Spring 2011 PDF

With plans for the new hospital well underway, BC Children’s is already attracting the best and brightest caregivers for BC’s kids.

HEALING WITH HEART

A NEW SMILE

SALTY SWEET

MIRACLE WEEKEND PREVIEW

recruiting Genius

spring 2011

bcchf.ca

spring 2011 speaking of children 3

inside speaking of children

www.bcchf.ca

MANAGING EDITORStephen Forgacs

EDITORTara Turner

CONTRIBUTORS Cary Gaymond, Kerry Gold,

Mary Frances Hill, Joanna Newman, Winnie Tam,

Tara Turner

PHOTOGRAPHYBrandon C. Elliot, Noel Hendrickson, James LaBounty,

Goran Samardziski, C&W Media Production & Service

ART DIRECTORGabriele Chaykowski

PROJECT MANAGERCasey Crawford

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

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spring 2011

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

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From the HeartA baby’s life is saved by head surgeon with sights on the new hospital.

The Making of a SmilePlastic surgery at Children’s leads the world in cleft repair.

3P: the new BC Children’sParents and medical staff help design a new hospital.

2011 Miracle Weekend

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well said

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Picking up the pace 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.

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.

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.

Most recently, Jake and Judy Kerr joined the group of $1-million 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.

A lifetime of givingWith 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.

Photographed above with her newborn granddaughter, Lucy, Stephanie is one of BC Children’s Hospital’s most ardent supporters.

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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.

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 teen-agers unique. With each discovery that I make about the hospital, I gain a greater understand-ing of the impact that each of you, our donors, has on the lives of BC’s children.

I believe that we’re stronger when we work together, when we create together. That’s why an inclusive planning process that brings rep-resentatives 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.

In addition to the talented new surgeons you will read about in this issue of the maga-zine, 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 cer-tainly 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 along-side you – our donors, patients, families and friends – on this journey.

Sincerely,

Teri Nicholas, MSW, RSWPresident & CEOBC Children’s Hospital Foundation

Bringing the best to British Columbia BC ChiLDreN’s hosPitaL foUNDatioN

Board of Directors 2011 as of february 1, 2011

Mr. Kevin Bent, Chair

Mr. Chris Carty

Mr. David Doig

Mr. Larry gold

Mr. Doug gordon

Mr. Peter green

Mrs. tammi Kerzner

Mr. Don Lindsay

Mr. graham MacLachlan

Mr. geoff Parkin

Mr. David Podmore

Dr. ralph rothstein

Mrs. Wendy slavin

Ms. sandy so

Ms. andrea southcott

Mrs. Diane Zell

foundation executive

teri Nicholas, MsW, rsWPresident & CEO

Knut Nordlie, CfreVice President and Chief Operating Officer

Debora sweeney, CfreVice President and Chief Communications Officer

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.

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.

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adolescence, inside and out, from head to toe.

The promise of a new hospital is helping to bring the best pediatric specialists to

recruiting genius



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 Region-al 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 con-dition in which the aorta and pulmonary artery are reversed, blocking much-needed oxygen from reaching the body.

“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 know-ing 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.


From the HeartLaurie 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

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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 facili-ties that make up any hospital, such as operating rooms, a diagnostics and imaging centre, private-room intensive care units and an Emergency Department.

Much of that also fulfils the wish list of Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi, the pediatric heart surgeon who performed baby Addison’s arter-ial switch operation. Dr. Gandhi envisions larger, modernized operating rooms and inpatient care facilities, an intensive care unit dedicated to children recovering from heart sur-gery, 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 sur-gery 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 Cardiothor-acic 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 redevel-opment. “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 hos-pital in the country.

It still amazes Laurie Homan that she was able to bring Addi-son 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.”

To make a donation to the Campaign for BC Children, please visit www.beasuperhero.ca.

Laurie Homan holds her daughter, Addison, during a follow-up exam in the Children’s Heart Centre with Dr. Gandhi.

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

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 sur-gery 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

Left: Addison Homan gets a kiss from her mom.

Today, a cleft needn’t cause a child too much trauma. The rela-tively 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 suc-cessful 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 sur-geon 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.

“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.

“We’ve been at this site for so many years, and we have out-grown our space,” he adds. “The new hospital is important, but expanded resources within Children’s Hospital are also crit-ical. 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.”

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.

