Just 4 Kids Fall 2023

FALL 2023

Leo’s Lifeline Learn how the community-supported Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team is saving lives.

JUST 4 KIDS – FALL 2023

Leo’s life-saving journey

Leo, with Registered Respiratory Therapist, Breanne Jager JUST 4 KIDS – FALL 2023

“Mommy and daddy love you.

We’ll be right behind you.”

Nothing could have prepared Kayla and Brett Piecharka for that heartwrenching goodbye, watching their two-week-old baby Leo take off in a small airplane headed to the Alberta Children’s Hospital, with a team of specialists working to save his life.

Kayla, Leo and her older son, Barrin, were enjoying their local water park in Lethbridge when she noticed Leo’s breathing seemed slow. Because Leo was born with a small cyst on his lung that doctors were watching, she decided to drop Barrin off at his grandma’s house and take Leo to the Emergency Department, just in case.

By the time they arrived, Leo’s breathing had worsened.

As Kayla laid her new baby down on the hospital bed, his oxygen levels dropped dramatically and then suddenly, he went limp.

In just two days, Leo’s cyst had grown 25 percent larger and was crushing one of his lungs. The emergency doctor determined Leo needed expert, pediatric care at the Alberta Children’s Hospital — and fast.

Thanks to generous community support, the hospital’s Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team was Leo’s best hope.

His life depended on the speed and skills of specially trained intensivists, respiratory therapists and nurses who travel to smaller hospitals to stabilize and transport critically ill babies and kids to the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Whether by fixed-wing airplane, helicopter or ambulance, the team performs life-saving interventions en route to hospital.

Leo’s respiratory therapist and intensive care unit (ICU) nurse from the transport team confidently and skillfully stabilized him. They loaded him into an airplane equipped like a mobile ICU. Kayla and Brett told their baby they loved him and began the 2.5-hour drive to Calgary, anxious and afraid.

Leo and his family

“We watched his plane fly over us as we were driving on the highway and I put my hand on the window and prayed to God that my baby was okay,” says Kayla. “As heartbreaking as it was watching these people take my baby and fly away with him, I knew he was in the best hands and going to the best place.”

The transport team was Leo’s lifeline for the flight from Lethbridge to Calgary. Because of generous donations, he had the right experts caring for him with state-of-the-art equipment on board to survive the journey to the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Even with the aircraft’s movement, noise and confined space, the team could keep a close eye on Leo’s condition using a monitor specifically designed for flight.

At the Alberta Children’s Hospital, specialists determined the cyst was the size of a walnut — nearly as big as his lung itself. Leo urgently needed surgery to remove the cyst along with a portion of his lung. Thankfully, 18 hours after surgery, Leo began breathing on his own. Five days later, he was well enough to go home with his relieved and grateful parents.

Today, he is a silly two-year-old boy and his parents joke that his lungs work TOO well as they watch him chase and holler after his big brother.

“Leo wouldn’t be here today without the transport team, our surgeon and people who give to the hospital,” says Kayla.

“Thanks to them, our family is whole, and I am going to be able to watch my son grow up healthy and happy.”

How you can help Leo is one of hundreds of children who rely on the hospital’s transport team every year. By making a gift, you will help ensure more children like Leo can access urgent, life-saving care whenever and wherever they need it and return home to their families as healthy as possible.

Thanks to special support from Alberta Milk, donations made in response to Leo’s story before December 31 will be matched up to $100,000 to have twice the impact.

To donate, use the enclosed postage-paid return envelope to mail in your gift, scan the QR code below or visit childrenshospital.ab.ca/Leo

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CHILDRENSHOSPITAL.AB.CA

Look what you made possible

You’re helping children and families both inside the hospital and beyond. Your generosity is funding life-saving, life-changing advancements for kids who need medical care and also helping prevent others from needing the hospital in the first place. Here is just a snapshot of the difference you made last year.

Mental health awareness in schools

New heights in mental health

Thanks to community support, local specialists have become national leaders in providing mental health literacy programs in junior high and high schools. This initiative was so well received that Alberta Health Services took over funding and expanded it to schools across the province.

Donations have also enabled the team to recently develop materials tailored for elementary schools so younger students can also benefit. In 2022/23, the literacy project supported 3,800 elementary students with another 3,500 expected to benefit this year.

The Summit: Marian & Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience is now open and serving families, thanks to people like you who funded its construction through the $50-million Build Them Up campaign. Between March and August, 923 kids sought help at the Owerko Family Walk In Services. Meanwhile, 87 youth have used the Ptarmigan Day Hospital, a ‘step-down’ service helping kids who have been in hospital to transition back to their homes and communities. On average, 30-35 families at a time were enrolled in Tallman Family Treatment Services, a ‘step-up’ service that offers increased support for conditions like anxiety and depression. This warm and inviting centre is expected to help 8,000 kids and families every year.

