Spring 2011 PDF - BC Children`s Hospital Foundation

bcchf.ca
spring 2011
HEALING WITH HEART
A NEW SMILE
SALTY SWEET
MIRACLE
WEEKEND
PREVIEW
recruiting Genius
With plans for the new hospital well underway,
BC Children’s is already attracting the best and
brightest caregivers for BC’s kids.
superhero news
inside speaking of children
features
Picking up the pace
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www.bcchf.ca
8 The Making of a Smile
Plastic surgery at Children’s leads
the world in cleft repair.
EDITOR
Tara Turner
CONTRIBUTORS
Cary Gaymond, Kerry Gold,
Mary Frances Hill,
Joanna Newman, Winnie Tam,
Tara Turner
10 3P: the new BC Children’s
Parents and medical staff help design
a new hospital.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Brandon C. Elliot,
Noel Hendrickson,
James LaBounty,
Goran Samardziski,
C&W Media Production & Service
Past and present members of BC Children’s
Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors have
set the pace for a recent influx of million-dollar
gifts from individuals to the Campaign for BC
Children. Current board member Doug Gordon
and past board chair Stephanie Carlson have
each made personal gifts of $1 million to the
campaign.
12 2011 Miracle Weekend
ART DIRECTOR
Gabriele Chaykowski
PROJECT MANAGER
Casey Crawford
PRODUCED BY
Since our last issue of Speaking of Children, the Jack and
Doris Brown Foundation and the Patrick and Beryl Campbell
Charitable Trust have also made gifts of $1 million each.
The Brown Foundation and Campbell Charitable Trust are
headed by longtime donors and volunteers Gail Brown and
Diane Zell, respectively. Both Zell and Brown have been
strong supporters of research and made this gift to the
campaign knowing that supporting the new hospital will
enhance research activities while also improving the clinical
environment for children and their families.
6
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.
A lifetime of giving
With more than 25 years of experience as a volunteer,
Stephanie Carlson has literally seen the needs of BC’s
children outgrow the current Children’s Hospital’s capacity.
Her gift of $1 million to the Campaign for BC Children is a
source of pride and jubilation for her, and her family.
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.
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superhero news
well said
ask the expert
speaking of people
healthy habits
what’s up, doc?
children speak
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A PUBLICATION OF
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation raises funds for
Children’s Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for
Children and the Child & Family Research Institute.
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Photographed above with her newborn granddaughter,
Lucy, Stephanie is one of BC Children’s Hospital’s most
ardent supporters.
2 speaking of children spring 2011
A baby’s life is saved by head surgeon
with sights on the new hospital.
MANAGING EDITOR
Stephen Forgacs
As the Campaign for BC Children moves into its
third year, we are making significant progress
toward our $200-million goal. To date, we have
raised close to $125 million, $29 million of which
is earmarked for Child Health BC. The rest goes
toward the construction of the new hospital.
Most recently, Jake and Judy Kerr joined the group of $1million donors with their pledge to the Campaign for BC
Children earlier this year. The Kerr’s $1-million gift will
support the construction of the new Children’s Hospital.
6 From the Heart
spring 2011
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Visit www.bcchf.ca or
www.beasuperhero.ca
to donate to the Campaign
for BC Children today!
spring 2011 speaking of children
3
well said
Bringing the best to British Columbia
There are few times in our lives when we have
an opportunity, as we do today, to help shape
the future. I believe, through the Campaign for
BC Children, we’re doing exactly that – building
for the future of our children and for those who
follow them.
feature story
BC ChiLDreN’s
hosPitaL
foUNDatioN
Board of
Directors 2011
as of february 1, 2011
Since joining the Foundation in January, I have
learned so much about the hospital – about the
talented researchers, compassionate nurses
and skilled surgeons, and the little differences
that make medical care for children and teenagers unique. With each discovery that I make
about the hospital, I gain a greater understanding of the impact that each of you, our donors,
has on the lives of BC’s children.
Mr. Kevin Bent,
Chair
I believe that we’re stronger when we work
together, when we create together. That’s why
an inclusive planning process that brings representatives from every stakeholder group
together is certain to result in a phenomenal facility for our children and families.
Thank you for being a part of building this new hospital from the ground up.
Mr. Don Lindsay
In addition to the talented new surgeons you will read about in this issue of the magazine, I’m pleased to report that we’re actively recruiting a new head of the Department
of Pediatrics. I have had the good fortune to be involved in this process and I can certainly say that the prospect of a new BC Children’s Hospital was key to attracting the
high-calibre candidates we’ve found.
I’ve spent most of my career working for the benefit of British Columbian children
and families, so my move to the Foundation seemed like a natural progression. As we
approach the final leg of the campaign, I am honoured to lead the Foundation alongside you – our donors, patients, families and friends – on this journey.
