David Foster Foundation Spring 2014 Newsletter

Spring 2014 Volume 8

CELEBR ATE The Gift of Life

The Lily Hague-Wautier Story

David Foster with Elspeth Arbow, 5 years after her double lung transplant.

WHAT’S INSIDE 1 Message from the Chairman . . . . . 3 A Thoughtful Reflection . . . . . . . . . 3 Message from the CEO . . . . . . . . . . 4 Social Worker Jean Vignette . . . . . . 5 RBC Schnitzer Scrap Drive . . . . . . . . 5 Miracle Gala & Concert Fundraiser . 6 TELUS Community Ambassadors . . 7 Save the Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Lily Hague-Wautier Story . . . . .

We’re Moving Across Canada with AMJ Campbell . . . . . . . . . . .

Thanks to our National Sponsors . .

Follow us on:

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“From the moment you get told your child is sick, all you can do is be there whole-heartily, neglecting all else.”

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ily Hague-Wautier has spent more time in a hospital in her short 14 months than she has spent at home.

Lily Hague-Wautier at 7 months of age just after her The journey began when her mother, liver transplant.

Hailey, went in for a routine ultrasound at 20 weeks into her pregnancy. The doctors told her that her baby had what they believed was a choledochal cyst. They told her that they would monitor her baby, but as of right now they couldn’t do anything but wait till she was born. Lily was born to Hailey and husband, Mark, on January 5th, 2013 at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital weighing in at 7 pounds and 15 ounces. Lily was deemed fine to go home 5 days later and the doctors had scheduled a cyst removal surgery for a few months later.

Lily was on the surgery table and that’s when the medical team discovered that she had Biliary Atresia — when the common bile duct between the liver and the small intestine is either blocked, absent or simply not functioning.

It was necessary for the doctors to perform The Kasai Procedure where the damaged ducts are surgically bypassed to allow the flow of bile to the large continued on page 2

continued from page 1 intestine and prevent liver damage. This procedure has the most success rate when it’s done before 90 days after birth and Lily was 83 days old. Lily was home for a total of four days before her incision opened up and they were rushed back to BC Children’s Hospital. That night Lily had her second surgery to put her organs back in place that had protruded out through her incision. The next day the doctors came and told the family that Lily would need to go to Edmonton for a liver-transplant assessment.

Keeping her stable became incredibly difficult. On May 14th Lily’s condition became life threatening and that evening Lily stopped breathing. She was rushed down to intensive care where they found out she had gone into septic shock. What followed was an intense battle to save little Lily.

On July 8th Lily and Hailey got onto another plane and went to SickKids in Toronto where the surgeons had more experience with transplants on small babies. The procedure the medical team was hoping for meant that they would use a living related liver and create a pew portal vein by using a jump graft with deceased vessels that matched Lily’s blood type. Hailey started her donor testing and after a long month of tests they finally caught a break — Hailey was a match and on Aug 21st had extra vessels and Lily’s transplant would happen the next day.

Lily Hague-Wautier after surgery.

“… the David Foster Foundation was there to pick up the slack. The Foundation paid for flights, helped out with parking, gas, groceries and rent.”

This surgery could not have happened without the lifesaving donation made by a grieving family at their most difficult time. A little boy lost his life and by donating his organs and vessels he saved eight lives as well as Lily’s. We are grateful. Within days Lily’s skin colour improved, the whites of eyes lost their yellow tinge, and her smile came back. Within six weeks both Hailey and Lily recovered remarkably well and on October 1st, the 200th day of this journey, Lily and Hailey traveled home.

It happened to be Thanksgiving weekend.

“From the moment you get told your child is sick, all you can do is be there whole-heartily, neglecting all else. Luckily for myself, Mark and Lily, the David Foster Foundation was there to pick up the slack. The Foundation paid for flights, helped out with parking, gas, groceries and rent. They enabled us to focus on Lily and all of her needs for 200 days and not have the stress of anything else demanding our attention. Lily HagueWautier is a happy little girl learning how to walk and talk and we will be forever thankful to everyone who worked so hard to save our little girl.”

Liver transplant recipient, Lily, at SickKids.

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www.davidfosterfoundation.com

– Hailey Hague-Wautier

Message from the Chairman

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ach year during the David Foster Foundation’s Miracle Gala and Concert, I am amazed by the incredible difference we can make in people’s lives simply by coming together for a night of music. The Foundation has never been stronger and I am so proud and thankful for all the hard work from our board, staff and volunteers which have made this possible.