200,000+

Steps taken by Claire thanks to a wearable robotic device that is part of nation-leading research at the hospital. Born with cerebral palsy, Claire is thrilled the new technology helps her feel more mobile and independent.

JUST 4 KIDS – FALL 2023

$358,191

Provided through the Special Children’s Fund to cover 3,430 requests from families for financial support for necessities like parking, food, gas, medications or medical equipment.

Newborn screening Last year, 47,000 babies in Alberta were screened for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a debilitating and sometimes fatal disease that may be treated if detected early. Thanks to this new test — the result of research you helped fund — five babies were diagnosed with SMA shortly after they were born and quickly started treatment. All five are doing well and meeting their developmental milestones.

Dental care in the community Thanks to a new community partnership formed last year, kids with limited access to dental care are getting the help they need through The Alex Preschool Oral Health Program. The Alex’s dental bus travels to daycares and preschools, providing toothbrushes, dental screenings and can even administer treatment to stop cavities.

Families also receive education and help in connecting them with low-cost dentists in the community. Last year, 375 kids received dental care for the first time!

714

Kids and teens benefited from Acute at Home, a home- and communitybased mental health therapy program.

7,824

Opportunities for children to enjoy time with music, art, pet and horticultural therapists, as well as Sparkle the therapeutic clown.

814

Children seen by the Hospital at Home team, which administers transfusions and medications to oncology, transplant, hematology and immunology patients in their own homes.

1,326

Hours of on-the-spot Video Remote Interpretation — a medical translation service to assist families whose first language is not English.

CHILDRENSHOSPITAL.AB.CA

Safe at home Simulation training empowers families and caregivers Shayne and Sara Shyiak were overjoyed to welcome twins, Luc and Brooklynn, to their family earlier this year. As the first-time parents began navigating the steep learning curve that comes with having a new baby — and they had two! — things became much more complicated when Luc began having seizures.

Following some testing, specialists at the Alberta Children’s Hospital identified a medication that managed the seizures, however, the family’s path forward was forever altered.

“It’s a hard realization, thinking about all the things you need to take care of and plan for when your child experiences seizures,” says Shayne. “For example, going on holiday, you have to figure out things in advance, like: Where is the nearest hospital? Have we packed enough medication? Let’s make sure we’re in an area with cell phone reception in case of an emergency.”

Luc’s risk of seizures also meant his parents faced limitations in leaving him in someone else’s care — they needed to know he was in capable hands should a medical emergency arise.

Fortunately, the Shyiaks were introduced to the KidSIM team at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Established with generous community support, the pediatric simulation program is an invaluable resource for medical experts, families and those in the community, like teachers, who work with kids with complex health needs.

KidSIM allows hospital specialists to practice their skills and prepare for emergency scenarios on high-tech, life-like mannequins. Meanwhile, families like the Shyiaks can receive personalized training for specific emergencies that may arise with their own child. This builds confidence in caring for children at home or out in the community and offers some independence for families who might otherwise rely heavily on care in hospital.

“KidSIM shows these families that even though their lives might be different due to their child’s diagnosis, they can still have some level of normalcy.”

— Helen Catena, KidSim simulation consultant/educator

Baby Luc in the hospital

The Shyiak family

JUST 4 KIDS – FALL 2023

Upcoming events & campaigns KidSIM team members, Louise Simonot and Helen Catena, with a high-tech mannequin

Joggin for a Noggin October 29

Extra Life Game Day November 4 The Shyiaks benefitted from two types of KidSIM training.

The first prepared them to identify a seizure, intervene with rescue medication, learn to handle emergencies in different environments and understand when to call an ambulance.

Walmart ‘Spark a Miracle’ campaign

“It was customized for us,” says Shayne. “Seizures can vary so much from child to child, but they taught us how to respond to Luc’s seizures and about the specific scenarios we might be in when he experienced one.”

November 23 – December 30

The second set of training was a brand new KidSIM offering.

The team recognized how critical it is that families like the Shyiaks are up to date on CPR, however, they also knew how difficult it can be for all the family caregivers to make time for courses in the community, especially when they are without specialized care for their medically compromised child.

To ensure families have access to this training, members of the KidSIM team were recently certified as CPR instructors, allowing them to provide learner-centred CPR training and certification to families in a way that works for their circumstances. Shayne and his parents were the first people to go through this course at the Alberta Children’s Hospital; Sara and her parents were next.

“We learned a lot of people aren’t pushing hard enough when doing CPR on a baby because they’re scared to hurt them,” says Shayne. “We were able to practice CPR with feedback from a machine that would tell us if our pace and pressure were right. It was a great environment for us to feel safe and ask questions and it gave us peace of mind knowing we have the skills to help Luc if we find ourselves in a life-saving situation. We are so grateful the community has helped make the KidSIM program available for families like ours.”