Sincerely,
Mr. Chris Carty
Mr. David Doig
Mr. Larry gold
Mr. Doug gordon
Mr. Peter green
Mrs. tammi Kerzner
Mr. graham MacLachlan
Mr. geoff Parkin
Mr. David Podmore
Dr. ralph rothstein
Mrs. Wendy slavin
Ms. sandy so
Ms. andrea southcott
Mrs. Diane Zell
foundation
executive
teri Nicholas, MsW, rsW
President & CEO
Knut Nordlie, Cfre
Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer
Teri Nicholas, MSW, RSW
President & CEO
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
4 speaking of children spring 2011
Debora sweeney, Cfre
Vice President and Chief
Communications Officer
Our hospital is the sum of its parts. It is our patients and caregivers, the
treatments we provide, and our technology, buildings and research that
make us what we are – BC’s only facility that cares for children from birth to
adolescence, inside and out, from head to toe.
recruiting genius
The promise of a new hospital is helping to bring the best pediatric specialists to
British Columbia to treat and cure our children. They, along with a sustainable
planning process that addresses the needs of children and their families,
are what will help to make the new Children’s Hospital one of Canada’s most
progressive pediatric health-care centres.
In this issue of Speaking of Children, you will meet some of the new faces who
have chosen to work at BC Children’s, and you will hear about the impact they
are already having in the lives of children and families. You will also read about
the planning process as the new hospital takes shape. As you peruse these
pages, know that your contribution is helping to make it all possible.
spring 2011 speaking of children
5
feature story
A private space to de-stress would be at the top of
their wish list, she says. The couple tried to share
a small cot in Addison’s room, but they couldn’t
get any sleep. With all the nearby family housing
booked, Laurie and Duane resorted to parking their
camping trailer on the Children’s Hospital grounds. It
wasn’t ideal, but it had to do. “I just needed a place to
go to where I could close my eyes and wrap my head around
everything,” says Laurie.
As plans for a new BC Children’s Hospital take shape, and
buoyed by the province’s release of $90.5 million in Phase
1 funding toward that end, the development team, led by
chief project officer Bob Breen, has a wish list of its own. The
fact that patient families need private space for solace and
bonding is an important consideration in planning. The new
hospital will include patient rooms with space for parents to
stay with their children in comfort, along with the core facilities that make up any hospital, such as operating rooms, a
diagnostics and imaging centre, private-room intensive care
units and an Emergency Department.
Laurie Homan holds her daughter, Addison, during a follow-up exam in the Children’s Heart Centre with Dr. Gandhi.
From the Heart
Laurie Homan will be the first to tell you that Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi is a
miracle worker. At only a few days old, her daughter Addison underwent
a life-saving open-heart surgery under the new recruit’s hand.
by marY franceS HiLL
Addison Homan was born at 8:30 pm on September 9, 2010.
For her parents, Laurie and Duane Homan, the next week
was a blur.
Within minutes of Addison’s birth – “It was natural, fast, and
perfect,” says Laurie Homan – doctors at Abbotsford Regional Hospital noticed the blue tinge on the baby’s lips and nose.
The next morning, Laurie and Duane began their week-long
stay at BC Children’s Hospital. There, they found out their
baby suffered from transposition of the great arteries, a condition in which the aorta and pulmonary artery are reversed,
blocking much-needed oxygen from reaching the body.
6 speaking of children spring 2011
“It was the unknown that was most terrifying,” says Laurie,
who brought Addison home to her three older brothers and
one sister just four days after the arterial switch operation
that saved the baby’s life. “You’re in a state of shock the
whole time,” she recalls of the experience. “It was not knowing what news we were going to be given at any time that
terrified me the most.”
Though Addison will need lifelong cardiac care, the Homans
don’t expect many more long stays at the hospital in the near
future. But their struggle left them with ideas and hopes for
parents who will be facing similar crises with their children.
Much of that also fulfils the wish list of Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi, the
pediatric heart surgeon who performed baby Addison’s arterial switch operation. Dr. Gandhi envisions larger, modernized
operating rooms and inpatient care facilities, an intensive
care unit dedicated to children recovering from heart surgery, and an area specifically for cardiac patients in recovery
after they leave the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Dr. Gandhi was recruited to BC Children’s, in part,
with the promise of a new hospital and the lure of
significant time in the operating room. Raised in
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, he studied at Dalhousie
and McGill Universities; he trained in general surgery in St. Louis, Missouri, continuing with cardiac
and pediatric cardiac training and practice in Toronto and
Pittsburgh, respectively. If you ask any member of his team
– or any parent whose child he has treated – he is simply one
of the best.
He’s felt a natural pull toward pediatrics all his life. “You take
a very sick baby and make him well very quickly. I don’t think
there’s anything more gratifying than that,” he says. “From
a surgical standpoint, it’s about as challenging as it gets and
from an instant gratification standpoint, it’s probably as
immediate as it gets.”
Since he took on his post as head of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at BC Children’s last July, Dr. Gandhi has had
an impact on the cardiac surgery wait list and reduced the
length of patients’ stays in hospital. He was attracted to
what the hospital could and will be with its looming redevelopment. “The people here aren’t lacking in terms of expertise
and they’re as good as or better than those in places I’ve
worked in the past,” he says. But the hospital’s premises, he
says, should be at par or better than any other children’s hospital in the country.
It still amazes Laurie Homan that she was able to bring Addison home just four days after major surgery. Credit goes to
a communicative staff, which allowed the family to stay up
to the minute on Addison’s health. “They treated her like she
was their own baby,” Laurie says.
Keeping families of young patients comfortable is vital in
recovery, says Dr. Gandhi. “There may be a correlation between
how fast the baby gets out of the hospital and how much the
parents are around,” he says. “The more active participants
[parents] are in the care, the easier it is to move them around
the system and the faster they may go home.”
Left: Addison Homan gets a kiss from her mom.
