speaking of children, spring 2013
DESCRIPTION
Spring edition of BC Children's Hospital Foundation "Speaking of Children" magazineTRANSCRIPT
spring 2013
bcchf.ca
MIRACLE WEEKEND
PREVIEW
Leading Change
ANESTHETIC CARE
TRANSPLANT & DIALYSIS
CHILD HEALTH BC
NURSE PRACTITIONERS
Close to 700 guests helped raise $1,105,986 at the For Children We Care gala, organized by the Chinese-Canadian community, on February 2 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. With the addition of $940,000 in generous multi-year pledges announced at the event, For Children We Care will have a $2-million impact on the delivery of care to BC’s children.
“I’m proud to belong to a community that is so generous and committed to the health of our children,” said Sylvia Chen. “I would like to thank all of our sponsors, volunteers and donors for their pledge of support. We owe the gala’s success to them. I encourage everyone to continue giving, so that BC’s children and families can continue to have access to the best possible medical care.”
Over its 18-year history the gala has raised over $10.6 million for BC Children’s Hospital. In the past three years alone the Chinese-Canadian community raised $5 million to support the construction of the Oncology Inpatient Unit in the new Children’s Hospital.
superhero news
2 speaking of children spring 2013
Earlier this year, the Milan & Maureen
Ilich Foundation donated $5 million
toward construction of the new BC
Children’s Hospital and, specifically, to
support the creation of a Cardiac Inten-
sive Care Unit and enhance care for
children with heart disease. The gift
brings the total raised in the Campaign
for BC Children to $162 million.
“Milan and Maureen Ilich were the first
million-dollar individual donors to the
Campaign for BC Children,” said Teri
Nicholas, president and CEO of BC Chil-
dren’s Hospital Foundation. “This recent
gift from the Milan & Maureen Ilich
Foundation signifies their unwaver-
ing commitment to the health of BC’s
children and builds on the tremendous
legacy they have already left for BC’s
children.”
Caregivers in the new Cardiac Inten-
sive Care Unit will provide specialized,
round-the-clock care to children with
complex heart conditions. The construc-
tion of this unit will place BC Children’s
Hospital among the few hospitals in
North America with an area in the Pedi-
atric Intensive Care Unit dedicated to
serving children with heart problems.
The Milan & Maureen Ilich Foundation
gift will also support the hiring of a nurse
practitioner who will help care for chil-
dren recovering from heart surgery,
and the immediate purchase of life-sav-
ing equipment used in the care of these
children in the current hospital. In 2012
alone doctors at BC Children’s Hospi-
tal performed 187 open-heart surgeries
on children, half of whom were under a
year old.
Milan & Maureen Ilich Foundation give to the heart
For Children We Care
From left: Teri Nicholas, For Children We Care chair Sylvia Chen, Sandy So, vice-chair Michael Lam, past chair Ludia Li with committee members and guests.
Maureen and Milan Ilich.
6
spring 2013 speaking of children 3
www.bcchf.ca
MANAGING EDITORStephen Forgacs
EDITORTara Turner
CONTRIBUTORS Mona Bhullar, Chantel Canessa,
Alissa Collingridge, Angela Crowther, Kerry Gold, Rebecca Keillor, Minna Miller, Susan Shumay,
Janice Williams
PHOTOGRAPHYIrvin Cheung, C&W Media Services,
James LaBounty, Rob Lyons
ART DIRECTORGabriele Chaykowski
PROJECT MANAGER Casey Crawford
PRODUCED BY
For more information about the editorial content of Speaking of Children or to make a donation
to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation or Sunny Hill Foundation for Children,
please contact 604-875-2444, toll-free at 1-888-663-3033
Charitable Business Number: 11885 2433 RR0001
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, 938 West 28th Avenue,
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to SOC Editor at address above.
Speaking of Children is published three times annually by BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Supporters who donate $50 or more receive a
one-year subscription to the magazine, which is also distributed to government officials, public
health units and libraries throughout the province.
Publication sales agreement #40659514
spring 2013
inside speaking of children
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation raises funds for Children’s Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for
Children and the Child & Family Research Institute.
A PUBLICATION OF
10
MIRACLE WEEKEND
PREVIEW
features6
8
10
Promising privacy Private rooms will make anesthetic care easier for families.
Leading the wayThe gift of a kidney changes a seven-year-old’s life.
Setting new standardsChild Health BC sets the bar for cerebral palsy and hip care.
superhero news
well said
caring for the future
speaking of people
what’s on
healthy habits
what’s up, doc?
children speak
24
111213 161819
departments
14
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10
well said
BC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Board of Directors 2013 as of January 31, 2013
Mr. Kevin Bent, Chair
Mr. David Doig
Mr. Larry Gold
Mr. Doug Gordon
Mrs. Lisa Hudson
Mrs. Tammi Kerzner
Mr. Donald Lindsay
Mr. Graham MacLachlan
Mr. Bjorn Moller
Mr. Geoff Parkin
Dr. Erik Skarsgard
Ms. Andrea Southcott
Ms. Sandy So
Mrs. Diane Zell
Foundation Executive
Teri Nicholas, MSW, RSWPresident & CEO
Linda Muller, MBAVice-President & Chief Philanthropy Officer
Knut Nordlie, CFREVice-President & Chief Operating Officer
Debora Sweeney, CFREVice-President & Chief Strategy Officer
4 speaking of children spring 2013
This April marks the fifth anniversary of the
launch of the Campaign for BC Children. As chair
of the campaign, I am pleased with our achieve-
ments of the past five years and excited about
concluding the campaign in the year ahead. We
are now in the final leg of fundraising to support
the construction of a new BC Children’s Hospi-
tal and improve access to pediatric care services
throughout the province. It has been a long haul,
but our success to date is testament to both the
importance of our mission and the incredible
dedication of our donors and friends. To date,
more than 70,000 individuals and organizations
have collectively contributed over $162 million
toward our $200-million campaign goal.