Our Foundation is all about families; As a parent, I can’t imagine having to worry about my child’s health and having to worry about how I am going to pay the bills. Our goal is to help families through this difficult time when they are faced with the illness of their child.

Parents should be able to focus solely on their child, and not have to worry about the burden of wondering if the electrical bill or mortgage will be paid, or if they can afford to take time off work to move to another city so their child can have the best possible medical care.

These are decisions no parent should have to make,

and with the generous donations to the Foundation, we are able to provide financial support to families so they don’t have to choose between financial devastation and caring for their sick child.

I am looking forward to 2014 and working to make this the David Foster Foundation’s most successful year ever. As we quickly approach our 30th anniversary, our goal of raising 30 million dollars by our 30th anniversary is closer to becoming a reality and this realization will ensure the security of the Foundation and the work we do for many years to come.

Thank you for all your support, together we are creating more tomorrows.

Sincerely,

David Foster, Founder and Chairman

A Thoughtful Reflection

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ast year, in grade 4, our daughter Alli wrote a speech called “My Summer in Toronto” for public speaking. She was 6, and heading into grade 1 the summer that Phoenix was sick. This speech really highlighted to me the effect that the Foundation had on our family. It was written entirely by Alli, her point of view of the summer of 2009. While she included facts about her sister and organ donation, what she really wrote about was the excitement of living in a downtown condo, visiting museums, attending day camp at the YMCA, evenings The Borrowman family, left to right: mom Robin, Alliyah, 10, Phoenix, 4, dad Adrian, and Isaiah, 12. at Harbourfront, The CN tower, subway rides, and favourite restaurants.

I was blown away to read her speech because what I remember is the feeling of panic and fear. Every day felt like an endless nightmare of rushing to get to the hospital and pray at Phoenix’s bedside, and then guilt for the loss of attention to the other kids, and how to care for them and help them feel safe. No matter what, I never felt like I was doing enough for any child, let alone my husband and marriage. At the time I was thankful for the financial aid. It was years later, that I realized it was more than financial aid. The David Foster Foundation helped keep our family intact.

You created happy memories for a 6 and 8 year old, while easing their tired parents guilt and stress.

Thank you so much for the work that you do. Thank you for helping families like ours. Keep up the fantastic work!

– Robin Borrowman, Mother of Phoenix Borrowman, heart transplant recipient

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Message from the CEO “Families should never have to choose between helping their gravely ill child and paying their bills, at the David Foster Foundation it is our mission to ensure that no family is ever faced with that devastating choice”

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am so grateful to everyone who came out to support David and our foundation at our 26th annual Miracle Gala and Concert in Toronto. From the amazing artists who filled the room with music to the generous financial supporters and the incredible team of dedicated volunteers, I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you for making the evening such a tremendous success.

The David Foster Foundation is devoted entirely to financially supporting the families of children needing or undergoing major organ transplants. This unique work is responsible for helping hundreds of families stay together and afloat through immeasurably hard circumstances. Families like Lily Hague-Wautier’s who had to leave their home in Abbotsford when she was a tiny few months old in order for her to receive a lifesaving liver transplant at SickKids hospital in Toronto.

Now a vivacious 1 year old, Lily is thriving; laughing and playing and learning to walk like other children her age.

Families should never have to choose between helping their gravely ill child and paying their bills, at the David Foster Foundation it is our mission to ensure that no family is ever faced with that devastating choice.

In January of this year we surpassed 850 families that we have supported, a milestone that I am very proud of. There is still much work to be done though, and in our quest to raise 30 million dollars by our 30th anniversary, we have just launched a new program called “7 Ways You Can Make Miracles Happen”.

I invite you to check out our website and see the many ways that you can make miracles happen…

I hope you can join us in our efforts to make 2014 our most successful year ever. With your help we can continue to assist families like Lily’s, and take the financial burden away from every family in need.

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Thank you for making an incredibly difficult time, that much easier.

Thank you for making a difference, thank you for making miracles happen!

Kind regards,

Mike Ravenhill, Chief Executive Officer

Email from Dr. Ross in response to the last newsletter…

What David does with his foundation is beyond inspirational. It’s special beyond words.

I don’t think that anyone can read the stories about what David’s foundation does without choking up.

It’s no surprise that someone who has the power and genius to touch the hearts of everyone who hears his music would be able to find a way to bring tears to the eyes of those same listeners... away from the stage. THAT is a talent for the ages... and one deserving of all our endless respect and admiration.

