Blog-o-riffic

We inspire our communities to invest in health and scientific advances to improve the lives of children and their families in Canada and around the world. Please visit our new blog at www.sickkidsfoundation.com/skf-blog

[dothehappy]

Come visit our new blog!

We have been very busy at SickKids Foundation developing a new website which we launched in April. Along with this, we have incorporated a new blog within the site. Moving forward, we will no longer be posting stories on Tumblr.

We encourage you to come and check out our new blog at www.sickkidsfoundation.com/skf-blog. We will continue to share stories about the amazing people, events and initiatives that are connected with SickKids and hope that you will continue to support us at our new blog home.

Thank you so much to everyone who has followed our Tumblr blog and shared our stories. Your support is appreciated!

NEW BLOG -> www.sickkidsfoundation.com/skf-blog

[dothehappy]

Wear your purple with pride

GUEST BLOG – Megan Henry, Public Relations student at Centennial College

Are you wearing purple today? Did you know that March 26 is Purple Day, also known as Worldwide Epilepsy Awareness Day? Did you also know that SickKids has an Epilepsy Classroom in the hospital?

The Epilepsy Classroom is a partnership between the Centre for Brain and Mental Health at SickKids and the local school board. The Classroom caters to those students who have ongoing seizure activity as well as children who have recently undergone brain surgery for intractable Epilepsy. The program usually has eight students with one special education teacher, two educational assistants and a volunteer. The school term lasts one academic year and the classroom alternates every other year between younger grades and older grades, which includes grades two to eight. In addition to students learning literacy and math, they receive some social studies and science instruction, are taught how to use assistive technology and engage in psychosocial programming to help them cope with their epilepsy, and learn how to increase social skills, optimism, confidence and resilience.

Along with the daily classroom staff, the classroom also has a social worker and neuropsychologist that visit the program weekly. An occupational therapist consults with the the multidisciplinary team and conducts two occupational therapy groups with the students, primarily focusing on sensory-motor integration. A developmental paediatrician sees each student at the beginning of the term and follows up with the child depending on his or her individual needs. A nurse practitioner, neurologist and psychiatrist are also involved on a need-be basis.

The primary goal of the program is to have a multidisciplinary circle of care to understand the whole child, which includes learning about each student, understanding their individual strengths and needs, providing appropriate intervention and supporting the students who go back to their home school board the following year. SickKids offers a transition meeting to the families and the home school at the end of the year to help with any specific programming that may need to continue. The Epilepsy Classroom also follows up with the graduated students’ families in the fall of the following year to ensure the new transition has gone smooth.

“Even major scientific breakthroughs in our understanding of the causes of epilepsy or treatments to improve or prevent seizures are not likely to resolve the many health challenges related to the condition,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kerr, Program Head of the Epilepsy Classroom. “Because of this, alternative strategies are required to empower patients and improve their quality life.”

The Epilepsy Classroom is an important program to have at SickKids because the Centre for Brain and Mental Health has the knowledge to understand the complexity of the condition and its impact on an individual, to evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based approaches to education and psychosocial intervention, and then to share the information with community partners.

SickKids’ Epilepsy Classroom offers a transformative, joyful and accepting learning environment where students thrive and learn. Many graduating families of the program have had wonderful experiences and report that their child is happy after attending.

[dothehappy]

SickKids kid Sara and mom raise awareness for World Down Syndrome Day

Sara Karlie couldn’t have been born with a more fitting name. Her name means 'strong princess', a role she has fulfilled every day of her life. Looking at Sara Karlie today, you might never know the struggles she first encountered when she was born.

At 27 weeks pregnant, her mother, Nicole, was referred to Mount Sinai Hospital. She had more than three times the average amount of embryonic fluid and the doctor had difficulty examining Sara’s heart on the ultrasound. After further testing, doctors suspected a heart condition and Nicole was listed as a high-risk pregnancy. She delivered at Mount Sinai at full-term and Sara was taken directly to The Hospital for Sick Children  through the tunnel.