It is remarkable to me that so many people across BC and the Yukon have acted
independently and yet together to bring about positive change for our children. Clearly
this opportunity to effect change is inspiring people to join us.
For the past five years, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation has essentially been engaged
in two campaigns: our annual Miracle Weekend, which meets the annual and urgent
funding priorities of the hospital and the Child & Family Research Institute, and our cam-
paign to support the construction of the new hospital. Miracle Weekend ensures children
receive excellent care today. The Campaign for BC Children, on the other hand, is aimed
at addressing the needs of children tomorrow and those of future generations. Both cam-
paigns are worthy and necessary, and they make your support all the more important.
As we strive to complete the Campaign for BC Children, we are asking all British
Columbians to give. We are looking to you, our friends and supporters, to help us spread
the word of this great need and important cause. With your help we can achieve our goal
and build a hospital we can be proud of. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a part of
creating a new BC Children’s Hospital and a legacy for future generations. You hold the
power to lead this change.
I look forward to celebrating the day when we meet our goal and to watching as the new
hospital takes shape.
Thank you,
Don LindsayChair, The Campaign for BC Children
President & CEO, Teck Resources Limited
Looking back, moving forward
spring 2013 speaking of children 5
As medicine and technology evolve, we are seeing more and
more changes in the way health care is delivered. But there
is one thing that remains the same: our determination
to ensure all of BC’s children get the absolute best care,
whenever and wherever they need it.
With the construction of a new BC Children’s Hospital in
the near future, the landscape of the hospital site will be
revitalized, as will the practices that take place within it.
From the children and families who come to the hospital to
the caregivers, donors and policy makers, we can all play a
role in the coming transformation in child health care.
In this issue of Speaking of Children, you will read about
some of the people and programs that make BC Children’s
Hospital great. Learn how children in the new hospital
will benefit from revolutionary anesthetic care, enhanced
pediatric kidney transplant and dialysis programs, and
innovative standards for province-wide care. These are
just a few of the many leading changes being made possible
with your support.
6 speaking of children fall 2012
feature story
For kids going into or coming out of surgery, having a private room can be the difference between having a traumatic experience and a positive one.
by KERRY GOLD
The Tees-DeBeyer brothers.
spring 2013 speaking of children 7
If there’s a moment when we crave
privacy the most, it’s when we are sick.
That fact isn’t lost on BC Children’s
Hospital pediatric anesthesiologist,
Dr. Eleanor Reimer (right). Dr. Reimer
understands that family privacy is an
essential part of treatment, which is why
patients will have private rooms and bath-
rooms when the new BC Children’s Hospital
is finished and ready for occupancy in 2018.
“It shouldn’t be traumatic. That’s the goal of what we do,”
says Dr. Reimer. “We make sure they wake up with familiar
things around them, and as pain-free as we can make them.
When they wake, it should be, ‘this is wonderful. I’m done.’”
Dr. Reimer is the co-chair of the Integrated Project Delivery
Team, so she was one of the physician representatives who
spent nearly a year working with a life-size cardboard model
of the new hospital floor plan, determining the best flow of
its rooms, floor by floor.
In the new Anesthetic care Unit, the same nurses will pro-
vide pre-operative and post-operative care. When patients
currently go in for surgery, they are transferred between staff
and along hallways to different departments. They go from
surgical day care to the first-stage recovery room, then either
to the ward, or back to the day care area to be discharged,
depending on how they are doing.
“We thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great if kids came in for surgery
and into the same unit they would return to after surgery,
and not be moved around?’” says Dr. Reimer.
Dr. Reimer is especially empathetic to kids’ privacy because
she was treated for a chronic bone infection as a child.
She recalls the indignity of being examined in corridors.
“I remember being very humiliated. People don’t recog-
nize that children need privacy and respect. We forget it.”
The added privacy and streamlined care will improve the
lives of the Tees-DeBeyer brothers, Malcolm, 12, William,
8, and James, 4, who have been frequent visitors to BC
Children’s Hospital since they were born. Dr. Reimer is one of
the doctors who has watched the boys’ progress as they’ve
undergone regular surgeries to treat congenital scoliosis,
which has caused their spines to curve. In order to help with
breathing and allow the boys to lead a normal life, each
boy has had a titanium rib implanted to
straighten the spine and expand the ribs.
First used in the United States, Malcolm
was the first to have the procedure in
BC. The implant, called a vertical expand-
able prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR), is
adjusted by their orthopedic surgeon, Dr.
Christopher Reilly, every six months or so, as
the boys grow. Each adjustment requires day
surgery, and about two or three days of home
recovery, says their father, Dan DeBeyer.
Although the boys usually go home the same day, they some-
times resist having to go to the hospital yet again. To help
ease their anxiety, their parents are allowed to be in the
operating room and one of them will hold their son until the
general anesthesia takes effect.