November 13 – January 24

Rexall ‘Holiday Bubble’ Care campaign Candy Cane Gala December 1

Mastermind Toys campaign Until December 24

Purdys ‘Dear Santa’ campaign Until December 24

Country 105 Caring for Kids Radiothon February 7 – 9, 2024

Hockey Marathon for the Kids April 5 – 16, 2024

For more information, check out the ‘Events’ and the ‘Shop + Support’ sections on our website, childrenshospital.ab.ca

CHILDRENSHOSPITAL.AB.CA

The Patil family

Remembering Govind Thanks to generous community support, Rotary Flames House is a place of comfort and sanctuary for children with complex and life-limiting medical conditions and their families. As Alberta’s only pediatric hospice, it’s a home away from home where they can access respite care, therapeutic programming, symptom management and transition care, as well as compassionate end-of-life care and grief support. Whether measured in years, months, weeks or days, the team at Rotary Flames House helps make the most of every child’s life.

Even while bravely battling cancer, Govind Patil could make people laugh. It’s how his family remembers their sweet, courageous boy now, five years after his passing at Rotary Flames House where he spent his final days filled with happiness and love.

Govind was only four when a mass developed around his kidney and adrenal glands. Diagnosed with stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma, the news was devastating for his parents, Deepak and Shilpa.

“It was like our world came crashing down,” says Deepak.

Kindergarten was put on hold as Govind began a year and a half of treatment that included chemotherapy, surgery, a stem cell transplant, radiation and immunotherapy.

He fought courageously, however, sadly, the cancer spread. After exhausting all available treatments, his family had to make the difficult decision to move him to palliative care at Rotary Flames House. It was a place, his parents said, that would make him feel better, yet they had no idea just how special it would truly be for him and his family.

Govind’s last few weeks were full of joy.

Claiming the biggest room in the House, he enjoyed spending time with his friends, eating his favourite sweets and playing video games. Even though he never went home again, Govind found happiness at Rotary Flames House.

JUST 4 KIDS – FALL 2023

“It’s a place between Heaven and Earth,” says Deepak. “The nurses and doctors there are like family and the joy they give these kids, how they help them forget their pain, it can’t be put into words.”

During his final days, Govind was surrounded by love. As he slept peacefully, his family gathered to say goodbye. One evening, he woke up, seemingly to give his mom one last gift. As Shilpa helped him to the washroom, he held her and gave her the longest, greatest hug in a beautiful moment she will treasure forever.

“He was a real fighter, and we miss him, we miss those hugs now,” Shilpa says.

At Govind’s request, his tumour was donated to cancer research to support efforts to spare other children from having to go through what he did.

As they continue to grieve, his parents are grateful for how the incredible people at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and Rotary Flames House have wrapped their arms around the entire family.

“There are no words to express the gratitude we have for how the hospital and Rotary Flames House cared for our boy,” says Deepak.

Thanks to generous community support, Rotary Flames House also provides other valuable services for children and their families.

RESPITE CARE

THERAPEUTIC DAY PROGRAMMING

GRIEF SUPPORT AND BEREAVEMENT CARE

For parents caring for a medically complex child, their daily routine may involve feeding tubes, oxygen tanks and medication schedules — on top of the usual responsibilities of being mom and dad. Being on alert for medical emergencies 24/7 can impact their time or ability to sleep, run errands, or connect with their other children.

Respite care allows these devoted parents to leave their child in the hands of highly specialized medical and Child Life teams at the House, knowing their care will continue uninterrupted. They can take some valuable time to rest and recharge, knowing their child is happy and safe.

Being a child with complex medical needs can often be isolating since many traditional ways to play are not possible for them. At Rotary Flames House, children can take part in therapeutic and recreational programs adapted to their unique needs. From playing the drum in a music therapy group, to touching the soil with a horticultural therapist, to sensory activities with a Child Life Specialist, children are offered a wide variety of fun and educational opportunities not readily available in their home communities.

From the time of a child’s diagnosis, throughout their illness and after their passing, grief and bereavement support is offered for families by compassionate social workers at the House. Through one-on-one counselling and supportive group sessions, the team helps bereaved parents learn how to create an ongoing relationship with their child, honour their memory and manage feelings associated with grief and trauma.

Child Life Specialists also offer a grief support program for siblings.

Learn more about Rotary Flames House childrenshospital.ab.ca/rotaryflameshouse

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Therapeutic play at Rotary Flames House

Last year at Rotary Flames House there were:

260

Admissions for respite, end-of-life or symptom care

1,598 Total nights of stay

190

Parents who relied on grief support

2,670

Volunteer hours

63

Volunteers

CHILDRENSHOSPITAL.AB.CA

Reading reaps healthy rewards Located in the heart of Inglewood, the Little Red Reading House has enabled children and their families to discover the joy of reading since 2017. With colourful décor and cozy seating, this welcoming two-storey house is filled with thousands of thoughtfully curated books to capture young imaginations.