Sara was diagnosed with Down syndrome, a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. Down syndrome is sometimes accompanied by a heart condition, the most common being an Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD). Sara suffers from a form of AVSD, which has since required two heart surgeries, including one open-heart surgery.

Beyond the heart condition, Sara also experienced esophageal atresia, lung disease and softening of the airway. As a result, she relied on a feeding tube since birth and a breathing tube from September 2010 to January 2011. She remained in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) until she was able to breathe on her own.

Her parents were able to bring Sara home for the first time in January 2011 – they were happy to finally be able to show her off to family and friends. She continues to visit SickKids frequently for follow-up testing, but is now thriving and meeting all of her cognitive milestones.

Nicole describes Sara as “just a normal little three and a half year old who loves to play with her friends and feel included. She tends to make friends wherever we go and has a smile that I’m told is infectious. She is a sweet little girl who amazes me daily and continues to surprise me with how smart she is. I truly believe she will make a difference in a lot of lives. She certainly has changed her father and I for the better. She has shown me how to be strong and never to underestimate her.”

March 21, World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), has become an important day for Sara’s family and means more to them every year. “It is a great opportunity to show the world that my child and those like her are capable of so much and their successes mean all the more because they have to work twice as hard to reach them,” Nicole said.

To help raise awareness, Sara and her mom take part in the Blue Nails Campaign and are proud members of the Blue Nails Crew. The Blue Nails Campaign started a couple years ago with just one mom asking friends and family to show their support by painting their nails blue and posting a few pictures online. This year it has grown to a large group of moms getting involved with the goal “to continue to create awareness and show the world how much our children mean to us and just how important they are.”

The Blue Nails Crew is encouraging those who paint their nails blue or who have a creative way to spread awareness during WDSD to share them on their Facebook page or to tweet them to @BlueNailsCrew.

[dothehappy]

Memories of an Evolving Career at SickKids

GUEST BLOG - Stephanie Holowka - Lead Technologist, MEG and 3D-Imaging, MRI Safety Officer at SickKids

I’ve worked at SickKids for over half my life—more than 27 years to be exact. As an infant, I was seen in the emergency department for a dog bite. This was the start of my relationship with SickKids.

As a student first at the Michener Institute and then the Toronto Institute of Medical Technology, the bulk of my clinical training was done at SickKids. I have had many roles here ranging from playroom volunteer to student x-ray technologist, Computerized Tomography (CT) Technologist, magnetoencephalography (MEG) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technologist. Now I’m the MRI Safety Officer for the hospital.

Since 2000, I have been working in MEG. MEG maps the magnetic fields created by the brain’s electrical activity. The data is integrated into MRI images and allows physicians to see where seizures or important brain functions arise. SickKids is the primary clinical site in Canada for clinical MEG and has been so for fourteen years.

In February 1992, I was trained in computer navigation in neurosurgery. Computer navigation assists surgeons by allowing them to localize and plan the removal of brain tumours that may have otherwise been previously inoperable. In 1993, a prominent American neurosurgeon refused to operate on a brainstem tumour patient because it was too dangerous and he had no such a device. Because of computer navigation, one of our surgeons chose to operate on the patient and the surgery was successful, both as a technique and the outcome for the patient.

Twenty years on, I still assist in the imaging and accuracy of computer navigation during surgery. We use two systems during surgery, Brainlab and Medtronic Stealth, which enable the fusion of images such as a CT scan and an MRI. These help to provide a clearer picture of the brain.

An MRI method called Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), as reconstructed by a neuroradiologist, is also used during surgery. DTI shows the white matter tracts leading to higher brain functions such as motor or vision and allows surgeons to plan the safest and least injurious trajectory to a brain tumour. Computer guidance allows for minimally invasive biopsies and can assist in endoscopies within the brain. We combine the technology of MEG, MRI and navigation to aid us in treating patients with epilepsy.