To make a donation to the
Campaign for BC Children,
please visit www.beasuperhero.ca.
spring 2011 speaking of children
7
feature story
Addie Kluftinger, at five months old, before her first surgery in China.
Today, a cleft needn’t cause a child too much trauma. The relatively common congenital deformity is easily treatable shortly
after birth, leaving the child with little more than a faint scar
or slight speech impediment, if anything at all. There are many
famous people who were born with clefts and who’ve led successful public careers. Actor Stacy Keach is outspoken about
his childhood cleft lip and palate. In interviews, actor Joaquin
Phoenix has said his own scar is the result of a minor cleft lip.
In North America, about one in 750 children are born with a
cleft. In Africa, the number is far less, about one in 2,000. In
China, Addie’s birthplace, the number is higher — about one in
500 children, says BC Children’s Hospital pediatric plastic surgeon Dr. Jugpal Arneja.
Dr. Arneja is a cleft specialist and the newest member of BC
Children’s Hospital’s Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Program,
which started in 1970. Dr. Arneja, a Manitoba native, had been
working as a pediatric plastic surgeon at Children’s Hospital of
Michigan for four years before moving back to Canada, and to
Vancouver. He is among the best and brightest in the world for
cleft repair, and he looks forward to seeing the program grow
when the new BC Children’s Hospital is built.
Addie Kluftinger.
The Making of a Smile
international adoption isn’t the only thing that’s turned addie’s world around.
The surgeries she had in china and at Bc children’s have given her a new smile,
and a new life.
by KerrY GoLD
When newly adopted baby Addie Kluftinger arrived from China
10 months ago, she had a different name and a hole in the roof
of her mouth that made it difficult to eat and make sounds.
Two-and-a-half-year-old Addie, whose birth name was Luo
Wenjing, was born with a cleft palate and cleft lip. Surgeons
in her birthplace of Qinghai Province had repaired her lip, but
further surgery was required to close the big gap in her palate.
She also needed tubes placed in her ears, which were blocked,
possibly due to the cleft.
8 speaking of children spring 2011
A cleft is the result of abnormal facial development during
pregnancy, and although doctors have theories, nobody knows
exactly what causes a cleft lip or palate. What is known is that
if left untreated, life can be hard for the child with the cleft,
and not just for health reasons. It’s estimated by non-profit
charity groups that there are millions of untreated clefts in
the world, most of them in impoverished countries. Throughout history, people with facial abnormalities have endured
social stigma regardless of their country of origin.
“If your child is born with a cleft, this is the place where you
want your child to be cared for,” says Dr. Arneja. “The medical
expertise within Children’s Hospital is equal to anywhere in
the world.
Dr. Arneja, the pediatric plastic surgeon who repaired Addie’s cleft palate at BC Children’s
Hospital.
so much already,” says her mother Sheena Fraser. “There wasn’t
much more you could throw at her. We wanted to get it over
with so we could move forward.”
Skip ahead six months, and on a rainy afternoon in late January,
Addie and Sheena visit Dr. Arneja and the team for an assessment. Dr. Arneja is pleased. Other than a small dent in her little
nose, there is scarcely any disfigurement. Her upper lip is a little tight from the surgery, and she still has to learn how to use
her tongue against the roof of her mouth, says her mother.
“We’ve been at this site for so many years, and we have outgrown our space,” he adds. “The new hospital is important, but
expanded resources within Children’s Hospital are also critical. We need a hospital that can meet the demands of our
patients. Early cleft care is a priority, we need to manage that
in as timely a fashion as possible.”
When she is seven or eight, she’ll need a bone graft to repair
a hole in the bone where her front teeth are, and she may
need jaw surgery, says Sheena. Children with a cleft palate
sometimes develop an under-bite because of scarring from
the palate repair. As well, she can elect to have cosmetic surgery on her nose and lip when she’s older, although Sheena
doubts she’ll need it. As Addie grows, any scars will become
less noticeable.
Timing for cleft surgery is a balancing act, says Dr. Arneja. If
done too early, it can impact facial growth. If done too late, it
can affect speech. Ideally, cleft repair surgery is done between
10 months and a year, he says.
“A cleft palate is so fixable, so manageable, and these children
go on to do great things,” says Sheena. “Because we have these
resources and programs, you wouldn’t know a lot of children
even had a cleft palate.
Addie was 22 months old when she arrived at her Pemberton,
BC, home at the end of May. By June 30, she was at BC Children’s
Hospital, having surgery on her palate. “Addie had been through
“We all feel blessed. Addie is so lucky that we have such
an amazing cleft team at BC Children’s Hospital,” she says,
laughing.
spring 2011 speaking of children
9
feature story
ask the expert
OUR EXPERTS ANSWER COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT PLANNED GIVING.
New Legislation in 2011
How can changes in the law affect your legacy?
Above: Models and diagrams help planning teams determine the indicative design of the new hospital.
Inset: Susan Greig; Right: 3P event participants.
Planning for the Future
Parents and staff come together to influence the design
of the new BC Children’s Hospital.
by WINNIE TAM
“My hope is that we will create a facility that
is comfortable, meets the needs of children
and their families, and will also be a great
place to work,” says Susan Greig, who works
with the Partners in Care Family Advisory –
a group of family members and hospital staff
who help to promote family-centred care.
