling strangers about it.

I’ve learned that good things do come out of seemingly bad situations and those corny quotes on Pinterest aren’t lying to you. I can’t thank Dr. Cooper and his team enough for every-thing they have done for me. I am so grateful to have such an incredible doctor and caregiving crew; they’ve changed my life. The day I was originally supposed to have my frame removed was the day of my Grade 7 graduation. Dr. Cooper changed the date of my surgery to a week before my grad, which he said would be just enough time for me to be able to walk across the stage without crutches.

When the time came, I put faith in my newly grown bone and Dr. Cooper’s word. It was then that I walked across the stage for the first time in my life with legs the same length.

I now walk with two legs the same length, which is an indescribable feeling. Hours and hours of physiotherapy have paid off, and I started ballet about six months ago!

1 RBC Run for the Kids (formerly ChildRun) On June 5, 6,600 runners, walkers and wheelers from across the Lower Mainland enjoyed a day of exercise and family entertainment while rais-ing money for pediatric oncology programs and mental health initiatives at BC Children’s Hospital during RBC Run for the Kids. Thanks to participants, donors and sponsors, the event raised $1,013,223. Over the past 31 years, participants have raised more than $11 million for childhood cancer programs.

2 26th Annual Slo-Pitch Event Our deepest thanks to all participants and supporters who knocked it out of the park at this year’s Slo-Pitch Event. On May 27-29, 55 teams, almost 700 participants and more than 1,300 donors came together to raise $235,183 for children and families at BC Children’s Hospital. Despite extreme weather conditions resulting in the tournament’s first ever cancellation on Saturday, our sup-porters stayed positive. This year more than 60 participants accepted the Ledcor Challenge by raising over $500 each! Teams and fans enjoyed a fantastic weekend at Softball City,

including the Aldergrove Financial Group KidZone, a silent auction, 50/50 draws, food trucks and more. For photos visit www.bcchf.ca/slopitch.

3 Banks Division In 2016, the banks of British Columbia raised $2,002,070 for BC Children’s Hospital through their fundraising efforts. For almost 30 years, the majority of banks in British Columbia have collectively contributed more than $49 million. The banking community’s support comes from corporate contributions and employees and customers who support the banks’ diverse annual fundraising initiatives.

4 Retail & Wholesale Division This year, the Retail & Wholesale Division made the largest contribution from a business group in Miracle Weekend’s 29-year history:

$7,229,183. This achievement was made possible by many fundraising activities, including the sale of paper icons, golf tournaments, employee giving and events that involved staff, customers, vendors and corporate supporters. Since 1992, this division has raised more than $61 million for BC’s kids.

5 Real Estate & Development Division In 2016 the Real Estate & Development Division had a very successful year, raising $1,405,000. A large portion of this total is raised by RE/MAX of Western Canada, one of BC Children’s Hospital Foun-dation’s national partners through Children’s Miracle Network. The industry also organizes the annual Building for Kids Charity Golf Classic event and supports the Building for Kids signage program. Other initiatives such as corporate contributions and employee giving campaigns round out their support.

miracle weekend

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Miracle Weekend Events


What a weekend. Now that Miracle Weekend 2016 has come and gone,

and we’ve raised an impressive $20,018,068, I finally get a chance to reflect, and I can’t help but feel an over-whelming sense of pride.

It’s been a privilege to work alongside the many vol-unteers and committee members who gave their time to raise funds that make a huge impact on the lives of children and families from across BC. Congratulations to all of those who have helped make Jeans Day™, Slo-Pitch, RBC Run for the Kids, and so many events, such a success.

As this will be my final year as Miracle Weekend chair, I’ll miss the energy and passion of everyone involved with Miracle Weekend, but I know I leave the event in the good hands of Dan Whalley, who’ll be chair of Miracle Weekend in 2017.

Dan is vice-president of Personal Banking at Prospera Credit Union, and well-respected in his field. He has been instrumental in the success of this year’s Miracle Weekend, having served as vice-chair. Like me, he’s impressed by the generosity of British Columbians and is heart-ened to see how this shared passion translates into dollars for treatment, equipment and research at the hospital.

I want to thank those people who stand at the centre of all we do – the resilient patients and fam-ilies who depend on BC Children’s Hospital. They occupy our hearts and minds, and continue to inspire me as we all work to build a brighter future for children.

Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Miracle Weekend a tremen-dous success.