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

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 assess-ment. Dr. Arneja is pleased. Other than a small dent in her little nose, there is scarcely any disfigurement. Her upper lip is a lit-tle tight from the surgery, and she still has to learn how to use her tongue against the roof of her mouth, says her mother.

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 sur-gery 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.

“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.

“We all feel blessed. Addie is so lucky that we have such an amazing cleft team at BC Children’s Hospital,” she says, laughing.

8 speaking of children spring 2011 spring 2011 speaking of children 9

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.

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. Through-out history, people with facial abnormalities have endured social stigma regardless of their country of origin.

The Making of a Smileinternational 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

Dr. Arneja, the pediatric plastic surgeon who repaired Addie’s cleft palate at BC Children’s Hospital.

Addie Kluftinger, at five months old, before her first surgery in China.

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,

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Addie Kluftinger.

“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 fam-ilies 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.

“The sessions are not meant to provide be-all, end-all solutions. Instead, they are meant to raise issues for discussion and, if neces-sary, 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 facil-ity, 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.

spring 2011 speaking of children 11 10 speaking of children spring 2011

Planning for the FutureParents and staff come together to influence the design of the new BC Children’s Hospital.

by WINNIE TAM

OUR EXPERTS ANSWER COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT PLANNED GIVING.

HOW TO REACH OUR EXPERT TEAM

CARY GAYMOND, CFREDirector of [email protected] or 604-875-2637

How can changes in the law affect your legacy?

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 exception-ally 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.

ask the expert

New Legislation in 2011

Above: Models and diagrams help planning teams determine the indicative design of the new hospital. Inset: Susan Greig; Right: 3P event participants.

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a group of family members and hospital staff a group of family members and hospital staff

Susan’s experience as a mother and a hospital employee gives her a unique understanding of what fam-

“The sessions are not meant to provide be-all, end-all solutions. Instead, they are meant to raise issues for discussion and, if neces-sary, 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.”

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.

J U N E 4 T H A N D J U N E 5 T H , 2 01 1JUNE 4TH ANDJUNE5TH,2011 J U N E 4 T H A N D J U N E 5 T H , 2 01 1

Message froM the Chair: Team efforT

MIRACLE WEEKEND EXECUTIVEMr. John Ridley, Chair, 2011 Miracle Weekend, Global BCMr. Atish Ram, Zindagi TVDr. Erik Skarsgard, BC Children’s HospitalMr. Raymond Li, RBCMs. Neena Arora, Roger’s ChocolatesMr. Todd Nadon, HSBC Ms. Suzanne Trusdale, TELUS

MIRACLE WEEKEND FUNDRAISING CABINETMr. Stephen Gardner, Banks Committee, Chair, BMOMr. Alex Fan, Banks Committee, Vice-Chair, CIBCMs. Jennifer Black, ChildRun, Co-Chair, Charles Dickens Elementary SchoolMs. Kendra Penrose, ChildRun, Co-Chair, ActiveState Software Inc.Ms. Philomena Wong, Chinese-Canadian Committee, Co-Chair, TD Canada TrustMs. Tina Tam, Chinese-Canadian Committee, Co-Chair, SRTK Tam KurozumiMs. Venita Kwan, Chinese-Canadian Committee, Vice-ChairMs. Rebecca Chan, Chinese-Canadian Committee, Vice-Chair, Modern Beauty CentreMr. Nicholas Gandossi, Hospitality & Restaurants Committee, Chair, Opus HotelMrs. Ilda Brazinha, Jeans Day™, Chair, BMOMs. Cynthia Curll, Jeans Day™, Vice-Chair, BC HydroMr. Colin Joudrie, Mining Committee, Chair, Teck Resources LimitedMr. Laurie Schmidt, Real Estate & Development Committee, Chair, Brook & AssociatesMr. George Crowhurst, Real Estate & Development Committee, Vice-Chair, BC HydroMr. Calvin Johnson, Retail & Wholesale Committee, Chair, Costless ExpressMr. Mike Slipec, Slo-Pitch, Chair, RBCMr. Aaron Stewardson, Slo-Pitch, Vice-Chair, MaynardsMr. Atish Ram, South Asian Community, Chair, Zindagi TVMrs. Mandy Ram, South Asian Community, Vice-Chair, Terasen GasMrs. Darcy Sandhu, South Asian Community, Vice-Chair