Susan’s experience as a mother and a hospital
employee gives her a unique understanding of what families and staff might need in the new hospital. Her daughter,
Brenna, who passed away in September 1997, was treated at
Children’s for a rare genetic disease called Batten Disease.
Susan is the lead parent and one of the staff involved in a
series of meetings called 3P events (referring to production,
preparation and process). In the 3P events, which began last
September, BC Children’s Hospital staff, physicians, nurses
and parents – including Susan, who brings a “family voice”
and promotes family-centred care – look at the way the
hospital currently operates and explore ways in which the
new facility can better meet the needs of children and their
families. “Everyone has an equal voice at the meetings,” says
Susan, who also consults with other patient families to ensure
she can give a representative opinion in the meetings.
10 speaking of children spring 2011
“The sessions are not meant to provide beall, end-all solutions. Instead, they are meant
to raise issues for discussion and, if necessary, further study to arrive at answers
that drive the best design outcomes,” says
Carolyn Baldridge, manager, Communications
& Stakeholder Relations of the BC Children’s
and BC Women’s Redevelopment Project. “The
primary focus is to create a facility that reflects the
patient- and family-centred care philosophy.”
Looking at the distances travelled within the current facility, for example, it becomes clear that certain programs
and amenities should be adjacent to each other to reduce
the amount of travel for patients and caregivers in the new
hospital. A possible solution is to use high-speed elevators
to move people vertically, rather than horizontally across a
vast expanse of space, which will ultimately speed care and
improve efficiency.
“The main benefit is that people who are in direct contact
with patients are involved and they bring a different set of
eyes to the design,” says Baldridge.
The Michael Cuccione
Childhood Cancer
Research Program
On the 10th anniversary of Michael Cuccione’s
passing, his family and the foundation he
created are raising $5 million to support
childhood cancer research and name the
Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research
Program at the Child & Family Research
Institute (CFRI). The announcement on January
11, 2011, was attended by Michael’s family
– parents Domenic, Gloria, siblings Sophia
and Steven – as well as Michael Cuccione
Foundation board members and 150 guests.
“We’re proud to build on Michael’s legacy
with this commitment for the children who
battle cancer,” says Gloria Cuccione. “Since
Michael passed away we’ve seen tremendous
progress in the treatment for childhood
cancers thanks to the amazing research team
that we support. Even so, cancer still claims
the lives of far too many children, and our
fight continues.” Michael Cuccione was only
16 when he passed away due to respiratory
illness resulting from complications related
to his cancer treatment. He was a singer,
songwriter, dancer, motivational speaker and,
most of all, an activist who was dedicated to
raising awareness and funds for childhood
cancer research.
This $5-million commitment will help the CFRI
to recruit two new cancer researchers and
provide salaries for all the program researchers,
and builds on more than $5 million that the
Michael Cuccione Foundation has given to
childhood cancer research at the CFRI over
the past 15 years. For more information visit
www.childhoodcancerresearch.org.
Coming in summer 2011, the Wills, Estates and Succession Act of British
Columbia will fundamentally alter the way wills are prepared and how
estates are administered in BC. One of the most significant changes is the
technical requirements for making a will. Currently a will is only valid if it
is in writing and signed at the end by the person making the will in front
of two witnesses (both present at the same time). Both witnesses must
also sign it in the presence of the person making the will. Each year, many
people prepare their own wills or use will “kits” and don’t meet these
requirements, rendering the will invalid even though their intentions
might be reasonably obvious.
The new act outlines the same requirements above but states the court
may exercise its discretion in certain circumstances. The act allows the
court to determine that any document or record is a will of the deceased
regardless of the technical requirements if, in the opinion of the court, it
represents the intentions of the deceased. The language is so exceptionally broad that it would appear to include many records or documents
that may represent the intentions of a person but were not intended to
be binding – notes taken by an advisor at an estate planning meeting,
emails, voicemails, letters or even thoughts recorded casually on the back
of a cocktail napkin!
While the new law aims to help in situations where intentions are clear
and the technical formalities are not met, the door is also opened for
challenges to validly executed wills. For example, it may be possible for
an individual to challenge a valid will with handwritten notes or emails
that the deceased sent to a friend or family member. The new legislation
will not invalidate wills made before it comes into effect, but it will apply
to existing wills, so you may want to seek legal advice and discuss your
plans with your family to ensure your wishes are upheld.
HOW TO REACH OUR EXPERT TEAM
CARY GAYMOND, CFRE
Director of Philanthropy
[email protected] or 604-875-2637
spring 2011 speaking of children
11
miracle weekend
THE MIRACLE WEEKEND
SUPERHERO TEAM
0 2 at
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5 Epm
NUJ DNA
Tune in Saturday, June 4, at 7 pm through Sunday, June1 15,
H T 4 JEUNN
JUUEJN4ET H
4 TAH NADNJ D
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2 ,0 1210 1 1
Mr. John Ridley, Chair, 2011 Miracle Weekend, Global BC
Mr. Atish Ram, Zindagi TV
Dr. Erik Skarsgard, BC Children’s Hospital
Mr. Raymond Li, RBC
Ms. Neena Arora, Roger’s Chocolates
Mr. Todd Nadon, HSBC
Ms. Suzanne Trusdale, TELUS
2011 BC Children’s Hospital Miracle Weekend on Global BC
Message from the Chair: Team Effort
I am thrilled to be leading the 2011 BC Children’s Hospital
Miracle Weekend as chair. I know well that Miracle Weekend is much like a sport and is every bit a team effort.