“It’s not easy,” says Dan. “Privacy will be a nice feature
because in pre-op everyone is anxious and different people
and children react differently to surgeries,” he says. “And
parents are waiting anywhere from 15 minutes to several
hours. And it’s difficult. As much as you trust what is going
on, you are worrying about things.”
Dr. Reimer was there for Malcolm’s first procedure, when
he was just a baby. All boys were born with the condition,
which would be fatal without treatment due to pulmonary
infections, she says.
“They are all in it together,” she says. “The kids do really well.
It’s so great for me to see them through it. And believe it or
not, they don’t have huge amounts of pain because we know
what pain medication to give them ahead of time. And we’re
just making tiny incisions to adjust the internal hardware
and stretch the ribs further.”
Without the VEPTR implants, Dan says his eldest son, Mal-
colm, would probably be in a wheelchair. Instead, he’s on his
school’s basketball team. His second son, William, has run
the annual five-kilometre ChildRun.
“A good outcome for us was to have sons who have a long life
ahead of them and essentially are normal,” says Dan. “And
that is what we feel has been achieved for the boys, through
working with the hospital, and having these procedures
done.”
8 speaking of children spring 2013
feature story
For Tina Mitchell, hearing her seven-year-old son, Nathan,
say he’s hungry and ask for food still feels like something
of a miracle. In his short life he has undergone seven sur-
geries, but one in particular has made all the difference.
Diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome just before he turned
three – a condition in which damaged kidneys leak abnor-
mal amounts of protein into the urine –Nathan’s body was
painfully swollen with fluid.
After he was referred to BC Children’s Hospital’s Nephrol-
ogy Program, doctors found that a genetic condition called
focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was the cause of his
kidney problems. Within a year he was so sick he had to be
tube-fed.
“With the genetic condition they know that there’s no
treatment,” says Tina. “There’s no medicine that works
and so the disease just continually breaks down the kid-
neys until they don’t work anymore, and at that point you
need either dialysis or transplant.”
Fortunately for Nathan, transplant was an option, and his
grandmother offered to donate a kidney.
The gift of a kidney from his grandmother has changed the course of seven-year-old Nathan Mitchell’s life.
by REBECCA KEILLOR
spring 2013 speaking of children 9
“I think maybe the right word for how we felt when we heard
my mom was a suitable donor is overjoyed,” says Tina. “It was
really hard as parents to know we were not suitable donors
because we are carriers of the gene that caused Nathan’s
kidney disease. And the fact that she could give him what we
couldn’t – a second chance at life – we are just so grateful.”
The primary care providers for children with complex kidney
disease in BC, and the second largest pediatric renal pro-
gram in Canada, BC Children’s Nephrology Program is the
only one in the hospital that regularly provides solid organ
transplants. Doctors perform an average of 10 per year, and
maintain an active transplant program with over 50 chil-
dren. The renal team includes physicians, nurses, child life
specialists, dieticians, psychologists, pharmacists and social
workers.
“I think the full team support is what sets BC Children’s apart
from other hospitals,” says Tina. “Because it’s not just about
treating the child, it’s about helping the parents understand
and including them as part of the health-care team. They
recognize that they’re dealing with parents who are scared
for their children.”
Transplants like Nathan’s are on the rise in Canada. Accord-
ing to the Canadian Institute for Health Information the
number of living kidney donors for pediatric transplantation
has quadrupled over the last 25 years. At least 90 per cent of
young patients are receiving organs from parents or other
relatives.
The difference Nathan’s transplant has made to his qual-
ity of life is indescribable, says his mother. “I remember he
was always so tired and exhausted. And after transplant this
little ball of energy would bounce into our bed and use his
fingers to pry open my eyes. He’d say ‘wake up mum,’ and it
was just so weird for me to see him up so early and have all
this energy. It was just such an absolute joy.”
These days, Nathan can attend school, ride a bike, do gym-
nastics or dance if he wishes. “I feel like I’m getting to see the
kid he would have been had he not gone through all of this,”
says Tina.
Transplants are not a complete cure. At some stage in the
future, Nathan will need another one and potentially dialy-
sis too.
Referred to as “life-sustaining therapy” by BC Children’s dir-
ector of dialysis, Dr. Colin White, dialysis does the job of the
kidneys when they are no longer able to manage the salts,
water and poisons that build up in the bloodstream. For
children who are too sick to undergo transplant surgery or
awaiting a kidney donor, the Nephrology Program’s Renal
Dialysis Unit is vital.
When the new hospital opens in 2018, families will bene-
fit from better safety measures and a more comfortable
environment for both the children having dialysis and their
parents, who spend up to 20 hours a week in the unit.
The number of children requiring dialysis in Canada is rising.
“I’d like to say we won’t need to dialyze any child in BC by
2020, but that’s not going to happen,” says Dr. White. “I think
the numbers may be going up over time because we’re get-
ting so good at taking care of very sick children.”
Nathan with his parents Jason and Tina Mitchell.
Read more about the Renal Dialysis
Unit in the new BC Children’s Hospital
at www.bcchf.ca/nathan-mitchell
feature story
10 speaking of children spring 2013
Nine-year-old Kai Gotro is healing well and, if all goes
according to plan, the rods and pins that are keeping his
thighs aligned with his hips will be taken out in September.
His grandparents Jean and Paul Gotro, who adopted Kai as
a toddler, receive this good news from pediatric orthopedic
surgeon Dr. Kishore Mulpuri during a follow-up visit at the
Orthopedic Clinic at BC Children’s.
