CELEBRATE
the Gift of Life
Liver
Ben's Transplant Journey
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Message from the Chairman
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Message from the CEO
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Message from the SVP, Fund Development
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Message from the Director of Family Relations
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Boston Pizza Initiative
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Ben's Transplant Journey Continued
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Family Updates
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doNate The Gift of Life
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Partner Spotlight: Aird & Berlis LLP
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Thank You to All Our Partners
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Donate Life Canada
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DAVIDFOSTERFOUNDATION.COM
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Ben’s Transplant Journey
SUMMER 2020 | VOLUME 31
212 HENRY ST., VICTORIA, BC V9A 3H9 OFFICE: 250.475.1223 FAX: 250.475.1193 TOLL FREE: 1.877.777.7675
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"Ben is the sickest child in this hospital." Ben These were the heart-stopping words that TRANSPLANT: parents Caroline and Lester heard from LIVER doctors earlier this year. Ben has congenital TRANSPLANT DATE: neutropenia, a condition in which people are JANUARY 10, 2020 prone to recurrent infections. Caroline and HOME: WINNIPEG, MB Lester often bring him to the emergency room at the children's hospital for antibiotic treatment when something comes up. Last December 27, when Ben was 4 years old, his eyes and skin were a bit yellow, so Caroline took him into emergency. Since Ben didn't have a fever, he was given a course of antibiotics and sent home. On December 30, Caroline took him into the pediatrician because he was extremely jaundiced, his urine had the colour of cola, and he had developed a fever overnight. The doctor sent the family to the emergency room for further assessment and he was admitted to hospital for acute liver failure. Ben was admitted to the Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg for one week before the medical team felt that it would be best for Ben to be transported to SickKids Hospital in Toronto while he was still stable. On January 4, 2020, Ben, Caroline and Lester flew on a medical jet to SickKids Hospital. The family had to leave Ben's two sisters and dog at home with their extended family and they remember how hard it was to be separated.
The support the Foundation provided us has helped our family keep our focus on Ben and his recovery. —Caroline, Ben’s mom CONTINUES ON PAGE 6
David Foster visiting and chatting with transplant recipients at Toronto SickKids Hospital in 2013.
Our Work is Not Done Message from the Chairman
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he last few months have been an extremely challenging and trying time for all our families, our communities, our business partners, and our country as a whole. Throughout this challenging time, it is inspiring to see people demonstrate their support for one another and focus on the well-being and safety of others. I am extremely grateful for the transplant doctors, nurses, and social workers who continue to be on the front line helping our transplant families across the country. To me, they are heroes and they selflessly continue to support our families and the transplant teams that are doing everything they can to keep their patients healthy. We have seen a continual increase in the requests for financial support throughout the country, which leads
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me to believe that our work is not done. More importantly, our work and financial assistance is a critical safety without which too many families would be in financial ruin. The whole reason why I started my foundation over 30 years ago was to make sure no transplant family would have to lose their home and worry about how they were going to pay their bills. I could not claim to have a foundation without the endless dedication of our Board of Directors and the tireless work of our staff and volunteers.
I am so grateful for your continued support and know that there will be more families requiring financial assistance as their child waits for a life-saving organ transplant.
I have always said that I want my legacy to be this foundation. I want people to remember all the families whose lives were changed, all the children whose lives were saved because of what the David Foster Foundation does. My music is simply how I communicate; the children are how I hope to be remembered.
Sincerely,
I invite you to join me to make a difference by donating funds towards a family’s non-medical expenses or registering your intent to become an organ donor at davidfosterfoundation.com. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your continued support.