Regards,

Allen Bordeleau, Save-On-FoodsChair, 2016 Miracle Weekend

Regards,

participants and supporters who knocked it out of the park at this year’s Slo-Pitch Event. On May 27-29, 55 teams, almost 700 participants and more than 1,300 donors came together to raise $235,183 for children and families at BC Children’s Hospital. Despite extreme weather conditions resulting in the tournament’s first ever cancellation on Saturday, our sup-porters stayed positive. This year more than 60 participants accepted the Ledcor Challenge by raising over $500 each! Teams and fans enjoyed a fantastic weekend at Softball City,

including the Aldergrove Financial Group KidZone, a silent auction, 50/50 draws, food trucks and more. For photos visit www.bcchf.ca/slopitch

3 Banks Division raised $2,002,070 for BC Children’s Hospital through their fundraising efforts. For almost 30 years, the majority of banks in British Columbia have collectively contributed more than $49 million. The banking community’s support comes from corporate contributions and employees and customers who support the banks’ diverse annual fundraising initiatives.

4 Retail & Wholesale Division Wholesale Division made the largest contribution from a business group in Miracle Weekend’s 29-year history:

$7,229,183. This achievement was made possible by many fundraising activities, including the sale of paper icons, golf tournaments, employee giving and events that involved staff, customers, vendors and corporate supporters. Since 1992, this division has raised more than $61 million for BC’s kids.

5 Real Estate & Development Division Estate & Development Division had a very successful year, raising $1,405,000. A large portion of this total is raised by RE/MAX of Western Canada, one of BC Children’s Hospital Foun-dation’s national partners through Children’s Miracle Network. The industry also organizes the annual Building for Kids Charity Golf Classic event and supports the Building for Kids signage program. Other initiatives such as corporate contributions and employee giving campaigns round out their support.

summer 2016

Slo-Pitch, RBC Run for the Kids, and so many events,

As this will be my final year as Miracle Weekend chair, I’ll miss the energy and passion of everyone involved with Miracle Weekend, but I know I leave the event in the good hands of Dan Whalley, who’ll be chair of

Dan is vice-president of Personal Banking at Prospera Credit Union, and well-respected in his field. He has been instrumental in the success of this year’s Miracle Weekend, having served as

impressed by the generosity of British Columbians and is heart-ened to see how this shared passion translates into dollars for treatment, equipment and

I want to thank those people who stand at the centre of all we do – the resilient patients and fam-ilies who depend on BC Children’s Hospital. They occupy our hearts and minds, and continue to inspire me as we all work to build a brighter

Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Miracle Weekend a tremen-

Miracle Weekend Events 1

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6 Jeans Day™ On April 28, supporters from across BC and the Yukon jeaned up in support of the 26th annual Jeans Day.™ More than 2,000 companies and schools ordered and sold buttons and lapel pins. With the support of our School Sponsor, Odlum Brown Limited, the event raised an outstanding $1,102,378 for BC’s kids!

7 Mining for Miracles This year, BC’s mining community raised $1,677,686 through a variety of fundraising campaigns such as the Teck Celebrity Pie Throw, Diamond Draw, Hooked on Miracles Fishing Tournament, Jeans Day™, Slo-Pitch, and a variety of employee and corporate fund-raising initiatives. Since 1988, Mining for Miracles has raised more than $26 million for BC Children’s Hospital. Funds raised by Mining for Miracles in 2015 and 2016 support the CAUSES Research Clinic at BC Children’s Hospital. The CAUSES Research Clinic provides genome-wide sequencing to support the diagnosis of rare genetic dis-eases. There are 7,000 known rare disorders and CAUSES uses a single genomic exam to test for them. Since the clinic opened in June 2015, more than 125 families have been seen by the CAUSES team.

8 Chinese-Canadian Miracle WeekendThe 28th annual Chinese-Canadian Miracle Weekend raised $718,888 for the Excellence

in Child Health Fund, supporting the most urgent needs of children at BC Children’s Hospital. Radio PSAs, independent commun-ity events, the Young Ambassadors Program, and media partners all helped to raise awareness within the Chinese community about the importance of public support. A special shout-out to the corporate and media sponsors, donors, community groups and volunteers for another successful year!

South Asian CommunityGenerous supporters from the South Asian community together contributed $173,062 toward this year’s fundraising success. Car-ing members of this community - including the Golden Girls Group, Team Miracle Maya and Fruiticana - tirelessly supported the hospital by planning fundraising dinners and galas, organizing in-store fundraisers, and donating at the Vancouver and Surrey Vaisakhi parades and through the Spice Radio radiothon. Thank you for makinga difference for BC’s children!

Hospitality and Tourism IndustryCompanies from within the Hospitality and Tourism industry that support BC Children’s Hospital include hotels, casinos, bars and restaurants along with breweries and vineyards, cultural and tourist attrac-tions. Businesses in this industry have supported BC Children’s Hospital for more than 30 years. This year, the industry contributed $976,198 to the hospital!

Credit Unions Division Credit unions from across British Columbia contributed $259,381 toward this year’s Miracle Week-end. Their incredible fundraising efforts have been supporting BC Children’s Hospital since 1985 and have collectively contributed more than $4.5 million to support BC’s kids.