Kai has cerebral palsy (CP) and underwent surgery twice in
2012 to repair his dislocated hips. “We could tell that Kai was
in a lot of pain and were convinced that his quality of life
would be better after surgery,” says Paul.
Dr. Mulpuri has particular expertise in hip-related disorders
and, in recent years, has set his sights on ensuring that Brit-
ish Columbian children with CP, who commonly experience
hip problems, benefit from early detection and care – avoid-
ing unnecessary pain and long-term problems.
“Because most children with CP have difficulty with muscle
tone and coordination, they’re at an increased risk of
developing hip displacement,” says Dr. Mulpuri. “Progressive
hip displacement can eventually lead to hip dislocation and
this can affect a child immensely. They experience severe
pain and discomfort, have a reduced ability to move their hip
joint, have difficulty with personal care, poor balance when
sitting and sores.”
Hip displacement occurs when the top of the thigh bone, or
femur, gradually moves out from under the socket. Hip dis-
location occurs when the bone has moved right out of the
socket. “Kai never developed proper hip sockets so both
of his hips became dislocated,” says Jean. Surgery was
necessary to relieve the pain and to alleviate Kai’s muscle
spasticity. Kai has faced a long recovery, but both grandpar-
ents feel the surgery was worthwhile.
“He was in so much pain afterward, too, but we knew it
would get better, and it did,” says Paul. “We’ve spent a lot of
time at Children’s and Sunny Hill for Kai’s rehab. The level of
care is exceptional and the level of support for the family is
amazing.”
Kai was diagnosed with CP shortly after birth. He makes
regular visits to BC Children’s Hospital and also receives care
at home in Kamloops from his community health-care team.
“A multidisciplinary team approach is essential in treating
children with complex conditions,” says Dr. Mulpuri. “I’m
grateful to the hospital’s administration for its funding and
also to physiotherapist Stacey Miller for her work in building
the multidisciplinary team at BC Children’s Orthopedic Cere-
bral Palsy Clinic.”
Child Health BC raises the bar in caring for kids with cerebral palsy.
by MONA BHULLAR
Dr. Mulpuri shows Paul Gotro an X-ray of Kai’s hips.
Kai Gotro during a visit to BC Children’s Hospital.
spring 2013 speaking of children 11
To request our Guide to Giving booklet or learn more about
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, please contact the
Gift & Estate Planning Team at [email protected]
or 604-875-2444 or 1-888-663-3303.
More than half of British Columbians who die each year do not have a
will. This means provincial legislation decides who gets what and who
takes responsibility for underage children. Procrastination and being
overwhelmed are the most common reasons for not having a will. Here
are the top five things to help you in your estate planning:
1. Who’s in charge? Appoint an executor or executrix to look after
your estate. He or she should be your age or younger and aware of this
role. Choose a family member, friend or – if your family or estate are
complicated – consider a trust corporation or lawyer.
2. Minor children. For children under the age of 19 you must appoint
a guardian in case both parents die. Though unlikely, this is the most
important reason to have a will. A guardian should be the best person to
care for your children other than you. Remember that a will can always be
revised as your lives change.
3. Don’t worry about your stuff. Don’t get bogged down thinking about
who gets your personal/household items. Often the best solution is to
include a short list of beneficiaries for meaningful items (jewelry, art, car
etc.) and let the executor do the rest.
4. Who gets what? If you’re married or common law it’s simple –
everything can go to your spouse; when you’re both gone, everything goes
to your children or family, equally. If your situation is more complicated
with a second marriage or an estranged child, for example, a lawyer
experienced in estate planning can explain your options.
5. Giving back. Leaving a gift to charity is a meaningful way to give
back and can be a practical way to limit taxes on your estate. Including a
bequest or residual gift requires planning and starts with knowing what is
important to you.
The bottom line: A will reduces future complications. Seek legal and/or
financial advice from professionals to avoid headaches for your executor
and family. Your will doesn’t have to be perfect – you can always change it
– but having a will is always better than the alternative!
caring for the future
Top five things to consider before writing your will
To reduce and prevent the incidence of
hip dislocation, Dr. Mulpuri is taking the
lead in creating a province-wide hip sur-
veillance program for children with CP.
Child Health BC – a Children’s Hospi-
tal initiative aimed at improving access
to child and youth health services in all
BC communities – has been instrumen-
tal in helping to facilitate discussions
among multidisciplinary stakeholders
across the province. These stakeholders
include staff at BC Children’s and Sunny
Hill Health Centre for Children, parents,
physiotherapists, occupational ther-
apists, family physicians, policy makers
and health administrators. The group
has examined similar hip surveillance
programs in Australia and Sweden. The
incidence of hip dislocation in children
with CP has virtually been eliminated in
Sweden.
“I’m pleased that we’ve reached consen-
sus on our desire to move toward a hip
surveillance program in BC,” says Dr. Mul-
puri. “We’ve developed a framework on
the standards of care that includes the
frequency of surveillance, elements of the
radiographic and clinical exam, physio-
therapy assessment and discharge criteria.
Our goal is to improve a child’s quality of
life and reduce the need for complex sur-
gical intervention.” It’s anticipated that
Child Health BC will facilitate the rollout
of the program provincewide sometime
this year, creating the first formal North
American hip surveillance program.
Kai still has a long recovery ahead, but
Jean and Paul look forward to seeing that
recovery broaden Kai’s horizons. “We’re
hoping to get Kai back on a horse as soon
as we can. It’s such good therapy,” says
Jean.