David Foster Founder and Chairman
Understanding the Challenges I
have found myself continually thinking about the challenges our world has been facing as the impacts of the pandemic are felt globally. Ever since I became involved with the David Foster Foundation, I have always tried to put myself in the shoes of a parent who is faced with the fear of having their child wait for a life-saving transplant and not until now, did I truly understand how our families must feel. The reality of what we are experiencing with the restrictions and fears that COVID-19 has brought to the world must only be a fraction of what our families go through daily. We all have recently been thrust into uncertain times; however, it is through these challenging times that I have been able to truly understand the concerns and worries our families are faced with every day. Imagine not knowing when your child will receive that all-important life-saving call that an organ has come available? Every day you are waiting to hear some good news, just as we all have been waiting every day to hear if the numbers of people infected by COVID-19 are going down and things will start to get better. Imagine, the concern and worry that the parents of a child who is immunosuppressed face on a typical day. Parents must ensure that their child is wearing a facemask, objects and surfaces are sterilized, and they are not exposed to anyone who is sick. These are all precautions required every day, but especially now, to ensure that their child doesn’t pick up a virus while they are out doing dayto-day activities. These are all real-life situations that our transplant families face on a daily basis regardless of the COIVD-19 pandemic. As we navigate these uncertain times together, many of the families we assist have shared that they are experiencing heightened fear and anxiety. This is another reason why we are working hard to make sure we will always be there for our transplant families. It is
times like this that amplify the need to continue to develop our financial endowment plan to guarantee we will always have the financial resources to support our families. The David Foster Foundation team has been very fortunate to be able to work from home with a priority focus on family support and awareness initiatives throughout this time. All our decisions have been made to prioritize the health and wellness of our staff. Our regular Zoom and conference calls have brought a more human element to our isolation. Throughout this time, I have loved being able to check in via Zoom or FaceTime with our many donors and dear friends of the Foundation. This time of reflection has slowed us all down from the crazy pace we call life and given us a chance to really see what’s important: our family, our friends, and our health. As our country starts to open back up, and our team adjusts to the new normal, we look forward to the day when we
The reality of what we are experiencing with the restrictrions and fears that COVID-19 has brought to the world must only be a fraction of what our families go through daily.
can come together to celebrate life and break bread together over a wonderful glass of wine as we enjoy the worldclass fundraising evenings that we have come to look forward to.
With sincere appreciation and gratitude,
Michael Ravenhill Chief Executive Officer
How time flies! This photo of Michael Ravenhill and Curtis, heart-transplant recipient, was taken 6 years ago in Calgary, AB. Each bead around Curtis’s neck represents a surgery, a needle, or a good or bad day that he experienced during his transplant journey.
COVID-19 Continues To Impact Our Families
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ver the past couple of months, through telephone, FaceTime, text, video calls and emails, I have had the pleasure of corresponding personally with many friends of the Foundation.
• Many families who under normal circumstances would not be eligible for financial support from the Foundation, due to the job and/or business loss as a direct result of COIVD-19 are currently eligible.
Inevitably during the conversation, I am asked whether COVID-19 has had an • Ronald McDonald Houses across impact on the Foundation and our families. Canada stopped allowing new My response: Dramatic. Let me explain. families stay at their locations through the peak of the pandemic The most common phrase used during and are only now starting to re-open the COVID-19 briefings is, "let the science slowly. Ronald McDonald Houses and numbers determine the action." offer low cost accommodation for relocated transplant families and The following percentages are a the closure resulted in much higher comparison from January to May 2019, accommodation costs. to the same current period in 2020. • Total number of family requests increased by 32% • Total number of family funding dollars required - increased by 50% Understanding the significance of the increase in the above numbers:
• Many transplants are delayed due to COVID-19 hospitalization priority and this delay has significantly increased the usual transplant process timeline for the families we support. As a direct result, the funding required from the Foundation has increased
and will be required for a longer period of time. • Due to COVID-19, the actual number of available organs has decreased relative to the same period in 2019. This means there are increased wait times that concurrently and directly increase the amount of financial support required of the Foundation. At the end of the day, no matter the challenge, we are honoured to create more tomorrows for our David Foster Foundation families from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island.
Sincerely,
John Danson SVP, Fund Development
Protecting The Most Vulnerable
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would like to extend a huge thanks to all the social workers across Canada who work with the Foundation on a regular basis to help us provide support to transplant families. As frontline workers your job has been greatly impacted by COVID-19 and we are so grateful for your support at all times, but especially over the last few months as Canada has stood together to work to slow the spread of the virus. Thank you so much for your continued dedication to the families that you help. I would also like to recognize all the transplant teams and allied health professionals who work with our families in hospital to provide much needed medical care. Your dedication to the support and care of our transplant families is unmatched. Amid these uncertain times the Foundation has continued to assist
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families whose children need to be assessed for transplant, are waiting for transplant, or have received and are recovering from transplant. Some of the parents of the children we have assisted have shared with me that it has been a very scary time for them. Parents have taken additional measures to protect their children such as prohibiting any visitors to their house (which a mother pointed out can be very lonely for the children), avoiding going to any parks or stores or going on any outings, and washing all clothes whenever they are required to leave their house for a medical appointment. Perhaps one of the biggest adjustments for families with children who are waiting for transplants is that only the most urgent transplants have been performed. This means that the waiting period for a transplant has been made longer to minimize medical operations deemed to be lower priority.