This fall, Calgary Reads gifted the House to the University of Calgary’s Owerko Centre for Neurodevelopment and Child Mental Health at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, with support from the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.

While the House will continue to welcome children and families for visits, as a community-based UCalgary research site, it will also generate exciting opportunities for families and community partners to engage with researchers in meaningful new studies.

“It’s important that we find ways to ensure children in our community have all the tools they need to live vibrant and healthy lives,” says Saifa Koonar, President and CEO of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“Literacy is a key social determinant of health and opens the door to healthier futures.”

JUST 4 KIDS – FALL 2023

The educational and recreational benefits of reading are well understood, yet some may be surprised to discover the lifelong impact it has on health.

Enhancing a child’s ability to think critically and empathetically, reading gives young people the support they need during challenging times. Recent studies have shown that reading about the hardships and triumphs of others builds resiliencepromoting skills, which can help protect against mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Beyond those protective factors, being able to read, understand and apply information — including information from healthcare providers — increases people’s ability to navigate the healthcare system and leads to better overall health and health decisions throughout the lifespan.

“With the Little Red Reading House now under the stewardship of the Owerko Centre, we will have so many wonderful ways to engage children and families in UCalgary research,” says Dr. Susan Graham, Director of the Owerko Centre. “The cross-pollination of ideas will lead to new insights to improve children’s overall health and well-being.”

Ongoing and generous support from the community will ensure the Little Red Reading House continues to be an inspiring destination for student field trips as well as young readers and their families. With many playful nooks and crannies to discover and walls of books to choose from, the House is designed as a space for kids to follow their curiosity. And with each visit, every child gets to take a book home to keep — something to treasure as their own.

To schedule a visit to the Little Red Reading House, scan here:

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Fun-raisers

Creative kids come together for sick and injured peers The smallest hands can make the biggest difference and kids across southern Alberta demonstrated that in a huge way over the past year.

Through the Kids Helping Kids program, hundreds of youth flexed their creative muscles in support of the Alberta Children’s Hospital — some laced up for an entire season of fundraising through the Hockey Kids Helping Kids initiative, others participated in school bike-a-thons, sold lemonade, shaved their heads or became Birthday Heroes.

Together, they raised an astounding $471,265 that will be used to purchase new equipment, fund specialized programming and drive research that will help even more kids in the future.

Ruby Penney was inspired to get involved during her own medical journey at the Alberta Children’s Hospital that began in 2022 due to a rare, degenerative condition called Idiopathic Chondrolysis of the Hip.

“When I was sick, I was in the hospital for a really long time, and I had gotten so many gifts,” says 11-year-old Ruby. “So when my birthday came, my mom suggested that we ask for donations for the hospital instead of more gifts and I thought that was a great idea. We raised $300 from my birthday! So, we started an online donation page and told all our friends and family, and my mom kept updating it. We’ve now raised $28,000 because people are so kind.”

As soon as Ruby learned that she could direct the money toward the building of new and improved playground spaces at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, she knew that’s what she was going to do.

“Playgrounds are very important to me,” says Ruby. “Before I was in a wheelchair, I loved exploring new playgrounds all over the city with my brother and sister. All kids deserve the right to play, no matter what their bodies can or cannot do.”

2023 AWARD WINNERS TOP FUNDRAISER

Age 9 and under Varis Chattha, 3 $15,114

Age 10 and older Ruby Penney, 11 $28,000

TOP FUNDRAISING GROUP Glenlake Hawks U13-3 Blue $8,575

TOP FUNDRAISING SCHOOL George McDougall High School $55,291

HERO AWARDS Rylan Williams, 7 Cooper Ryan, 6 Shaye Parkinson, 9 Lily Stainbrook, 9 Lilly Kalmar, 10

Ruby with her sister, brother and Dr. Teddi at the Kids Helping Kids celebration

Feeling inspired to be part of Kids Helping Kids?

Learn more at childrenshospital.ab.ca/khk

CHILDRENSHOSPITAL.AB.CA

It’s a little bit country and a whole lotta love!

Join us for an enchanted evening at Candy Cane Gala on December 1.

Tables are available for purchase until November 20 and the fabulous online auction opens to all on November 19 — be sure to check it out!

CANDYCANEGALA.COM

Return undeliverable Canadian address to: 28 Oki Drive NW Calgary, AB T3B 6A8

Coming February 7, 8 & 9, 2024.

You can be part of this meaningful and much-loved event by becoming a Radiothon Sponsor!

Email CommunityInitiatives@achf.com for more information.

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