Read more of Kai’s story at
www.bcchf.ca/kai-gotro
CRYSTAL BALLThe 26th annual Crystal Ball, presented by The
Radcliffe Foundation, raised over $1.1 million
for the Campaign for BC Children. The Crystal
Ball committee, led by chair Diane Norton, treat-
ed guests to the culinary creations of the Four
Seasons Hotel Vancouver’s executive chef Ned
Bell, perfectly paired with wines from Painted
Rock Estate Winery. The event was made pos-
sible by Crystal sponsors Canaccord Financial,
The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, New Gold Inc. and
Universal Packaging Inc., as well as Crystal In-
Kind sponsor the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver.
Visit www.bcchf.ca/crystalball
A NIGHT OF MIRACLESThe fourth annual A Night of Miracles, co-pre-
sented by Fasken Martineau and RBC, raised
over $350,000 toward the South Asian com-
munity’s five-year pledge to raise $3 million
to build an interventional radiology room in
the new Children’s Hospital. Guests enjoyed
the culinary delights of Marriott Vancouver
Pinnacle Downtown’s executive chef Frank
Gort in collaboration with Vikram Vij of Vij’s
Restaurant. The event was made possible by
VIP sponsor Faronics, Auction sponsor Odys-
sey International, Entertainment sponsor KTL
Transport and Evening sponsors Ampri Group,
Beedie Development Group, HSBC, KPMG, Law-
son Lundell, Nature’s Path, Smythe Ratcliffe
and Twin Brook Developments Ltd. A Night of
Miracles has raised over $1 million for the Cam-
paign for BC Children.
FESTIVAL OF TREESFestival of Trees Vancouver had another
successful year, raising more than $125,000.
Congratulations to “Kids 4 Kids” – the Delf
Family for winning both the Best Rookie and
People’s Choice awards, and thanks to Present-
ing sponsor Karen Wolverton / LUSH Handmade
Cosmetics, our tree sponsors and donors.
Festival of Trees on Vancouver Island
raised over $144,000 this year. Victoria brought
in $122,000, Port Alberni raised $19,200 and
Sooke raised $3,000. Thanks to all participants
for a successful season and congratulations
to the People’s Choice award winners: Super
Nurses for Superheroes (Victoria), West Coast
General Hospital Staff (Port Alberni) and Sooke
Montessori (Sooke).
ASHLEY’S COMFORT BAGSIn memory of her daughter, Ashley, Lori Lowey
and family are helping to make unexpected hos-
pital stays a little easier for families. “Ashley’s
Comfort Bags” are kits for parents who find
themselves at BC Children’s without a tooth-
12 speaking of children spring 2013
speaking of people
1 2 5
4
3
Photos (from left): 1 Casey Wright and Aaron McArthur surrounded by guests at the Crystal Ball; 2 Ashley Lowey; 3 Macquarie Group cheque presentation with Mr. and Mrs. Philip and Maggie Francis, Dr. Caron Strahlendorf, Mrs. Linda Chrystal, Mrs. Betty Kronier, Mrs. Lorraine Palmer, Mrs. Michele Cupit, Mrs. Lisa Roberts, Ms. Lani Schultz and Mr. Mike Brow; 4 Surtek Industries cheque presentation with Vijay Tharmarajah, Ian Lodewyke, Saranya Tharmarajah, Gautam Hariharan, Shamini Tharmarajah, Ravinder Khun Khun, Neel Sidhu, Tanya Linau, Suresh Absalom, Bijendra Naidu and Simi Sihota; 5 Nico and Kaitlyn Morovic celebrate with TD staff; 6 Teri Nicholas (far left) and president of BC Children’s Hospital and Sunny Hill, Larry Gold (far right) with the Auxiliary to BC Children’s Hospital president Helen Roelofsen and past presidents Phyllis Abbott, Carol Miller, Susie Isman, Marilyn Pomfret, Judy Walkey, Dee Sutherland and Daphne Cole at an event honouring the Auxiliary, which has raised over $5 million for the hospital; 7 Paul Bassan and Will Westeringh of A Night of Miracles co-presenting sponsors, RBC and Fasken Martineau respectively, with BC Children’s Hospital Foundation president & CEO Teri Nicholas, A Night of Miracles chair Robin Dhir and the Foundation’s board chair Kevin Bent; 8 Kids 4 Kids - The Delf Family tree at the Vancouver Festival of Trees.
brush, toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant and
other essentials. The family has been distribut-
ing the bags since 2009 and have been raising
funds since 2008 when then 15-year-old Ash-
ley was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
Named to honour Ashley’s life, the comfort bags
offer families a few simple comforts to help them
through trying times.
TD’S $50-MILLION MILESTONEKaitlyn and Nico Morovic of Richmond helped TD
staff at Coppersmith Plaza celebrate TD’s $50-
million milestone for funds raised for children’s
hospitals across Canada. The Morovic family is
grateful for the $9.2 million that has been direct-
ed to BC Children’s Hospital where Kaitlyn has
been treated since birth.
MACQUARIE GROUPOn December 7, Mike Brow and Philip Francis
from Macquarie Private Wealth held a luncheon
to support BC Children’s Hospital. Thanks to gen-
erous support from the Kronier and Greczmiel
families and a matching grant from the Macqua-
rie Group Foundation, $50,000 was raised for
childhood cancer research. BC Children’s is one
of 1,300 charitable causes the Macquarie Group
Foundation supports.