6

Vancouver Canuck Henrik Sedin, BC Lion Adam Bighill and Vancouver Whitecap Christian Dean join our 2016 Jeans Day Champion Avery Carpenter at the Jeans DayTM barbecue in downtown Vancouver.

SPONSORS

IN-KIND PARTNERS

NATIONAL PARTNER

MIRACLE MATCH

MEDIA PARTNERS

MIRACLE WEEKEND SUPPORTERSWe are proud to recognize our corporate and community partners who contributed $10,000 or more to Miracle Weekend.

$1 MILLION +Costco Wholesale, Employees and

MembersSave-On-Foods

$750,000 - $999,999RE/MAX of Western CanadaTD Bank Group and Employees

$500,000 - $749,999Dairy Queen Canada Inc. British

Columbia Operators AssociationKirmac Collision ServicesTeck Resources Limited; Teck Highland

Valley Copper Operations; Teck Metals Ltd; Teck Trail Operations; Teck Coal Limited

Walmart Canada & Associates

$250,000 - $499,999CIBC Employees and CustomersDepartments of Pediatric Anesthesia,

Dentistry & Surgery of BCCHMedical Departments of BC Children’s

Hospital and Child & Family Research Institute

RBC and RBC EmployeesTim Hortons

$100,000 - $249,999Auxiliary to BC Children’s HospitalBalding for DollarsBMO Bank of Montreal and EmployeesThe BrickCoast to Coast Against Cancer

FoundationExtra Life EventFederated Co-operatives Ltd. Golden Girls GroupGoldcorp Inc.Hooked on Miracles - Mining for

Miracles Charity Fishing TournamentHSBC Bank Canada and EmployeesAsa & Kashmir Johal & the Johal FamilyLedcor Group of Companies Ocean 98.5Summits of HopeTELUSWigs for Kids

$50,000 - $99,999Aspen Custom TrailersBats for a CauseE. B. Horsman and SonIHOP BCMarriott International, Inc.Pacific Northwest Children’s Cancer Society

- Kiwanis Children’s Cancer ProgramProspera Credit UnionProvincial Employees Community

Services Fund

$20,018,608$20Thank You, British Columbia!

Thousands of British Columbians made miracles happen for BC’s children on Miracle Weekend.

Thank you to our donors, sponsors and volunteers for making the weekend

a record-breaking success!

$20$20Thank You

AIDAN CHIN, cancer patient 2016 Champion Child

presented by Walmart

TOP CONTRIBUTING INDUSTRIESRetail & Wholesale $7,229,183.00 Banks $2,002,070.00Mining $1,677,686.00Real Estate & Development $1,405,000.00 Credit Unions $259,381.18 South Asian Community $173,062.00

FOUNDATION EVENTSJeans DayTM $1,102,378.00 RBC Run for the Kids $1,013,223.00Chinese-Canadian Miracle Weekend $718,888.00Building for Kids Charity Golf Classic $252,828.0026th Annual Slo-Pitch $235,183.00Ocean 98.5 Radiothon for Kids $123,880.00

COMMUNITIES FOR KIDSVictoria $181,472.00Vanderhoof $76,192.00Nanaimo $46,905.00Upper Fraser Valley $43,133.00Port Alberni $21,284.00Prince George $15,000.00

THE MIRACLE WEEKEND TEAM

MIRACLE WEEKEND EXECUTIVE Chair Allen Bordeleau, Save-On-FoodsVice-Chair Dan Whalley, Prospera Credit UnionHonorary Physician Dr. Mary Bennett, BC Children’s Hospital

MIRACLE WEEKEND FUNDRAISING CABINETBanks Todd Laycraft, TD Bank Group & Todd Patchell, HSBC Bank CanadaBC Children’s Hospital Liaison Committee Debbie Cain & Dave Kobayashi, BC Children’s HospitalChinese-Canadian Miracle Weekend Thomas Lee, RBC & Clara KanCredit Unions Val Mackey, Aldergrove Financial Group Jeans DayTM Cynthia Curll, BC HydroMining for Miracles Jeff Hanman, Teck Resources LimitedRBC Run for the Kids Connie Baechler, RBC Dominion Securities & Sheila Louis, ActiveState SoftwareReal Estate & Development Roger Steers, Read Jones ChristoffersenRetail & Wholesale Shawn Loftus, Save-On-Foods & Gillian Yorke, Save-On-FoodsSlo-Pitch Kendall Andersen, Borden Ladner Gervais LLPSouth Asian Community Anita Bathe, CBC