Looking at the volunteer team we have assembled this
year, I can say with confidence that I am blessed with the
best starting lineup anyone could ask for.
I’ve been involved with BC Children’s for many years, on the
sidelines of the Miracle Weekend broadcast, while working at Global BC. More recently, I have had the privilege
of being part of the first string of fundraising volunteers
on the Miracle Weekend executive team. It has been an
incredible experience getting to know the corporate and
community volunteer leaders who have been reaching
unbelievable goals year after year.
I encourage all British Columbians to join our team, and to
support the urgent needs of BC Children’s Hospital, Sunny
Hill Health Centre for Children and the Child & Family
Research Institute. There are endless ways to give: from
participating in enormously successful events like Jeans
Day™ and Slo-Pitch, to starting your own local fundraising, or giving at the register when you’re shopping.
With a province-wide team like ours, I know we will be able to give patients and families across BC the winning goal they deserve.
Go team!
John Ridley, Global BC
Chair, 2011 BC Children’s Hospital Miracle Weekend
On Thursday, April 28, British
Columbians are invited to join lapel
pin sponsor, Pacific Blue Cross, and
schools program sponsor, Odlum
Brown Limited, to support the 21st
year of Jeans Day™. Purchase a $20 lapel pin or
a $5 Jeans Day™ button and wear jeans to work
or school to support BC Children’s Hospital. Get
your pins and buttons at Thrifty Foods, London Drugs, Save-On-Foods, Overwaitea Foods,
PriceSmart Foods, Cooper’s Foods, Urban Fare
and Costco Wholesale or call 604-875-2444.
Batters up! Come out and hit
some fundraising homeruns
at the 21st annual Slo-Pitch
event at Softball City in South
Surrey on May 27, 28, and 29.
Bring the kids and visit the Aldergrove Financial
Group KidZone on site. Register your corporate team today and join the 70 or more teams
12 speaking of children spring 2011
In early 2007, our son Colton was a healthy,
happy six-year-old boy. But within a few weeks,
he was on life support. Colton had what started
out like a flu, but soon his heart was compromised, and he was in the Pediatric Intensive Care
Unit (PICU) at BC Children’s Hospital.
that step up to the plate every year to raise over
$400,000 for BC’s kids. With a little friendly
competition, teams can easily raise more than
the minimum $3,000 each to benefit BC’s children. Go to bat at www.bcchf.ca/slopitch.
Join us Sunday, May 29, for the
13th annual A World of Smiles
Telethon benefiting BC Children’s Hospital and the South
Asian community on Shaw
Multicultural Channel (cable 119), Shaw Direct
(channel 299) and your local Shaw TV channel.
The event is the result of more than a decade of
partnership between Shaw and the South Asian
community, and has raised over $3 million for
BC’s kids. Contact Gloria Cameron at [email protected] or 604-875-2519.
The 2011 Chinese-Canadian Miracle Weekend
launches in mid-April with a variety of commun-
ity activities, culminating on Saturday, June 4,
with a telethon on Fairchild Television from
8 pm to 11 pm, and radiothons on Fairchild Radio
AM1470 and CHMB AM1320, from 9 am onward.
The Chinese-Canadian community is raising
$5 million to name the Oncology Inpatient Unit
in the new hospital. Contact Kitty Cheung at
[email protected] or 604-875-2513.
Register today for the
26th annual ChildRun
presented by the Wilson Family and join the fight against childhood
cancer on Sunday, June 5. The third largest run
in Vancouver, ChildRun inspires participants to
raise funds for childhood cancer research and
programs at BC Children’s Hospital. ChildRun
will host runners and walkers on scenic fiveand one-kilometre routes, followed by a carnival
celebration. Register for this can’t-miss event at
www.childrun.com.
Colton spent 100 days in the PICU, and fortunately, he remembers the good times – the
nurses who went beyond the call of duty to keep
his spirits up, many of whom he still remembers
fondly to this day.
One of the things people continually ask
us is what it was like having to go through 100
days in the PICU. We can tell you that there is
absolutely nothing in life that is even remotely
comparable. Being told our son is dying, time
and again, and watching him suffer is far worse
than anyone can possibly imagine. It truly is a
miracle that Colton survived, and rebounded to
be a typically healthy boy.
Colton is a very generous person who sincerely wants to help BC Children’s Hospital. Our
MIRACLE WEEKEND EXECUTIVE
family was given the unique opportunity this
year to represent BC Children’s Hospital through
the Champions Program presented by Walmart.
When I asked Colton why he wanted to be the
Champion Child, he responded by saying: “So I
can help build a new hospital.”
As part of our time as the Champion family,
we were able to visit Ottawa, Toronto and Disney World with 11 other families representing
Canada’s pediatric hospitals. One of the highlights in Ottawa was meeting our new Governor
General David Johnston and also Olympic gold
medalists Heather Moyse and Brian McKeever.
In Disney World, the Canadian Champions
were joined by the 50 American Champions, and
each of them was presented with a Champion
Child medal. We are grateful to Walmart and
Children’s Miracle Network for making this trip
possible.