Wishing you all the best with the upcoming fundraising concerts... and beyond.

www.davidfosterfoundation.com

Social Worker Jean Vignette

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n my role and function of Medical Social Worker for the Lung Transplant Team at SickKids, I have great admiration and respect for the charitable work that you all do at The David Foster Foundation.

And, I am most sincerely thankful for the work and generosity of David and all of you who are staff and members of his Foundation.

Before the support of The David Foster Foundation became available for our lung transplant patients, I worked with a few of our patients and their families who were experiencing great financial stress and hardship.

Two in particular reached extreme duress to the point where they had to sell their family home. I shall always remember them. I shall always remember how “gut wrenching” it was for me to witness their suffering while not being able to shore up sufficient monetary support

to help them avoid this further hardship and turmoil in their lives.

Thanks to David and The David Foster Foundation, none of our lung transplant patients have since had to experience such extreme financial hardships. In fact, it has since been the total opposite – that is, our patients and their families have received the generous and most helpful support of The Foundation and have experienced relief from their financial worries. Thanks to The David Foster Foundation, they have been able to remain focused on the most important tasks of preparing for the lung transplantation, patiently waiting until suitable, matching lungs finally became available, undergoing the life-saving surgery, recovering from it, and adjusting to new, transplanted lungs and their necessary prescribed treatment regimen.

The generous support of The David Foster Foundation has made, and continues to make, a most significant and beneficial difference in the lives of our lung transplant patients and their families. And for that, I am so grateful – thank you most sincerely to you, David, and all of you who are the staff and members of his Foundation!

RBC Schnitzer Scrap Drive

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ho knew your old broken bike could help save families! In the fall of 2013 our financial partner RBC, and Schnitzer started a pilot project to raise funds in support of the David Foster Foundation.

The last weekend in September 2013, RBC employees donated their time in the torrential rain at 4 RBC branches in Greater Victoria to collect scrap metal from the local community with the assistance of Schnitzer bins and trucks. The total raised from this 2 day event RBC Uptown & RBC Dominion Securities: Back: Matthew Dorran, was $24,572.81 which included contributions that were made directly Kay Phillips, Matt Hillyard, Jeremy Stephen, Steve Melnick. Front: Peter Bal, Deborah Linehan, Melissa Lovie, Sunil Sharma at Schnitzer yards in both Victoria and Duncan. The project was so successful that Schnitzer decided to partner with the David Foster Foundation, and dedicate a bin year round at both the Victoria and Duncan yard locations and contribute funds on an ongoing basis. The Foundation feels very fortunate to add another National Partner to help us work towards our goal of keeping families together.

We would like to thank all of the employees at RBC and Schnitzer that volunteered their time to our cause!

If you would like to learn more about where you can donate your scrap metal please go to our website www.davidfosterfoundation.com David Foster Foundation Newsletter

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Miracle Gala & Concert Fundraiser “The David Foster Miracle Gala & Concert, presented by TELUS, raised 3.86 million for the David Foster Foundation”

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he day began with a personal visit by David to Toronto SickKids Hospital. Children and their families at all different stages within the transplant journey spoke with David, the Foundation staff and board of directors. It was a time of hope and support.

The Honourable David C. Onley with David and Yolanda Foster and other dignitaries walking the red carpet at the Toronto Miracle Concert and Gala.

Bruce and Susan McKenzie, parents of Marit McKenzie – organ donor.

The Gala evening began with a performance by Andrea Bocelli and included a duet with young up and coming Russian singer Aida Garifullina. Three David Foster Foundation Visionary Awards were presented to Peter Gilgan, National Humanitarian of the Year; Pierre Lassonde, National Business Leader of the Year; and Dr. William J. Wall, National Medical Achievement of the Year. Each recipient was chosen after consideration by the David Foster Foundation board of directors.

Combined with sponsorships and personal donations, Toronto embraced David and his foundation. “I’m thrilled to be back in Toronto, celebrating an amazing evening of performances with many close friends and supporters of the David Foster Foundation,” says Foster.

There was a spectacular finish with Earth Wind & Fire performing, engaging the whole room of 1,000 people to get up and dance. After all the donations were collected and unfortunately some commitments falling off we were still able to raise an amazing 3.86 million dollars!!! Foster explains, “With this level of support, we will help over 200 families that receive assistance annually from the Foundation and get closer to the legacy goal of raising $30M by the 30th anniversary in 2017.”