COMMUNITIES FOR KIDSCentral Vancouver Island Kathy Berg & Andrea van RossumPort Alberni Barbara-Anne & Steven KaluginPrince George Richard Mintz Upper Fraser Valley Pat JohnsonVanderhoof Corleen McNolty & Michelle RobergeVictoria Cherie Caillet & Lisa Baumeler

MIRACLE WEEKEND OPERATIONS CABINET Catering Nia Vekris & David RooneyDonations Management Carolyn DaviesGuest Services Christina PapadimitriouLogistics Alicia Krywaniuk, Amira Bakovic, James Smith, Meghan Glover, Taylor BahenPlay Area Brina SoniPresentations A.K. Hudani & Rita Ferrara Registration John ChandlerTelephones Management Carol Miller & Louise Schmiing

Safeway EmployeesScotiabank Employees &

CustomersSpirit of Children Halloween

Event sponsored by Spirit Halloween

$25,000 - $49,999Air Canada FoundationBC Hydro Power PioneersBC Safety Authority &

EmployeesBMX Canada ABA AssociationChild’s Play CharityClean Energy BCEssoFruiticanaHuckleberry Mines Ltd. &

EmployeesICBCInternational Longshore &

Warehouse Union 514Jordan Owens Memorial

Hockey TournamentJulian Tile Inc.Long & McQuade Musical

InstrumentsPan American Silver

CorporationProcter & Gamble Inc.Rogers CommunicationsSears Canada Charitable

FoundationStrategic Charitable Giving

FoundationSurtek Industries Inc.UBC Recreation Lace Up for

KidsThe World Famous CFOX

$10,000 - $24,999AA Wayne’s Towing - Charity

Car ProgramAdera Foundation SocietyAldergrove Financial GroupAmec Foster Wheeler

AMPCO GRAFIXAnglo Celtic ExplorationAON Reed Stenhouse Inc.ARA Tow for Kids Charity ConvoyArbutus Roofing & DrainsAusencoB.C. Road Builders & Heavy

Construction Assoc.BC Children’s Hospital Liaison

CommitteeBC Ferries Refit FacilitiesBlueShore FinancialBorden Ladner Gervais LLPBrooks Brothers VancouverBurnaby Elks Lodge No. 497Canadian Western Bank and

EmployeesCandy Anfield Memorial

FoundationCanfor CorporationC-Lovers Fish & ChipsCrown Packaging & EmployeesDental Corporation of CanadaDonate A Car CanadaDr. Knox Middle School Bald

Falcon DayÉminence Organic Skin CareEnvision Financial, Valley First,

Enderby & District Financial and Island Savings, divisions of First West Credit Union

Fluor Canada Limited FLSmidth KnelsonFraternal Order of EaglesFresh St. MarketFS Financial StrategiesG&F Financial GroupGCT CanadaGenworth CanadaGNC CanadaGolder Associates Ltd.Hannah’s Heroes FoundationHelping Hands of WorkSafeBCInternational Longshore &

Warehouse Union 502Kaminak Gold Corporation

Kids Can HelpLiberty Wine MerchantsLondon DrugsMangia E Bevi Ristorante and

Caffe Al MercatoMcMillanMerritt Law Enforcement

Hockey TournamentMining Suppliers Association

of BCMortgage Broker Giving ProgramMusic Heals Charitable

FoundationNanaimo MitsubishiOxygen CapitalPI Financial CorpRaymond James Canada

FoundationRexall FoundationRobert L. Conconi FoundationRONA Capital Building Supplies

Prince GeorgeSandstorm Gold Ltd.SFU Dance MarathonShaw CommunicationSMS Equipment Inc.Spice Radio 1200AMStephen Bros. Contracting Ltd.TB Vets Charitable FoundationTeam Miracle MayaThe Truck Loggers AssociationThrifty FoodsVancityVancouver Police Department

Dog SquadThe Vanisha FoundationWastech Services Ltd. -

EmployeesThe Weathertop FoundationWestshore Terminals Ltd.Williams Sonoma, Pottery

Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm & West Elm Market

Willis Towers WatsonYM Inc. Charitable Foundation


Miracle Weekend was made possible by the following individuals who led volunteer committees and fundraising efforts across BC.$20,018,608 raised for BC’s kids!

Thank You, British Columbia!

Thousands of British Columbians made miracles happen for BC’s children on Miracle Weekend.

Thank you to our donors, sponsors and volunteers for making the weekend

a record-breaking success!

@bcchf@bcchf/BCChildrens

www.bcchf.ca 604.875.2444

2015 - 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

Helping each child fulfil his or her fullest potential – that’s the goal of every caregiver at BC Children’s Hospital. In 2015-16, thanks to our donors’ generous support, we did just that, and more.

Go online now to read about how your contributions made a difference for BC’s sick and injured children last year. Thank you for helping us give hope to those who deserve it most.

bcchf.ca/annual-reports

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