MIRACLE WEEKEND OPERATIONS CABINETMr. David Rooney, Catering Committee, Co-Chair, Neptune Food ServiceMs. Nia Vekris, Catering Committee, Co-Chair, Sun Rich FoodsMrs. Carolyn Davies, Donations Management Committee, Chair, RBCMs. Christina Papadimitriou, Guest Services, Chair, CFUNMs. Nicole Victor, Logistics Committee, ChairMiss Brina Soni, Play Area, ChairMs. Donna Blaker, Presentations Committee, Co-Chair, BC Children’s Hospital FoundationMs. Karen Williams, Presentations Committee, Co-Chair, BC Children’s Hospital FoundationMr. John Chandler, Registration, Chair, Alandale TrainingMrs. Carol Miller, Telephones Management Committee, Co-ChairMrs. Helen Roelofsen, Telephones Management Committee, Co-ChairMs. Lisa Stirling, TELUS Phones Committee, Chair, TELUS

COMMUNITIES FOR KIDS Ms. Angela Bushey, Chair, North OkanaganMrs. Barbara-Anne Kalugin, Co-Chair, Port AlberniMr. Steve Kalugin, Co-Chair, Port AlberniMr. Rick Mintz, Co-Chair, Prince GeorgeMr. John Abbott, Co-Chair, Prince GeorgeMrs. Emma Irwin, Chair, SookeMr. Casey Hillton, Chair, Upper Fraser ValleyMs. Corleen McNolty, Co-Chair, VanderhoofMs. Michelle Roberge, Co-Chair, Vanderhoof

THE MIRACLE WEEKEND SUPERHERO TEAM

miracle weekend

2011 BC Children’s hospital Miracle Weekend on global BC

Tune in Saturday, June 4, at 7 pm through Sunday, June 5, at 6 pm

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, Lon-don 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 corpor-ate team today and join the 70 or more teams

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 chil-dren. Go to bat at www.bcchf.ca/slopitch.

Join us Sunday, May 29, for the 13th annual A World of Smiles Telethon benefiting BC Chil-dren’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 Wil-

son 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 five- and one-kilometre routes, followed by a carnival celebration. Register for this can’t-miss event at www.childrun.com.

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 comprom-ised, and he was in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at BC Children’s Hospital.

Colton spent 100 days in the PICU, and for-tunately, 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 sin-cerely wants to help BC Children’s Hospital. Our

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 Dis-ney World with 11 other families representing Canada’s pediatric hospitals. One of the high-lights 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 Mir-acle 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 Hospi-tal. 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 BoechlerTo watch the video of Colton’s story go to www.bcchf.ca/colton.


I am thrilled to be leading the 2011 BC Children’s Hospital Miracle Weekend as chair. I know well that Miracle Week-end 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 work-ing 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 fundrais-ing, 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 BCChair, 2011 BC Children’s Hospital Miracle Weekend


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

who came in contact with her. She will be greatly missed.


Crystal BallThe 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, treat-ed 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 Van-couver, 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

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 MiraClesThe 2nd annual A Night of Miracles, held Nov-ember 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 enter-tainment and delicious culinary experiences. The event was made possible by VIP Spon-sors BMW, Faronics and HSBC; Entertainment Sponsor KTL Transport; and Evening Sponsor Nature’s Path.

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 ‘Mir-acles’ Jar Candle goes to the Children’s Miracle Network and the 12 Canadian hospitals for which it raises funds. Tracie Graham, vice pres-ident, Sales, PartyLite Canada, said: “Attending the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration in Orlando always brings home the importance of our partnership with this incredible organ-ization 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 chil-dren in the future.”

Cares for Kids CaMPaigNThe 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 mer-chandise sales while the BCSA executive office provided a corporate match of $10,000. At

the campaign kick-off on October 15, employ-ees 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 sup-port for BC Children’s Hospital.

festival of treesThe 24th annual Festival of Trees Vancouver, presented by Union Securities, was again a tre-mendous success. Corporate and community participants raised over $148,000 for the Cam-paign for BC Children. The trees were again on display at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancou-ver 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.

what’s on

Photos (from left): 1 Crystal Ball committee chair Diane

Norton and past chair of BC Children’s Hospital Founda-

tion’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 Hospi-

tal 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

president, Patient Care Services, Barb Fitzimmons.

AuctionmArt

This year, during the ninth annual Auction-Mart online auction, hosted by the Province and the Vancouver Sun newspapers, bidders will gain great deals on their favourite mer-chandise while helping BC’s kids. AuctionMart runs from April 9 to 18. Ten per cent of net pro-ceeds 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.

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.