We are looking forward to being part of the
many fundraising activities this spring, and we
are especially looking forward to attending Miracle Weekend. I encourage everyone to tune in
on June 4 and 5 to Global BC to learn more about
what happens every day inside Children’s Hospital. Without this place, we wouldn’t have Colton
with us today, and we’ll be forever grateful to the
care team that saved our son, and our family.
Sincerely,
Kelly and Julie Boechler
To watch the video of Colton’s story go to www.bcchf.ca/colton.
Sadly, but with admiration, we remember Megan McNeil.
Megan, an aspiring singer and songwriter among her many talents,
served as a guest host on our Miracle Weekend broadcast last year.
She was a source of inspiration to many and bravely spoke out about
her own battle with childhood cancer. Megan was an incredible young
woman with a unique energy that she passed along to everyone
MIRACLE WEEKEND FUNDRAISING CABINET
Mr. Stephen Gardner, Banks Committee, Chair, BMO
Mr. Alex Fan, Banks Committee, Vice-Chair, CIBC
Ms. Jennifer Black, ChildRun, Co-Chair, Charles Dickens
Elementary School
Ms. Kendra Penrose, ChildRun, Co-Chair, ActiveState Software Inc.
Ms. Philomena Wong, Chinese-Canadian Committee, Co-Chair,
TD Canada Trust
Ms. Tina Tam, Chinese-Canadian Committee, Co-Chair, SRTK Tam
Kurozumi
Ms. Venita Kwan, Chinese-Canadian Committee, Vice-Chair
Ms. Rebecca Chan, Chinese-Canadian Committee, Vice-Chair,
Modern Beauty Centre
Mr. Nicholas Gandossi, Hospitality & Restaurants Committee,
Chair, Opus Hotel
Mrs. Ilda Brazinha, Jeans Day™, Chair, BMO
Ms. Cynthia Curll, Jeans Day™, Vice-Chair, BC Hydro
Mr. Colin Joudrie, Mining Committee, Chair, Teck Resources Limited
Mr. Laurie Schmidt, Real Estate & Development Committee, Chair,
Brook & Associates
Mr. George Crowhurst, Real Estate & Development Committee,
Vice-Chair, BC Hydro
Mr. Calvin Johnson, Retail & Wholesale Committee, Chair,
Costless Express
Mr. Mike Slipec, Slo-Pitch, Chair, RBC
Mr. Aaron Stewardson, Slo-Pitch, Vice-Chair, Maynards
Mr. Atish Ram, South Asian Community, Chair, Zindagi TV
Mrs. Mandy Ram, South Asian Community, Vice-Chair, Terasen Gas
Mrs. Darcy Sandhu, South Asian Community, Vice-Chair
MIRACLE WEEKEND OPERATIONS CABINET
Mr. David Rooney, Catering Committee, Co-Chair, Neptune Food
Service
Ms. Nia Vekris, Catering Committee, Co-Chair, Sun Rich Foods
Mrs. Carolyn Davies, Donations Management Committee,
Chair, RBC
Ms. Christina Papadimitriou, Guest Services, Chair, CFUN
Ms. Nicole Victor, Logistics Committee, Chair
Miss Brina Soni, Play Area, Chair
Ms. Donna Blaker, Presentations Committee, Co-Chair,
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
Ms. Karen Williams, Presentations Committee, Co-Chair, BC
Children’s Hospital Foundation
Mr. John Chandler, Registration, Chair, Alandale Training
Mrs. Carol Miller, Telephones Management Committee, Co-Chair
Mrs. Helen Roelofsen, Telephones Management Committee,
Co-Chair
Ms. Lisa Stirling, TELUS Phones Committee, Chair, TELUS
COMMUNITIES FOR KIDS
Ms. Angela Bushey, Chair, North Okanagan
Mrs. Barbara-Anne Kalugin, Co-Chair, Port Alberni
Mr. Steve Kalugin, Co-Chair, Port Alberni
Mr. Rick Mintz, Co-Chair, Prince George
Mr. John Abbott, Co-Chair, Prince George
Mrs. Emma Irwin, Chair, Sooke
Mr. Casey Hillton, Chair, Upper Fraser Valley
Ms. Corleen McNolty, Co-Chair, Vanderhoof
Ms. Michelle Roberge, Co-Chair, Vanderhoof
who came in contact with her. She will be greatly missed.
spring 2011 speaking of children
13
what’s on
speaking of people
5
6
Auctionmart
This year, during the ninth annual AuctionMart online auction, hosted by the Province
and the Vancouver Sun newspapers, bidders
will gain great deals on their favourite merchandise while helping BC’s kids. AuctionMart
runs from April 9 to 18. Ten per cent of net proceeds from AuctionMart – the largest auction
in the world – will be donated to BC Children’s
Hospital Foundation to support the Campaign
for BC Children. Register as a bidder today at
www.vancouversun.com/auctions.
2
1
Crystal Ball
The 24th annual Crystal Ball, presented by The
Radcliffe Foundation, raised over $1 million for
the Campaign for BC Children. The Crystal Ball
committee, led by chair Diane Norton, treated guests to the delectable culinary creations
of Four Seasons’ executive chef Oliver Beckert,
perfectly paired with wines from Mission Hill
Family Estate. The event was made possible by
Crystal Sponsors Canaccord Financial, The Keg
Steakhouse & Bar, New Gold Inc. and Peninsula
Merchant Syndications Corp., as well as Crystal
In-Kind Sponsors the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, MVKA Productions and Contac Services.