My work in Three-Dimensional Imaging and computer navigation has led to many research collaborations and publications. My most famous project was the CT Scanning and 3-D reconstruction of a 2900 year old Egyptian mummy (from the ROM)—Djedmaatesankh. My studies found that she may have died from a severe tooth infection.

For all that we can do now, there is still so much more work that remains to be done. Malignant and untreatable brain tumours remain a significant cause of death for children. Having seen the effects of these afflictions on many patients and families, I believe that further research is crucially important.

There is some great work being done at SickKids. I especially admire the work being done by the Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre. The brain tumour research assistance and information network (b.r.a.i.n.child) greatly helps patients and families coping with brain tumours. In Diagnostic Imaging, research work with imaging, brain function mapping and initial diagnosis can also play a key role in decreasing patient risks and mortality.

If anyone were to ask me about heroes, I could fill page after page with names. There are the patients and families who by no choice of their own are forced to deal with life threatening conditions. The team I work with in Diagnostic Imaging work tirelessly for the best quality imaging of the sickest of patients. I admire my many colleagues in the various places that I work: surgeons, nurses, anaesthesiologists and neurologists to name a few. They have such incredible knowledge and skill and they provide extraordinary care to their patients.

I have been so fortunate to spend a lifetime at SickKids. This hospital is a very special place and the large team I work with is made of some very special people. I love what I do, and I earnestly hope my efforts help both patients and colleagues.

Stephanie Holowka M.R.T.(R), M.R.T. (MR) Lead Technologist, MEG and 3D-Imaging, MRI Safety Officer

[dothehappy]

A SickKids family that gives

GUEST BLOG – Megan Henry, Public Relations student at Centennial College

At only seven years old, undergoing his first Remicade infusion for Crohn’s disease (an inflammatory bowel disease) at SickKids, Aaron Maresky decided he wanted to start his own charity. It was an immediate feeling for him. He realized his family was fortunate to have his costly medication covered by insurance, but understood that many children and families were not as lucky.

Aaron and his family started Aaron’s Apple in 2010 to raise money for families to cope with overwhelming medical costs. The charity is directly affiliated with the SickKids Patient Amenities Fund, which provides financial assistance to families caring for an ill child.

The Maresky family believes it is very important to give both their time and hearts to other children and families at the hospital. At a recent visit to SickKids, Aaron and his family delivered toys to a few children in the hospital. “It felt so great to do something good, it felt very inspiring,” Aaron’s mom, Mandy, said.

Support is important in understanding that you are not alone, especially when impacted by a chronic illness. Aaron and his family don’t just give support to other families, they also receive it. The Aaron’s Apple ambassadors who raise awareness and help others feel empowered are a huge support for Aaron, as many of them are also living with IBD. Aaron’s family and friends are also a support for him, including the hospital. “SickKids is like a home, it’s hard to explain, but it’s a very comforting, supportive environment. Everyone at the hospital is so supportive of Aaron and the charity,” Mandy said.

On Thursday, March 6, Aaron’s Apple is hosting their annual gala, which will be an evening of education and inspiration for those living with IBD and other autoimmune diseases. In the past, Aaron’s Apple fundraising events have been sold out with significant funds raised. This year’s gala goal is to have an intimate, inspirational evening with an expected guest list of 250 people. “It’s more of a hope and healing night than a celebratory gala,” Mandy said. More information about this event can be found by visiting Aaron’s Apple website.

With huge hearts and a passion to help, the Maresky family is the true definition of a SickKids hero.

[dothehappy]

Making a difference on 4D: Meet Kim

When Kim first came to Toronto twenty years ago, the city scared her. She couldn’t envision herself moving here. But when she walked through the doors of SickKids for an interview, all of those feelings of trepidation washed away. SickKids felt like home. She accepted a role in the cardiology unit and never looked back.

Kim primarily works as the Day In Charge Clinical Support Nurse in the Labatt Family Heart Centre on 4D. Her role involves working to support the nurses with their assignments, scheduling and skills training to care for the patients and families in cardiology.