SURTEK CELEBRATES 25 YEARSSurtek Industries has proudly supported BC
Children’s Hospital Foundation since 2000. Last
December, to help celebrate the Surrey-based
company’s 25th year of business, Surtek Indus-
tries generously presented a $25,000 cheque to
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.
BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTSAfter four years of dedicated service, Peter
Green, vice-president Small and Medium Busi-
ness, TELUS, has resigned from the board. Peter
did a remarkable job of representing the TELUS
philosophy of “giving where you live.” The Foun-
dation is grateful for Peter’s participation on the
board as a representative of TELUS, and for his
personal commitment.
Bjorn Moller joined the Foundation’s Board
of Directors in January. Bjorn is the former pres-
ident and CEO of Teekay Corporation where
he served for more than 25 years in Denmark,
England, the USA and Canada – as president
and CEO for the last 13 years – before retiring
in 2011. He serves on the board of the Pacific
Parkinson’s Research Institute, the advisory
board of the Gustavson School of Business at
the University of Victoria and is the vice-chair of
Mulgrave School Foundation.
spring 2013 speaking of children 13
what’s on
AUCTIONMARTThis spring marks the 11th annual Auction-
Mart online auction – the largest online
auction in North America. Hosted by
The Province and the Vancouver Sun
newspapers. AuctionMart runs from April
10-15 and partial proceeds from items sold
will be donated to the Campaign for BC
Children. Register as a bidder today at
www.vancouversun.com/auctions
BATS FOR A CAUSE The fifth annual Bats for a Cause softball
tournament will take place in Kelowna at
the Mission Sports Fields on July 27 and 28.
This tournament has raised over $121,000
for BC Children’s Hospital to date and is
always a blast! For more information and to
register visit www.bcchf.ca/batsforacause
6
7 8
14 speaking of children spring 2013
miracle
weekend miracle weekend
Tune in Saturday, June 1, at 7 pm through Sunday, June 2, at 6 pm
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Many of the children seen at
the hospital, like our Champion
Child Luca Piccolo, will require care
at BC Children’s Hospital until they reach adulthood. Miracle
Weekend fundraising has been supporting him since he was
a young child, and will continue to support him for several
years to come. Luca is a perfect example of why we have been
coming together to raise urgently needed funds for the hos-
pital for more than 25 years.
The amazing team that works together to make Miracle
Weekend happen every year helps us maintain our strong
connection to the families, caregivers and donors in our
community. It’s this strong community connection and your
ongoing support that enables the hospital to provide children
with the specialized care they require, whenever they need it.
As the province’s children grow, and as the practice of medi-
cine evolves, we must continue to adapt to the changes in
care that are making surgeries safer, treatments better and,
ultimately, enabling caregivers to save more lives. To allow BC
Children’s to keep pace with this change, we have to continue
to ask the community for support. This is what we achieve
through Miracle Weekend.
There are so many ways you can support Children’s Hospital
– through buying a Jeans Day™ button, running in ChildRun,
joining a Slo-Pitch team, or supporting your local bank or
retailer with their fundraising. Everyone’s participation is
counted when the final total is revealed on Sunday, June 2.
I hope we can count on your support this spring.
Thank you for being a part of Miracle Weekend.
Raymond Li, RBCChair, 2013 Miracle Weekend
2013 BC Children’s Hospital Miracle Join people across the province and wear your jeans on April 25 for the 23rd annual Jeans Day™. Show your support by buying a button or lapel pin and whatever you do – do it in denim! This year, you’ll see past and present
heroes from the Vancouver Canucks wearing their jeans, on and off the ice, for BC’s kids. For more information, visit www.jeansday.ca
Join a team on May 24 to 26 at Softball City in South Surrey and go to bat for BC’s kids. With support from more than 1,000 participants, donors, volunteers and sponsors, Slo-Pitch raises over $450,000 each year to help fund BC
Children’s Hospital’s most urgent needs. Recreational games and industry-designated tournaments are filling up quickly – sign up your team today at www.bcchf.ca/slopitch and get ready to play ball!
Register today for the 28th annual ChildRun presented by the Wilson Family. As the largest family fun run in Vancouver,
ChildRun inspires participants to raise funds for childhood cancer research and treatment areas at BC Children’s Hospital. On Sunday, June 2, ChildRun will host runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. Participants can choose between a scenic five-kilometre route through Queen Elizabeth Park or the Thrifty Foods 1-km Fun Run, followed by a carnival celebration. Register for this don’t-miss event at www.childrun.com
On Sunday, May 26, join BC’s South Asian community as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the A World of Smiles telethon benefiting BC Children’s Hospital on Shaw Multicultural Channel (cable 119), Shaw Direct (channel 299)
and your local Shaw TV channel. The event, the result of a longstanding partnership between Shaw and the South Asian community, has raised over $3.6 million for BC’s kids. Contact Tanya Linau at [email protected] or 604-875-2345 ext. 4643 for more information.