Visit www.bcchf.ca/crystalball.
2010 Holiday Tea
On December 9, over 350 donors, volunteers
and supporters of BC Children’s Hospital
attended the 2010 Holiday Tea at the Four
Seasons Hotel Vancouver. This invitation-only
afternoon event celebrates and recognizes
the generosity and support of the Hospital’s
Children’s Circle of Care, Circle of Courage and
Caring for the Future Society members every
14 speaking of children spring 2011
3
year. The Holiday Tea is an opportunity to
honour the caring individuals who support BC
Children’s Hospital and to share the hospital’s
latest news, medical advancements and other
activities. Sincere thanks to the Four Seasons
Hotel Vancouver for making this event possible.
Photos of the event can be viewed at www.
flickr.com/photos/bcchf/.
A Night of Miracles
The 2nd annual A Night of Miracles, held November 13 at the Marriot Vancouver Pinnacle
Downtown and presented by Fasken Martineau,
raised $300,000 toward a Vivid 7 ultrasound
machine and the Campaign for BC Children.
Event chair Robin Dhir and the advisory and
cabinet committees welcomed and treated
400 guests, primarily from the South Asian
community, to an evening of amazing entertainment and delicious culinary experiences.
The event was made possible by VIP Sponsors BMW, Faronics and HSBC; Entertainment
Sponsor KTL Transport; and Evening Sponsor
Nature’s Path.
4
Partylite
Partylite Gifts Ltd. has raised close to $350,000
for BC Children’s Hospital over the years. One
dollar from the sale of every PartyLite ‘Miracles’ Jar Candle goes to the Children’s Miracle
Network and the 12 Canadian hospitals for
which it raises funds. Tracie Graham, vice president, Sales, PartyLite Canada, said: “Attending
the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration in
Orlando always brings home the importance
of our partnership with this incredible organization and the true difference we make. It
was an honour to meet the amazing Champion
kids and their families, and it underscored the
opportunity we have to help so many more children in the future.”
Cares for Kids Campaign
The first annual BC Safety Authority (BCSA)
Cares for Kids campaign raised over $46,450
for BC Children’s Hospital. More than 130
employees contributed over $36,000 through
employee giving, online auctions and merchandise sales while the BCSA executive office
provided a corporate match of $10,000. At
7
the campaign kick-off on October 15, employees from across the province embraced the
fun of the “Wear Your PJs to Work Day” theme
and proudly showed off their colourful PJs and
stuffed animals while demonstrating their support for BC Children’s Hospital.
Festival of Trees
The 24th annual Festival of Trees Vancouver,
presented by Union Securities, was again a tremendous success. Corporate and community
participants raised over $148,000 for the Campaign for BC Children. The trees were again
on display at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and Pacific Centre. Visitors voted for their
favourite tree and the People’s Choice Award
went to the Stan Clark Financial Team CIBC
Wood Gundy.
The 19th annual Victoria Festival of Trees,
hosted by the Fairmont Empress, again broke
its previous year’s record with $111,026 raised
for BC Children’s Hospital. The Port Alberni
Community for Kids committee upped the
ante this year as well with a fundraising total
of $21,136 and the Sooke Community for Kids
committee also increased their fundraising
total, raising $3,300 for BC’s kids. The Osoyoos
Festival of Trees joined the event for their first
time and raised $4,947.
Mother’s Day Weekend
Photos (from left): 1 Crystal Ball committee chair Diane
Norton and past chair of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors Graham MacLachlan; 2 PartyLite
Canada independent consultants April Cardinal and
Sherry Waldroff with Colton Boechler and his family at
the 2010 Children’s Miracle Network Orlando Celebration;
3&4 Guests at the 2010 Holiday Tea; 5 Global BC’s Jill Krop
and Diane Norton at the Crystal Ball; 6 BCSA COO & CEO
designate Catherine Roome and president & CEO Harry
Diemer, Cares for Kids campaign committee co-chairs
Gerald Childress and Donna Vernon, BCSA vice president
Human Resources Diane Sullivan, and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation staff Kaman Ng and Cary Gaymond; 7 A
Night of Miracles committee chair Robin Dhir, MLA Kevin
Falcon, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation vice president
and COO Knut Nordlie and BC Children’s Hospital vice
Treat your mom and help support
BC’s kids through the Caring à la
Carte Campaign on May 7 and 8.
Visit bcchf.ca/main/Hospitality for
participating locations.
president, Patient Care Services, Barb Fitzimmons.
spring 2011 speaking of children
15
healthy habits
salty
or
sweet?
You are what you eat
When it comes to knowing how much salt and sugar is in
a healthy diet, everyone seems to have an opinion.
Find out if your child is eating too much, or just enough,
of those little white granules.
A little bit is fine, but too much sugar and salt
can lead to serious health problems in children.
Too much sugar can cause tooth decay and may
lead to an overconsumption of calories that
contributes to obesity and diabetes. But excessive salt can cause problems too. Salt – or sodium – has been linked to an increase in childhood kidney stones and high blood pressure in
children as young as 13.
Putting away the salt shaker isn’t enough.
Most of the sodium in our diets comes from
packaged foods and ready-made snacks. Be
sure to check all labels for sodium and choose
the low-sodium option whenever possible. Or,
better yet, prepare nutritious meals at home. If
time is short during the workweek, try making
a big batch of salt-free food to serve during the
weekdays or after work.
too MUCH salt!