Although her main role is to support her team in managing patient flow between Units and developing plans of care for patients and their families, Kim also participates in family-centred rounds with her team. The purpose of these rounds is to check in with each of the families and learn more from them on what the care team on the Unit is doing well and what the team can improve on. The care and comfort of families and patients are of top concern, and being able to work with families to make sure their needs are met is an extremely valuable and rewarding experience for Kim.

One project Kim is very proud to have initiated on her Unit is surveying families on the care and support they are receiving while on 4D. She was able to spend several shifts with families identifying questions and concerns they may have and was present with each family when their care team visited. After these visits, Kim collected feedback from each of the families on what they thought and felt during the visit and then shared this feedback with the rest of her team. This initiative exemplifies just how important patient and family care is to the staff at SickKids and shows the willingness of staff to improve the experience.

To Kim, the most rewarding moments in her day are when she gets to spend some time talking with patients and their families. “It is remarkable to see the strengths of the people we care for, to understand what they must endure and to see them manage the challenges.”

Her time with her colleagues also leaves a special place in her heart. “I truly work with great people,” Kim said. “I work with nurses that have true passion for what they do and have such big hearts. I have trusting and respectful relationships with physicians that allow for shared decision-making that involve families. I have a leadership team that is available and open to listen. I work amongst nurses, doctors, social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, dietitians and child life specialists that are like a family.”

Working at SickKids has given Kim a true appreciation of everything in life. “Knowing that perhaps I can make a small difference to a patient and a family is the fuel that has always kept me going,” Kim said. “There are days that are challenging. There are days that your heart feels heavy. But when a patient and family give me a smile, shares a laugh or a hug, I know to keep going.”

[dothehappy]

Taking the plunge for SickKids

GUEST BLOG – Megan Henry, Public Relations student at Centennial College

A sports enthusiast, passion for baseball and an extremely positive attitude – meet Tobin Haas, SickKids Patient Ambassador. With a go-getter attitude, you would never think that Tobin has been through 20 cycles of chemotherapy, 63 bouts of radiation treatments and three surgeries. In the spring of 2002, when Tobin was two years old, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour, which was the size of a baseball. In 2009, after two reoccurrences with the tumour, a routine MRI showed that the tumour had grown back a third time, but this time it had spread to Tobin’s spine. Despite the negative news and radiation treatment, Tobin continued to do what he was passionate about, play competitive baseball and hockey.

Tobin’s positivity has made him not only a SickKids Patient Ambassador, but also a hero for battling cancer with such optimism. On Monday, February 17, Tobin spoke on behalf of the children at SickKids at the annual Family Day Sears Great Canadian Chill. The event, held at Yonge-Dundas Square, brought Torontonians together to help raise money and awareness for paediatric cancer. The event raised $50,000, with 200 “Chillers” jumping into the urban, ice-cold pool. Supporters enjoyed live entertainment, refreshments and activities for the whole family.

Tobin mentioned in his speech that he had fought cancer three times and considers that his personal hat trick. Each year in Canada, roughly 1,400 children are diagnosed with cancer and 25 per cent go to SickKids. Dr. Fujii from SickKids also spoke about some recent research updates and thanked “the Chillers” for all of their support.

A five second plunge into freezing cold water is a short moment in the grand scheme of things, however it certainly exudes the drive and support many people have to end kids cancer. Today, more than 75 per cent of children diagnosed with cancer will survive. With further research and added support, hopefully that number will increase even more.

* Photos courtesy of The Sears Great Canadian Chill (photographer: Victoria Lambermont)

[dothehappy]

Meet Dr. Gupta: Using data to help save the lives of children

GUEST BLOG – Nicholas Skinner, SickKids Foundation Co-op Student, Communications and Marketing

If reading the description, “the use of population-based health administrative data to explore health-care utilization in paediatric oncology patients” leaves you feeling either totally confused or painfully bored, you’re not alone.

“This kind of data management and data registry stuff is probably the least sexy stuff that you can talk about,” says Dr. Sumit Gupta, a staff oncologist at SickKids and the man who has chosen this topic as the basis for his PhD thesis.