Going into its 25th year, the Chinese-Canadian Miracle Weekend has more than a million reasons to celebrate – the event has grown to raise over $1 million annually for BC Children’s Hospital. Funds are raised year-round through myriad events within the Chinese-Canadian community. This year, these fundraising initiatives culminate on June 1 with a three-hour telethon on Fairchild Television and two radiothons on Fairchild Radio AM1470 and CHMB AM1320, featuring patient stories, live interviews, sponsor recognition segments, and community fundraising highlights. This year, proceeds from the event will support the Campaign for BC Children.
spring 2013 speaking of children 15
MIRACLE WEEKEND EXECUTIVEChairRaymond Li, International Banking, RBC
Vice-ChairAllen Bordeleau, Overwaitea Food Group
Physician ChairDr. Jennifer Druker, BC Children’s Hospital
MIRACLE WEEKEND FUNDRAISING CABINETBanksRob Wilkins, Scotiabank, Chair; Todd Shewfelt, RBC, Vice-Chair
ChildRunRoshanac Heed, Chair: Connie Baechler, Vice-Chair
Chinese-Canadian Miracle WeekendVenita Kwan, Care Plus Cleaning Services & Stella Chan, Primerica Financial Services, Co-Chairs; Rebecca Chan, Modern Beauty Centre, Vice-Chair
Credit Unions, Insurance & Financial Services Susan Byrom, Envision Financial, Chair
Hospital Liason CommitteeTerry Ho, BC Children’s Hospital, Chair; Debbie Cain, BC Children’s Hospital, Vice-Chair
Hospitality & RestaurantsTBC
Jeans Day™Cynthia Curll, BC Hydro, Chair; Scott Corbett, Acting Vice-Chair
MiningJason Weber, Kiska Metals Corp, Chair
Real Estate & DevelopmentGeorge Crowhurst, Chair; Roger Steers, Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd., Vice-Chair
Retail & WholesaleBruce Shepherd, The Vancouver Sun & Province, Chair; Claude Gauthier, National Importers, Co-Vice-Chair
Slo-PitchCam Rathwell, HSBC, Chair
South Asian CommunitySuky Cheema, BDO, Chair; Akash Sablok, Sablok & Sablok Notaries Public, Vice-Chair
MIRACLE WEEKEND OPERATIONS CABINETCateringDavid Rooney & Nia Vekris, Co-Chairs
Donations ManagementCarolyn Davies, Chair
Guest ServicesChristina Papadimitriou, Chair
LogisticsNicole Victor, Chair
Play AreaBrina Soni, Chair
PresentationsDonna Blaker & Laura Houghton, Co-Chairs
RegistrationJohn Chandler, Chair
Telephones ManagementCarol Miller & Louise Schmiing, Co-Chairs
COMMUNITIES FOR KIDSPort Alberni Barbara-Anne Kalugin & Steve Kalugin, Co-Chairs
Prince GeorgeRick Mintz & John Abbott, Co-Chairs
Upper Fraser Valley Casey Hillton, Chair
Vanderhoof Corleen McNolty & Michelle Roberge, Co-Chairs
THE MIRACLE WEEKEND SUPERHERO TEAM
Weekend on Global BC
I am Luca Piccolo, and I am so proud and hon-
oured to have been chosen as the 2012-13
Champion Child as part of the Champions pre-
sented by Walmart Canada Program. As BC
Children’s Hospital’s ambassador, I am happy
to share my story as a cystic fibrosis patient
and at the same time educate people about how
important the care at BC Children’s Hospital is
for kids like me.
In September 2012, my family and I travelled to
Ottawa and met 11 other Canadian Champions.
I met so many cool people and became really
good friends with Aiden, Calgary’s Champion.
In fact, we still keep in touch. We then travelled
from Ottawa to Walt Disney World in Florida and
met 52 Champions from the United States. The
trip was amazing and I have so many great mem-
ories, including receiving a Champions medal.
I am grateful for having had the opportunity
to meet so many nice people and for receiving
so much support from everyone. Having fun in
Disney World wasn’t bad either.
I am excited to be part of the live Miracle Week-
end broadcast on Global BC in June. I look
forward to seeing the hundreds of people who
come to Miracle Weekend to proudly display
how much money they have raised for BC Chil-
dren’s Hospital. You, too, can join in by buying a
Jeans Day™ button, coming out to ChildRun, or
making a donation on Miracle Weekend.
I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when I was
two years old, and I visit Children’s Hospital sev-
eral times a year. My family is grateful for the
care I receive there – it keeps me healthy, and
we know that ongoing donations from people
across BC have helped me stay healthy as well.
Thanks for your support, and we’ll see you on
Miracle Weekend!
To watch Luca’s story, go to www.miracleweekend.com
Above: Calgary’s Aiden Campbell and Luca in Ottawa; Left: Luca in Disney World.
If your child is ill and you don’t have a family doctor, a nurse practitioner at the hospital’s Nurse Practitioner Child & Youth Primary Care Clinic may be able to help.
by Susan Shumay, MN, NP(F); Minna Miller, DNP (ABD), NP(F); Chantel Canessa, MN-NP, NP(F); and Alissa Collingridge, MN, NP(P)
Nurse practitioners: helping children, youth and their families develop healthy habits
healthy habits
16 speaking of children spring 2013
According to the BC Medical Association, more
than 250,000 British Columbians do not have
a strong attachment to a primary care provid-
er such as a family doctor. To help fill this gap,
the Nurse Practitioner Child & Youth Primary
Care Clinic at BC Children’s Hospital provides a
range of health services for kids, from infancy
to adolescence.
WHO ARE NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND WHAT DO THEY DO?Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced
practice nurses with a Master’s degree in a
specialized field such as pediatric or family
health. According to the BC Nurse Practitioner
Association, NPs practise autonomously and
collaboratively to provide health-care services
that contribute to the health and well-being of
British Columbians across the lifespan.