As COVID-19 touches the lives of all, it especially impacts those who are most vulnerable, and we are grateful that we are able to continue to assist transplant families through these times. Everyone has been so greatly impacted by COVID-19, but the effects of it have been felt heavily by the transplant community. So, thank you to all of those who have helped to flatten the curve over the past months to protect those most vulnerable, like our transplant families. Together, we are making a difference.
Sincerely,
Aleea Dahinden Director of Family Relations
ENJOY LUNCH OR DINNER ON US.
Boston Pizza Initiative D uring uncertain and unpredictable times, the David Foster Foundation purchased Boston Pizza gift cards to recognize and support the staff at the pediatric transplant hospitals and transplant families all across Canada.
As a gift of appreciation and gratitude for their hard work, eight transplant hospitals received a gift card to feed their transplant teams and support staff. Knowing that the teams had been working long hours and involved in stressful situations, the Foundation hoped providing a meal would allow the staff to take a moment and relax.
The Foundation also purchased gift cards for all families assisted in 2019 and 2020 who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This allowed for busy parents who are juggling work from home schedules and homeschooling their children to take a night off from cooking to focus on family time and enjoy a Boston Pizza meal together. In addition to supporting transplant hospitals and families, it was the David Foster Foundation’s goal to support local Boston Pizza franchisees across
Canada. The David Foster Foundation is very grateful for the continued support from Boston Pizza and the Treliving family and felt this was a great way to give back and support a partner.
The David Foster Foundation has always been able to count on the support of Jim Treliving and the Boston Pizza team. During such uncertain times, we thought it was the perfect way to give back to those who have been so generous to us. Purchasing gift cards from Boston Pizza franchisees allowed us to support locally all while showing our thanks to transplant hospitals and support families across Canada feeling the effects of COVID-19.
— Mike Ravenhill, CEO David Foster Foundation
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The recovery was also hard on our family as I had to be the main caregiver for Ben, and he had to go through a few surgical procedures post-transplant. I also had to be the main caregiver for my husband while he was in recovery. It was a very challenging time but with the grace of God, I was able to have the strength to take care of both Ben and Lester.
Ben in hospital before his transplant surgery.
On January 6, the team at SickKids performed a biopsy of Ben’s liver to evaluate its condition. After the biopsy, the team advised that a transplant was the best solution for Ben to recover and he was listed for transplant on January 8. Caroline remembers being told that “he was at the top of the list due to his condition. We were often reminded that Ben was the sickest kid in the hospital. It was so hard to hear this because he was still so responsive and excited about life. It definitely took a huge emotional and mental toll on myself and my husband.” Wanting to do everything they could to save Ben, both Caroline and Lester went through workups to see if either could be Ben’s living liver donor. During this process, Caroline recalls, “My husband and I were going to do blood work as part of the living donor process and I told Ben we would be back shortly and I remember he sat up immediately and said ‘Mom, I’m better now.’ It was so heartbreaking for me because I knew he wasn’t well, but he didn’t want us to have to endure any pain for him.” It was both surprising and uncommon that Caroline and Lester were both a match for Ben. The medical team chose Lester to be Ben’s living donor and surgery was scheduled for January 10, 2020. The biggest struggle Caroline faced during the transplant journey was on the day of transplant when both her son
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and her husband went into surgery at two separate hospitals. “On the day of surgery, I wasn’t able to be with Lester. We had both agreed that Ben would be our priority, so I wanted to be with Ben for the duration of his surgery.” The surgery was successful, and both Ben and Lester recovered well. However, post-transplant, Caroline was pulled between supporting Ben and Lester. “The recovery was also hard on our family as I had to be the main caregiver for Ben, and he had to go through a few surgical procedures post-transplant. I also had to be the main caregiver for my husband while he was in recovery. It was a very challenging time but with the grace of God, I was able to have the strength to take care of both Ben and Lester.” As transplant followed soon after Christmas, Caroline had used all of her vacation days and the family notes that the holidays are “usually the most expensive season for our family. Lester had to stop working abruptly as well and we were in a different city so financially this was a very trying time.” The family’s social worker let the family know about the David Foster Foundation and the support they could provide. The Foundation supported the family with grocery and household expenses, accommodations at Ronald McDonald House in Toronto during Ben's threemonth recovery, and flights home for the family once Ben and Lester were healthy enough to return to Winnipeg.