But in the context of Dr. Gupta’s work with the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative, this seemingly boring research topic will actually become an important tool in saving the lives of countless children suffering from cancer.

Through the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative, SickKids is working with stakeholders across the English-speaking Caribbean to improve the outcomes and quality of life for children with cancer and blood disorders and their families. Six countries are participating in the project: Barbados, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago.

Here in Canada, we take for granted that our medical data is comprehensively recorded and stored. But this basic practice is not the norm in many Caribbean countries. Without a registry of this vital information, it’s impossible for health-care providers and researchers to gather paediatric cancer statistics and optimize care. As the saying goes, you can’t fix what you can’t measure.

Dr. Gupta is serving as the chair of the Registry Working Group of the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative. His team is helping to implement the necessary systems and infrastructure to develop hospital-based patient data registries in the six countries.

Working as a doctor at Canada’s top children’s hospital, while simultaneously completing a PhD and helping to run an international health initiative, would appear to leave little time for fun. True to his ambitious nature, however, Dr. Gupta’s extracurricular activities include climbing and international backpacking.

With dedicated innovators like him working to improve the health outcomes of countless children, we are confident the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative will be a success.

[dothehappy]

Findacure Cabin

From a young age, Rommi Shay was taught that it was important to give back. Her family has always embraced philanthropy and Rommi, first as a SickKids kid and now as a SickKids Foundation staff member, has been involved in numerous charitable activities to support SickKids since she was in high school.

Rommi’s close-knit family supports individual causes, but they are all passionate about finding a cure for childhood cancers. Cancer runs in the Shay family so Rommi, her siblings, their spouses and her parents have all joined forces to participate in the Canaccord Genuity Great Camp Adventure. They believe SickKids is an institution capable of helping future generations of kids grow up strong and healthy.

Comprised of 12 members, the Findacure Cabin is The Great Camp Adventure’s largest. With a collective goal of $6,000, Rommi knows that her family will make a difference for The Hospital for Sick Children. Rommi had another motivation for getting involved in The Great Camp Adventure; she realized it was a great way for her entire family to spend some quality time together.

In honour of Global Child Health Day, Big Campers and Camp Crew can save $30 and register for only $35; Little Campers and Jr. Camp Crew can save $25 and register for just $10 with these codes:

Big Campers/Crew: fdbig14 Little Campers/Jr. Camp Crew: fdlittle14

This offer is only valid until midnight tonight, so join the Findacure Cabin and get your entire family on board for 2014! Spend more quality time with your loved ones while supporting child health at SickKids. This is the last time we will be offering these savings in 2014 so register today and don’t miss out on the adventure of the year!

[dothehappy]

Luke's Legacy

GUEST BLOG – Carolyn, mom to four boys including SickKids kid Luke, who passed away at 22 months of age from a congenital heart defect.

Family is love, hope, happiness and joy. For me, family consists of my husband Troy, our four children and Hunter, our lovable Labrador retriever.

I am a mom of four boys. Zakary, who is 11, Max, who is 10, Luke, who would have turned eight on February 7, and Jackson, who is four. You see, Luke died when he was 22 months of age from a congenital heart defect.

I have made it a point when people ask me how many children I have to always include Luke. I have four boys. Three may only be physically with me but I feel Luke with me every day. I hear his laugh in Jackson, I see his eyes in Zak and feel his love in Max’s hugs.

Luke was a strong, courageous little fighter. He lost the battle but we are winning the war. We may have lost a piece of our family on December 28, 2007, but we keep his memory alive every day and every year by hosting a fundraiser in his honour. In 2009 we hosted our first Sweethearts for SickKids – Luke’s Legacy cookie decorating fundraiser and to date we have raised over $100,000 for the Cardiac Critical Care Unit of SickKids, where Luke spent a lot of his time.

I’m not going to lie to you, losing Luke was the most difficult thing I have ever had to go through in my entire life and I have had my own share of tragedy. Losing a child not only causes a physical ache but an emotional ache that never goes away. I’ve learned to deal with the pain, focus on the positives in my life and try to be the best person I can be. For me, being their mom is my greatest joy and highest achievement.