“Not only does our Miracle Gala & Concert help raise funds to support families, it also raises awareness for the importance of organ donation and registration across Canada,” says Mike Ravenhill, CEO of the David Foster Foundation. “This year thanks to an initiative by Health Canada, that awareness should be higher than ever.”

Laureen Harper and The Tenors promoting Organ Donation #Gift of Life.

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Thank you to all for participating in our Miracle Gala & Concert.

www.davidfosterfoundation.com

TELUS Community Ambassadors

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he David Foster Foundation Miracle Gala and Concerts would not be possible without the selfless dedication of hundreds of volunteers. These volunteers commit hours of their time to help us produce the incredible events that provide the financial contributions which allows us to continue to help so many families. At our 2013 event this past December, one of our national sponsors, TELUS, had asked their team for volunteers.

Melissa Kawkabani signed up and for a full week, was immersed in early morning production meetings, late night venue trips and the countless other tasks the Foundation team undertakes in the week leading up to the event. We asked Melissa to describe her experience and this is what she had to say:

TELUS volunteers: Vonnette Cooper, Melissa Kawbanani, and Samantha Gadsby.

“As part of TELUS Community Ambassadors, I had the great opportunity to volunteer at the 2013 Miracle Concert. Spending one week, immersed in the preparations of this major event was an incredible experience. From the minute I entered my first production meeting on that Monday, I could feel the excitement and everyone’s desire to deliver an unforgettable evening for all those who came to support this cause.”

Last minute changes, roadblocks and long hours were all forgotten as soon as the event started. Stars, dignitaries, red (purple!) carpet, and glamour soon made room for the real stars of the evening: the families. Their moving speeches and testimonies reminded everyone of the reasons why we had worked so hard and why we were all gathered together that evening. I left the event with so many great memories, hope that many lives will be changed thanks to the David Foster Foundation and people’s compassion and desire to be a part making a profound difference in a stranger’s life. Hence, our Ambassadors made the pledge to sponsor a family in 2014 allowing all those who volunteered at this event to continue to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.”

To Melissa, the rest of the TELUS Ambassadors and all the volunteers who worked tirelessly day in and day out in support of our Foundation and our families, we offer our sincerest gratitude and thanks.

Andrea Bocelli with Russian singer, Aida Garifullina.

The Hampsons with daughter, Alyson and son, Logan. Both Alyson and Logan are liver transplant recipients.

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Save the Date! September 27th, 2014 in Calgary DAVID FOSTER FOUNDATION

In Partnership with

Unparalleled entertainment from some of the world’s finest entertainers!

Be sure to check our website more information on upcoming exciting new announcements.

We’re moving across Canada with AMJ Campbell

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ur newest national partner, AMJ Campbell, has donated $250,000 to the foundation to help us support the non-medical expenses of families with children undergoing lifesaving organ transplants.

In addition, AMJ Campbell will be adding decals to many of their trucks across the country with the Be A Donor, Save A Life tagline, helping to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and the work of the Foundation. “Creating these moving billboards is unbelievably valuable for us,” says Mike Ravenhill, CEO of the David Foster Foundation. “When AMJ Campbell helps families transition to new homes, whether they’re moving within a city or across Canada, a visual reminder for the importance of organ donation will move with them. Doing this, along with making a financial donation, will go a long way in supporting the national work of The David Foster Foundation. On average, the minimum cost to support one family is $10,000 per year and can range up

to $100,000, depending on the transplant process and the distance between the patient’s home town and the closest pediatric transplant hospital.

With operations in 27 cities across Canada, AMJ Campbell has the visual cross-country reach to build awareness of the importance of organ donation. Be A Donor, Save A Life decals will be added to the fleet over the next several months as trucks are due to be re-decaled, with a number of trucks in the Greater Toronto area already having undergone the transformation. “AMJ is proud to be a national partner of the David Foster Foundation,” says Bruce Bowser, president and CEO. “Helping create awareness around organ donation and supporting families during such a difficult time is a privilege.”

AMJ Campbell joins other national partners of the David Foster Foundation listed below. Many of these partnerships are long-term, with unique aspects to their support and funding models similar to AMJ Campbell.

Thanks to our National Sponsors!

To donate to the David Foster Foundation and support children and their families receiving life-saving organ transplants, please visit www.davidfosterfoundation.com or mail in your donation directly to:

David Foster Foundation, 212 Henry Street, Victoria, BC V9A 3H9 CANADA

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www.davidfosterfoundation.com