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Caroline shares that the family is “so grateful that in a time of uncertainty and challenges that a foundation such as the David Foster Foundation was intentionally built and grown to help people in our situation. The support the David Foster Foundation provided us has helped our family keep our focus on Ben and his recovery.” Today, Ben is still experiencing some issues with the stability of his liver enzymes. He is currently on antirejection medication, which he will be on for his entire life. Caroline notes, “There are still a few challenges in trying to find the cause for his elevated liver enzymes, but we are confident that the amazing teams in Winnipeg and SickKids in Toronto will be able to help resolve these issues. Benjamin is the baby of our family. He is so energetic, inquisitive and has a funny sense of humour. It was really hard for our family to see him get so sick because he is usually full of energy and is always laughing and joking around. Despite the journey and challenges he has faced Ben showing his creative liver transplant artwork outside his hospital room door.
and continues to face, he has an amazing resilience that keeps him in such good spirits.”
Despite the journey and challenges he has faced and continues to face, Ben has an amazing resilience that keeps him in such good spirits.
Ben enjoying life back home in Winnipeg after his liver transplant.
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Family Updates TAYA Transplant: Liver Date: December 12, 2017
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ince Taya’s liver transplant in 2017, she has had quite the journey. Taya has been doing very well posttransplant, but like many post-transplant children it has not been without some minor hiccups. Last year, was the highlight of Taya's young life. On New Year’s Day, Taya's family surprised her with a puppy named Flash, something she has always wished for. In April, Make-A-Wish Foundation granted Taya and her family a 7-day Disney Cruise around the Western Caribbean. To celebrate Taya’s 12th birthday, the family travelled to Mexico to create memories. Taya enjoys spending time with Flash, drawing, playing games on her iPad, watching movies with her family, and spending time with her older sister,
LILY Transplant: Liver Date: August 22, 2013
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ily received her living liver transplant in 2013 when she was only eight months old. Seven years post-transplant, Lily is now seven years old and is in grade 1. She is full of life and is one of the most energetic children you could ever meet. She keeps busy with daily walks and playing soccer in the back yard. Lily’s family has been isolated for over two months now, but this hasn’t stopped Lily from enjoying her post-transplant life. The family recently added a lovely Golden Retriever puppy to the family named Paul. Lily loves taking care of him, playing with him and making sure he is happy. This summer, Lily is excited to spend some quality time with her grandparents as she is going to visit them in another province. Lily loves to play with slime, watch YouTube videos, and play outside!
Lily is seven years old and is in grade 1. She is full of life and is one of the most energetic children you could ever meet.
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Taryn. Taya shares that she has been doing amazing post-transplant, and she and her family have been keeping busy, enjoying life, and enjoying every day and every moment.
Khai continues to grow and each day his personality gets bigger and he keeps those around him laughing. KHAI Transplant: Multi-visceral Date: October 17, 2018
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n January 23, Khai underwent an ileostomy which is a closure surgery that is performed after a very serious and rare multi-visceral transplant of a stomach, intestine, and small bowel. Since then, Khai has started talking and proudly knows his numbers one through ten and can say upwards of three-word phrases. Julia, his mother, shared with us that Khai’s favourite things to say right now are “oh well”, “love you too” and blaming his dirty diapers on the family’s dog. This summer Khai is excited to go golfing with his Papa, which he loves. He is also looking forward to his baby cousin being born and currently loves his auntie's belly. Khai continues to grow and each day his personality gets bigger and he keeps those around him laughing.
ERIN Transplant: Liver Date: October 18, 2018
Erin is now two years old and two years post-transplant. She is sassy, loves to read, and super chatty.
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t's been a year and a half since Erin’s liver transplant in October 2018. Her family is happy to report she has really been thriving and growing. The first year posttransplant had its own set of challenges, with some bumps along the way with several trips to SickKids Hospital in Toronto. Fortunately, there was nothing serious nor unexpected and Erin’s medical team was there every step of the way. On Erin’s one-year follow-up in 2019, the family was relieved they would be able to significantly decrease her daily medication. Now Erin is down to one medication, an anti-rejection med taken twice a day. Around that same time, Erin started walking! Erin is now two years old and two years post-transplant. She is sassy, loves to read, and super chatty and learning many new words each day. Erin adores and cherishes her special teddy bear, Baby.
The David Foster Foundation
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doNate The Gift of Life N ate was born in 2008 and was diagnosed with Gastroschisis, a condition where his intestines were developed outside of the abdominal wall. Nate resides on a farm near Maymont, Saskatchewan with his parents, Dane and Jen, and his two brothers, Deagan and Gunner. Nate currently battles for survival every day and is living with intestinal and liver failure.