I started Luke’s Legacy as a way to remember Luke and to honour his strength and courage. But it is also much more than that. It’s a way of thanking SickKids for taking such good care of him, giving us hope when it was hopeless, sharing our joy when we could bring him home and grieving his loss when he died. The doctors, nurses and therapists at SickKids were wonderful to Luke and to us. By raising money for the CCCU we hope that other children with congenital heart defects will be able to live long, healthy, happy lives.

This year we celebrated our 6th Annual Event. We had an overwhelming turnout. It was a bittersweet day, watching the joy on the children’s faces as they bit into their yummy cookie, covered in icing, sprinkles and candy. It was such fun but also remembering the reason they all came out in the first place, to honour our son Luke, warmed my heart.

I have had many a family comment to me on how strong I am. I politely thank them but I don’t consider myself strong, I consider myself a mom who had to make a choice on December 28, 2007. I chose to honour my grief, honour my son who fought so hard to live and honour the three children I so thankfully still have. So I choose to wake up each day, remember Luke, cry when I need to and be happy and grateful for all I have.

Jackson once asked me “Mommy do you miss Lukie?” I replied “yes, every day.” Jackson then looked at me, smiled, then gave me a hug. I got a hug from Luke that day and Jackson has an angel on his shoulder.

This family day weekend, hug your children, spend quality time together. Be grateful for what you have, I know I am.

Carolyn Holmes Proud Mom of 4 boys! www.lukeslegacy.ca

[dothehappy]

Happy Valentine’s Day! On behalf of everyone at SickKids, thank you for sharing your heart. 

[dothehappy]

Paediatric Resident honoured with a SMILE

Joey was having an extra busy day working at SickKids as a paediatric resident when he was told that two envelopes had arrived for him. As Joey opened each envelope, a smile grew across his face as he read the words of appreciation on each card. The first was from a SickKids patient and the second from a mom and dad whose child he had treated. Joey was touched to learn he had been honoured through the SMILE program. Each card came with a SMILE pin, which he attached to his lanyard. On days when things get too hectic, Joey looks down at the pins and reflects on the meaningful work he does every day.

Joey always wanted to work in paediatrics. When given the opportunity to apply for residency positions, he had one clear frontrunner.

“SickKids was, without a doubt, my number one choice by a long shot,” Joey said. “It is one of the top paediatric hospitals and provides endless opportunities and experiences for learning and development.”

Joey is now experiencing that firsthand. He works in a variety of departments at SickKids but also has the opportunity to teach medical students, engage in research and advocate on health issues in his community.

“The job is fulfilling in all dimensions, from academic to on-the-job experience, to personal growth as a doctor-in-training,” Joey said. “Every day you get to make a difference in someone’s life. Not everyone can say something like that.”

Beyond all of his experiences, the most fulfilling part of Joey’s job is his daily interaction with the people he meets. He enjoys connecting with patients and their families and is moved when families continue to keep in touch. When interacting with families, his approach is to always “treat people like people.” He says that simple things like saying “Hi”, addressing parents by their first names (so they are more than “mom” and “dad”) and asking how they are doing can go a long way. Often families are scared and anxious when he meets them. “Whenever I meet a parent that is nervous, I remind myself that there is always a good reason underlying that anxiety,” Joey said. “Even a relatively minor medical illness can be very difficult for a family because it is happening to their child. It is my duty to be there to reassure and provide them with the perspective and support that they need.” And when treating a patient, he often will talk to them about topics outside of SickKids to help them relax and make them forget, even for a few minutes, that they are at a hospital.

His care and connection with families and patients was reflected in the SMILE awards he received. One card acknowledged Joey’s ability to help a patient forget his pain by chatting hockey. The other card thanked Joey for being so empathetic and for listening and addressing a parent’s concerns and fears.