Family and pediatric NPs at the Child &
Youth Primary Care Clinic provide access to
health care for infants, children and youth up
to 19 years of age who do not already have a
primary care provider such as a family doctor.
NPs can assess, order tests, diagnose, treat
and follow up on most common medical con-
ditions. For example, if a child comes to the
clinic with an ear infection, an NP can diag-
nose the problem and prescribe medications.
HOW CAN NPs HELP AT THE CHILD & YOUTH PRIMARY CARE CLINIC?NPs at BC Children’s provide comprehensive
health care that extends throughout childhood.
Here are some examples of what services are
available at the clinic.
Well child visits: These include screening
for developmental milestones and conditions
like autism or speech delays; comprehensive
physical exams; addressing parental concerns
and answering questions; providing counsel-
ling and health education for families; and
referrals to other health service providers such
as speech language pathologists, cardiologists
or ophthalmologists.
Adolescent health care: This involves
assessment of behaviour, lifestyle, sexual
development and sexuality, and may include
episodic counselling and referrals to other
health-care providers.
Care for common illnesses: This may in-
clude ordering diagnostic tests and manage-
ment of illnesses like the flu, strep throat,
rashes, acne and migraines.
Care of chronic conditions: NPs may man-
age or co-manage kids with more complex
health needs such as a genetic disorder, Down’s
syndrome, fetal-alcohol-spectrum disorders or
a chronic illness such as asthma.
Outreach: NPs at the Child & Youth Pri-
mary Care Clinic improve access to care for
children and teens in the community by having
off-site clinics for hard-to-reach populations.
Appointments with NPs allow for mul-
tiple concerns to be addressed at one visit.
This helps families to get timely screening,
early intervention and continuity of care for
their children. If you’re seeking a health-care
practice with a focus on health promotion,
education, counselling, and injury and disease
prevention, a visit to the Child & Youth Pri-
mary Care Clinic may be an option.
Test your developmental
knowledge1. What is the typical expected
vocabulary of a two-year-old?a) 10 words b) 30 words c) 50+ words
2. What is the expected daily weight gain for a newborn? a) 30 grams / dayb) 20 grams / dayc) 10 grams / day
3. What are the consequences of not enough sleep for adolescents?a) Limits to their ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems
b) May lead to aggressive or inappropriate behaviour such as yelling at their friends or being impatient with their teachers or family members
c) Contributes to illness and causes them to eat too much or eat unhealthy foods like sweets and fried foods that lead to weight gain
d) All of the above
Answers: 1c; 2a; 3d
For more information: The Nurse Practitioner Child & Youth Primary Care Clinic is located in BC Children’s
Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Building. For directions or further information about the clinic
go to www.bcchildrens.ca/Services/SpecializedPediatrics/NursePracChildYouthClinic.
To book an appointment please call 604-875-3039.
spring 2013 speaking of children 17
BEHIND THE STETHOSCOPEI have a dual role as a pediatrician and a research trainee.
I work as a pediatric hematologist and oncologist at BC
Children’s Hospital taking care of children with cancer and
blood disorders. I am also a graduate student in the Depart-
ment of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine completing my
PhD in the laboratory of Dr. Kirk Schultz studying immune
deficiencies and the complications of bone marrow trans-
plantation.
MEDICAL TRAININGI went to medical school at the University of Alberta and
completed my pediatric residency training and fellowship
training in pediatric hematology, oncology and bone mar-
row transplantation in Vancouver at BC Children’s Hospital.
FAMILY PICTURE I am married to a wonderful teacher and have a three-year
old boy and an 18-month-old girl. They are a constant source
of happiness and humour.
WHY I BECAME A DOCTOR The opportunities for new discoveries.
WHAT YOU’D NEVER KNOW ABOUT MEI performed in musical theatre in high school.
HOBBIESReading, travelling, watching movies, hiking and downhill
skiing.
SECRET FANTASYTo have my own pirate radio show where I could say any-
thing and play whatever music I wanted to.
IF I DIDN’T HAVE TO WORKI would build rocket ships, toy cities and read stories with
my children all day. I definitely want to learn to cook.
PHILOSOPHYThe world is full of wonderful things waiting to be found.
WHAT I’M READING NOWCatch 22 by Joseph Heller, again.
18 speaking of children spring 2013
Dr. Jacob Rozmus
what’s up, doc?
spring 2013 speaking of children 19
Kai and Chase Hromyk know what it means to give back. Over the past three years, they have donated more than $10,000 to BC Children’s Hospital – money that they collected by requesting donations instead of gifts for their birthdays. And when you’re four and five years old, that’s a big deal!
Kai and Chase’s mom, Linda, says sharing the boys’ birthday celebrations with BC Children’s Hospital is a way to teach them the values of compassion and generosity. Through the Sunny Bear Birthday Club – the Foundation’s birthday giving program – many more aspiring young fundraisers are also choosing to forgo their presents and are collecting donations for the hospital.
With support from kids like Kai and Chase, BC Children’s Hospital is giving children across the province an even brighter future. For more information about how to host a party in support of BC Children’s Hospital call 604-875-2444 or email [email protected]
children speak
JOIN THE SUNNY BEAR BIRTHDAY CLUB
Do you have a story about BC Children’s Hospital?
Please submit your Miracle Kid stories to [email protected].
Andrew Hromyk (dad), Kai, Chase and Linda Getz (mom) present their birthday proceeds.
PM 40659514