Since birth, Nate has spent a large majority of his life in the hospital. He spent the first year of his life at the Saskatoon Royal University Hospital. Nate was then transferred to Alberta Children’s Hospital and monitored by their medical team until 2014. Due to Nate's worsening condition, he was transferred from Alberta Children’s Hospital to Toronto SickKids and has been monitored by their medical team from 2014 to today. In December of 2018, Nate was officially placed on the transplant list for an intestinal and liver transplant. It was at the time of being listed, that the family noticed his name ‘Nate’ was in the word ‘donate’. This revelation sparked the beginning of the campaign doNate The Gift of Life. Since then, the family has created doNate apparel which includes hoodies, t-shirts, tanks, and hats.
Did you know that 90% of Canadians support organ donation, but less than 25% are registered? To register, visit davidfosterfoundaton.com and talk to your family today to help kids like Nate.
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With the money raised from the sales, they have been giving back to organizations that are close to their hearts. Nate and his family recently donated to the David Foster Foundation. To date, the doNate campaign has raised over $17,000. More recently in August of 2019, Nate was required to go in for more tests and procedures. The transplant team decided to change his transplant to a multivisceral transplant, which now includes the transplantation of his stomach, duodenum, intestines, and liver. Despite still waiting for a life-saving multi-visceral transplant, Nate has been enjoying time at home and the lake with his family. He is looking forward to enjoying time with family and friends over the summer and hopeful he will be able to return to school in the fall. Nate continues to keep a positive attitude through the uncertainty of COVID-19 and is taking time to truly appreciate all that he has.
A Message from the Foundation Nate, your journey and positive attitude are truly inspiring. We are grateful and honoured to have received support from you and your family through the doNate The Gift of Life campaign. Not only are you fighting your own battle, you are supporting other families who are fighting alongside you. We applaud you, Nate!
Partner Spotlight: THANK YOU TO ALL OUR PARTNERS Life Legacy Members Jim & Sandi Treliving
Newton Glassman Charitable Foundation in Partnership with Catalyst Capital Group
John Danson and Steven Zakem, Managing Partner of Aird & Berlis, holding a donation cheque that will support transplant family flights.
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ohn Danson, Senior Vice President of Fund Development for the David Foster Foundation, became an adopted member of the Aird & Berlis LLP family through a personal connection with Gary Torgis, the firm’s Executive Director. For more than seven years, Aird & Berlis, a prominent Canadian law firm located in Toronto, has hosted John and the Eastern Canada office. John interacts frequently with lawyers and staff in the hallways or while grabbing a coffee in the kitchen, and often shares the life-changing stories made possible by the Foundation. Aside from the free coffee, Aird & Berlis provides office space, administrative support, 24/7 IT services, and, to date, 10 million Aeroplan miles to help ease the travel burden for families and children facing an organ transplant. Aird & Berlis supports numerous charities, but none is as personal as the relationship with the David Foster Foundation. Earlier this year, Steven Zakem, Managing Partner of Aird & Berlis, sent a firm-wide email to 500 lawyers and staff with the video “A Must-See Heart-to-Heart Story”, which follows the parents of an organ donor
Walter & Maria Schneider Jim Pattison
as they listen through a stethoscope to their daughter’s heart beating in another child’s body. The powerful emotional response from members of the firm was another confirmation of the value of the relationship Aird & Berlis has with the David Foster Foundation.
National Partners
According to Steven, “Our lawyers and staff have been touched by the stories of the children and families assisted by the David Foster Foundation. We have been brought to tears by watching the beautiful videos, reading heartwarming articles and hearing stories first-hand from John Danson, and are beyond grateful to have the opportunity to play a small part in the wonderful work that the Foundation does.” The firm may have adopted John, but family ties can’t replace talent. When David Foster visited the firm and played in front of a packed house of eager listeners, he asked for some volunteers to come and sing with him. His advice to the lawyers dreaming of musical fame: don’t quit your day job. Aird & Berlis will continue to do what it does best – provide leading advice in all principal areas of business law – so that the David Foster Foundation can continue to do what it does best.
Community Partners
The David Foster Foundation
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A liver transplant when she was a toddler has given Valerie more than 25 years of excellent health. It also made possible a college degree, a great job, a loving marriage and now the joys of motherhood.
Coming soon!