Have you been impacted by a staff member at SickKids and wish to honour them for the comfort, positivity or brightness they provided in your day? Consider saying thank you with a SMILE. Not only will it brighten the day of a staff member, it will provide funding for the Staff Professional Development Fund so that staff members like Joey can continue to provide the best care for sick children.

[dothehappy]

The month of February is all about affairs of the heart. This Valentine’s Day, consider those real hearts that are being monitored, checked and repaired at hospitals like SickKids.   

[dothehappy]

Youngest Camper registered for 2014 Great Camp Adventure

After the birth of their son, Macallister King, on December 2, 2013, first-time parents Jana and David couldn’t be happier. While settling into their new roles as mom and dad, they’ve noticed a shift in their priorities. “You just don’t know what the future holds,” says Jana. “Now that we have a family, it’s even more important to support SickKids. We are so lucky to have such an amazing facility right here.”

Jana and David couldn’t think of a better way to support SickKids than by participating in the Canaccord Genuity Great Camp Adventure. “I grew up going to camp so I love this whole concept,” said Jana. “It’s even better that this is an event for the whole family so Macallister can participate as well.”

Macallister is the youngest Camper registered for the 2014 Great Camp Adventure, but any age is welcome, from 0-99 years young! Get your family on board for 2014, spend more quality time with your loved ones and support vital research, facilities and patient care at SickKids.

In celebration of Family Day, we’ve got a special offer for all of our future Campers! Big Campers and Camp Crew can save $30 and register for only $35; Little Campers and Jr. Camp Crew can save $25 and register for just $10 with these codes:

Big Campers/Crew: fdbig14

Little Campers/Jr. Camp Crew: fdlittle14

Join Jana, David and baby Macallister on September 27, 2014. Register today for the adventure of the year.

[dothehappy]

Q&A with Dr. Emily Tam

On January 22, SickKids launched an exciting new fundraising campaign in partnership with the Chinese-Canadian community. The SickKids Chinese Initiative will help support fundraising priorities in the NICU at The Hospital for Sick Children. Dr. Emily Tam, a Paediatric Neurologist working in the NICU, took part in the launch and was generous enough to take the time to do a little Q&A with us and provide some insight into her role and how her work is making an impact at SickKids.

1) Tell us about your role at SickKids and what your major responsibilities are?

I am a Child Neurologist specializing in the care of newborns, dividing my time between clinical care, patient research and teaching. We have recently formed the Neonatal Neurocritical Care Unit (NNCU), which brings together neurologists, neonatologists and nursing to improve on the care of newborns at risk for brain injury. I have also been organizing the Neonatal Neurology training program, to train young Neurologists and Neonatologists in the care of the newborn brain. My research program focuses on finding ways to prevent brain injury and improve brain development in preterm and term newborns at risk for brain injury.

2) What are some of the things you enjoy most about your job?

I love working with newborns and studying new ways to protect their developing brain. Medicine has advanced greatly in the survival and physical health of babies, but so much remains yet-to-be-discovered regarding how we can optimize their brain development so that these children can succeed in school and life. I also love working with a highly accomplished team that comes from so many different disciplines in health care and neuroscience. Our research team, using advanced MRI methods, has discovered that even simple things such as decreasing painful exposures, preventing infections, reducing exposures to some medications such as steroids and managing appropriate nutrition can make such major impacts on a baby’s brain development and their long-term success. I am excited to continue to identify more ways to prevent newborn brain injury.

3) What do you find most rewarding/fulfilling about working at SickKids?

Here at SickKids, we are a very collaborative group, working together to optimize children’s health. We have world experts on so many aspects of child health, and meanwhile see some of the sickest children in the country. This combination gives us an excellent environment to make a big impact on the health of our children. As a relatively new investigator I am very grateful for the incredible welcome I received at SickKids to get my research program off the ground. As well, young medical professionals from all over the world come here to SickKids to train. With medical trainees from across the globe here to learn how we care for children, we can also make a big impact on the health of children worldwide.

4) Do you have a project or achievement that you are most proud of?