MotHer’s day WeeKeNd

speaking of people

1


3 4

5 6

2

7


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 exces-sive salt can cause problems too. Salt – or so-dium – has been linked to an increase in child-hood kidney stones and high blood pressure in children as young as 13.

too MUCH salt!

Salt consumption is a growing concern in Can-ada – and for good reason. It has been identi-fied 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 – al-most 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.

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.

WHy so sWeet?

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 es-sential 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 ex-cept 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, min-erals and fibre.

Answer key: 1b; 2d; 3a; 4c.

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 mgc. 1,500 mg d. 1,300 mg

2. Approximately how much sodium does the average four- to eight-year-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% juiceb. Drink or blendc. Contains/made with 100% juice d. All of the above

4. What is the main contributing factor for obesity in children?

a. Diabetesb. Sugar and saltc. 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

for more information visit

salt & sugar

Test your salt & sugar

knowledge

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 exces-sive salt can cause problems too. Salt – or so-dium – has been linked to an increase in child-hood kidney stones and high blood pressure in hood kidney stones and high blood pressure in children as young as 13.

too MUCH salt!

Salt consumption is a growing concern in Can-ada – and for good reason. It has been identi-fied 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!

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 – al-most double the recommended amount.

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.

by Tara Turner

healthy habits


BeHiNd tHe stetHosCoPeFor 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.

CHild HealtH traiNiNgI have worked in early childhood education and completed my child and youth care degree at the University of Victoria.

faMily / PersoNal PiCtUreI 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 Hos-pital 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 MeI 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 look-ing for a more stable life for my son. I always liked working with kids who were more challenging.

HoBBiesI 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 Vancou-ver Island home.

seCret faNtasyI used to dream of being a puppeteer with Jim Henson. I would have loved to have operated Miss Piggy.

if i didN’t Have to WorKNow 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.

PHilosoPHyWhy use a map, just drive until you get there, and enjoy the ride. When you get stuck on a bridge, look at the moun-tains.

WHat i’M readiNg NoWThe Dark Room by Minnette Walters – one of those horren-dous murder mysteries.


Bindy SweettChild Life Specialist


Dear Children’s Hospital ... 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.

children speakwhat’s up, doc?

Do you have a story about BC Children’s Hospital to tell?

Please submit your Miracle Kid stories to: [email protected]

spring 2011

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.

Please submit your Miracle Kid stories to:

To My Superheroes,

I was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition when I was three and

a half years old. The signal for my heart to beat does not get from my

atrium to my ventricle and so my heartbeat, in effect, is only half the

speed it should be. My parents were told I would need a pacemaker to

correct this when I was about 13. Six months later, only days after my

fourth birthday, I collapsed at a local fair; my father began CPR immedi-

ately and I was taken to Children’s Hospital in Vancouver by air ambu-

lance. My parents were, of course, terrified at this rapid turn of events.

At the hospital, the staff worked to reassure my parents, answer their

questions and help alleviate their fears. After my first pacemaker was

implanted I developed an infection. My new pacemaker had to be

removed, as my infection healed, before another could be implanted.

My second pacemaker implant was successful and my recovery was

swift. The staff at the hospital helped my parents find accommodation

at Easter Seal House, Ronald McDonald House and other affordable and

conveniently located places. My mother was also permitted to stay at the

hospital to reduce my stress throughout my treatment.

The doctors, nurses, technicians and other staff were (and are) extremely

friendly and compassionate. Because of their support and programs I

have mostly happy memories of my time at Children’s. My last visit to

the hospital before I transitioned to being monitored through Kelowna

General Hospital was emotional; the people I said goodbye to I only saw

twice a year, but over the years they grew to feel like family. The staff

at Children’s make parents feel more comfortable about putting their

children’s lives into the compassionate hands of strangers. BC Children’s

Hospital is an invaluable resource for the families of British Columbia.

Children’s Hospital says every child they have treated is a superhero.

To me and my family, our superheroes are the irreplaceable staff at

Children’s and the citizens of British Columbia, who support children and

families in their most troubling times.

Christina Harisch and Family

Christina and her parents, Bill and Norma Harisch.

PM 40659514

Be a SUPERHERO and support BC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL MIRACLE WEEKEND

www.miracleweekend.com

J U N E 5 T H A N D J U N E 6 T H , 2 0 1 0

Tune in Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, 2011, to Global BC

J U N E 4 T H A N D J U N E 5 T H, 2 01 1

Documents

Spring 2011 PDF