WHy so sWeet?
Salt consumption is a growing concern in Canada – and for good reason. It has been identified as the culprit responsible for high blood
pressure in growing numbers of children. A
survey from Statistics Canada in 2004 found
that 90 per cent of kids from four to eight years
old ate more salt than is safely recommended
for adults!
Toddlers too, were consuming nearly twice
the daily maximum serving of salt for their
size. A child one to three years old should eat
only 1,000 milligrams of salt a day; the national
average for that age is 1,900 milligrams – almost double the recommended amount.
Many processed foods, even the seemingly
healthy ones, contain extremely high levels of
sodium. Tomato sauce, canned soups, Cheerios
and cottage cheese are among the top-ranking
offenders alongside salty snacks like potato
chips and pizza. Even baby food can be loaded
with salt to preserve and mask the flavour of
otherwise bland food.
The World Health Organization recommends
that no more than 10 per cent of our calories
should come from added sugars. For children,
this can be as little as 10 teaspoons a day. Some
drinks, like pop and punch, may contain that
much sugar in one can.
In addition to sugary foods replacing essential vitamins and minerals, children who sip
or graze on sweets are at a higher risk for tooth
decay. That’s why it’s wise to never let your
baby go to sleep with a bottle of anything except water. Both milk and juice are full of sugar
which, especially at night, pools in the mouth of
the child and causes tooth decay.
Fruit juice has some of the nutritional
benefits of fruit, but children should have fruit
more often than juice. It’s far too easy to drink
two to four pieces of fruit’s worth of juice and
consume too many calories. When children eat
a piece of fruit, they get all of its vitamins, minerals and fibre.
by Tara Turner
for more information visit
Test your
salt & sugar
knowledge
1. What is the recommended safe
daily sodium – or salt – intake
amount for children aged four to
13 years old?
a. 1,000mg b. 1,200 mg
c. 1,500 mg d. 1,300 mg
2. Approximately how much sodium
does the average four- to eightyear-old Canadian child consume
each day?
a. 800 mg
b. 1,200 mg
c. 1,900 mg d. 2,700 mg
3. Which words on the label or
ingredient list indicate 100 per
cent pure juice with no sugar
added?
a. 100% juice
b. Drink or blend
c. Contains/made with 100% juice
d. All of the above
4. What is the main contributing
factor for obesity in children?
a. Diabetes
b. Sugar and salt
c. Overconsumption of calories
and decreasing activity
d. All of the above
The Centre for Healthy Weights: Shapedown BC at BC Children’s Hospital
www.bcchildrens.ca/KidsTeensFam/HealthyWeights/Services/ShapedownBC
604-875-2345 Ext. 5984
16 speaking of children spring 2011
Answer key: 1b; 2d; 3a; 4c.
spring 2011 speaking of children
17
what’s up, doc?
children speak
Bindy Sweett
Child Life Specialist
faMily / PersoNal PiCtUre
I am the parent of a grown son, who is the love my life. My
daughter Laura died at age four, and was a Children’s Hospital patient. My experience with her helped me understand
the family’s perspective, and it was the catalyst for my Child
Life career.
WHat yoU’d Never KNoW aBoUt Me
Dear Children’s Hospital ...
Christina Harisch, a 24-year-old teacher in Salmon
Arm, spent nine weeks in the hospital as a child.
She writes about her experience as a patient at
BC Children’s Hospital below.
I was the BC women’s trapshooting champion (clay pigeons).
WHy i BeCaMe a CHild life sPeCialist
I knew I loved working with young children and I was looking for a more stable life for my son. I always liked working
with kids who were more challenging.
HoBBies
I am a voracious reader and a winter sports junky, especially
with figure skating. I also love cooking, spending time with
my friends and collecting beach glass near my new Vancouver Island home.
BeHiNd tHe stetHosCoPe
seCret faNtasy
For the past 22 years I have been a child life specialist at BC
Children’s Hospital. For most of my career I have worked with
cardiac patients and their families. As a child life specialist
I help kids and families cope with hospitalization, treatment
and illness, and this is often done through play.
I used to dream of being a puppeteer with Jim Henson.
I would have loved to have operated Miss Piggy.
CHild HealtH traiNiNg
I have worked in early childhood education and completed
my child and youth care degree at the University of Victoria.
if i didN’t Have to WorK
Now that I am officially retired, I can do many of the things
that I’ve always wanted to do. I am still keeping my passion
for child health close as I am serving on the board of the
Children’s Heart Network.
PHilosoPHy
Why use a map, just drive until you get there, and enjoy
the ride. When you get stuck on a bridge, look at the mountains.
WHat i’M readiNg NoW
The Dark Room by Minnette Walters – one of those horrendous murder mysteries.
18 speaking of children spring 2011
roes,
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Christina and her parents, Bill and Norma Harisch.
Do you have a story about
BC Children’s Hospital to tell?
Please submit your Miracle Kid stories to:
[email protected]
spring 2011 speaking of children
19
T HT, H2, 0 1
J U NJ UE N 5E T4HT HA ANNDD JJ UUNNEE5 6
210 1 0
Be a SUPERHERO and support
BC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
MIRACLE WEEKEND
Tune in Saturday, June 4, and
Sunday, June 5, 2011, to Global BC
www.miracleweekend.com
PM 40659514