My team and I have recently opened the Neonatal Neurocritical Care Unit (NNCU) and begun our Neonatal Neurology training program for medical students, residents and postdoctoral fellows. I am very proud of our group of Neonatal Neurologists, Neonatologists and nurses who have helped to make this a reality. We look forward to advancing the care of newborns to improve on their brain development, and a new MRI scanner in the NICU will be paramount to optimizing care and research.

5) In your eyes, why is the SickKids Chinese initiative so important?

As a Chinese-Canadian, I am proud that my community has come out to support our efforts to optimize care of newborns at risk for brain injury. Having a state-of-the-art MRI scanner in the NICU will decrease transport time and improve accessibility of the MRI scanner for our sickest babies. Timely studies will help us with each patient’s medical care, but will also play a critical role in the success of our research to help future newborns minimize brain injury and improve brain development. This initiative will provide such an important service for our sickest babies.

[dothehappy]

SickKids Chinese Initiative

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at SickKids is the focus of a new fundraising campaign launched today in partnership with the Chinese-Canadian community. The SickKids Chinese Initiative will bring together leaders in the Chinese community who will engage with the community and provide opportunities to raise awareness and funds to support this fundraising priority, with the goal to help raise enough funds for an MRI machine for the NICU.

SickKids is home to one of the only NICUs in Ontario that can provide highly specialized care to premature infants and critically ill newborns as young as 23 weeks who might weigh less than one pound. Last year, the NICU treated 703 patients. 70 per cent of pre-term babies will suffer undetected neurological damage without a magnetic resonance imaging machine (MRI).

“Programs like the Chinese Initiative will provide doctors like me in the NICU with the tools that I need to help save the lives of these children and I am so grateful for that,” said Dr. Emily Tam, neonatal neurologist at SickKids.

Children like Gabriella, who came into the world eight weeks early weighing a mere two pounds. Gabbie spent the first two months of her life in NICU, growing under the care and attention of SickKids staff until she was healthy enough to go home when she weighed four pounds.

On behalf of SickKids, we would like to thank the volunteer Cabinet who will help to guide the Chinese initiative and build connections within the Chinese community.

A new fundraising event will also help to support the Chinese Initiative. BMO presents Glitter in Macau will take place on March 1, 2014 at the Shangri-La Hotel. We would like to thank the event committee for their passionate support in making this an evening to remember. We would also like to thank all of the sponsors who have come onboard to support this inaugural event.

To read the press release from today’s launch of the Chinese Initiative, visit our website.

[dothehappy]

Meet SickKids kid Nevaeh

Meet Nevaeh, a SickKids patient featured in our latest SickKids Lottery. Nevaeh was born in June 2006 with club feet and also had some breathing difficulties. What’s more, her family noticed she wasn’t able to open her hands fully, her fingers seemed long and stiff and she had other unusual physical features.

A week after she went home, Nevaeh became a patient of SickKids. After three years of numerous surgeries, extensive physiotherapy and other treatments, she could walk independently.

At age four, genetic testing confirmed Nevaeh had Loeys-Dietz syndrome, a rare connective tissue disorder that was only identified in 2005.

The now seven-year-old is primarily followed in the Marfan and Connective Tissues Clinic in the division of cardiology, although specialists in gastroenterology, cardiology, dentistry, orthopaedics and ophthalmology are also part of her care team. With regular visits to SickKids, her family estimates they have made more than 300 trips to the hospital so far.

Despite all Nevaeh has been through, she’s a spunky, chatty child who wants to be an echo technician and work at SickKids when she grows up. She and her family are forever grateful to SickKids for the wonderful care she’s received – and will continue to receive – at one of the world’s premier children’s hospitals.

Every child deserves the chance to be healthy and happy. By taking part in the Winter SickKids Lottery, you’ll help fund the care, research and learning that will make a real and lasting difference for children in Canada and around the world. Children like Nevaeh.

To learn more about the SickKids Lottery and order your tickets today, visit www.sickkidslottery.ca.

LL#6182 50/50LL#6185