2015 Spring Newsletter

Spring 2015 Volume 11

CELEBR ATE The Gift of Life

The Foundation Sees a First!

A WestJet information booth in the Ottawa airport, one of many across Canada, raising awareness for organ donation.

WHAT’S INSIDE Message from the CEO . . . . . . . . . .

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Message from the SVP, Fund Development . . . . . . .

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The Foundation Sees a First . . . . . .

Message from the Chairman . . . . .

Message from the Director of Family & Community Relations . .

7 WestJet Cares for Kids & DFF . . . . . 8 Be Somebody’s Hero . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Life Legacy Members . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Spring Cleaning with Schnitzer . . . 11 Organ Donor Awareness . . . . . . . . 11 Save the Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Follow us on:

“In November 2014, six-yearold Aidyn went swimming in a pool for the first time and the David Foster Foundation was there to see it! To get to share such an incredible milestone with one of our families is such a blessing and is the reason we do what we do every single day.”

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Aidyn swimming with his family for the first time at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

hen Danielle went to her doctor for a regular ultrasound at 26 weeks pregnant, she was given news that no mother wants to hear; her baby boy had enlarged kidneys likely caused by a posterior urethral valve.

This meant that he could not expel the urine he was producing and it was instead being pushed back to the bladder and onto his kidneys. She was closely monitored for the rest of her pregnancy and then was induced at 36 weeks on February 15th 2008. The moment he was born Aidyn was rushed into surgery where the doctors felt he needed pyelostomies to increase his chance of survival. Having your baby undergo surgery hours after his birth is “heartbreaking and scary” says Danielle, who didn’t even get to hold her son until he was a week old. continued on page 4

Message from the Chairman

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rom the very beginning, my goal has always been to raise awareness and educate people about the importance of becoming a registered organ donor. I couldn’t be prouder of all that we have accomplished so far, and I am looking forward to see what 2015 will bring! In particular though, I am incredibly proud of all our volunteers. Over the years, hundreds of generous people have given thousands of hours to help our cause, and we could not have done any of it without them.

This February, we officially became a WestJet Cares for Kids partner. One of our biggest supporters and my good friend, Gregg Saretsky, President and CEO, has raised the bar once again with the WestJet Cares for Kids program which promoted the David Foster Foundation on all their flights and in airports all across the country!

“One of our biggest supporters and my good friend, Gregg Saretsky, President and CEO, has raised the bar once again with the WestJet Cares for Kids program which promoted the David Foster Foundation on all their flights and in airports all across the country!” minutes could save many lives—there is no greater parting gift that we can leave this world with!

Once you’ve signed up to become a donor, tweet me and tell me about it! Use the hashtag #DavidImADonor!

Sincerely,

David Foster, Founder and Chairman

Through the WestJet Cares for Kids program there were 50,000 David Foster Foundation branded luggage tags distributed throughout all Canadian airports the entire month. Additionally, we also had enthusiastic volunteers from the Canadian Transplant Association, BC Transplant, and Canadian Liver Foundation stationed at airports all across Canada promoting organ donation on February 24th! We are so proud of this partnership and to see the country come together to raise awareness about a cause that means so much to me was truly humbling and inspiring.

Even with all of our efforts, we are still not there. With over 4,500 people waiting on the transplant list, and April 19th to 25th being National Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness Week, I challenge you to take five minutes and register to become an organ donor, and those five

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David Foster with President and CEO, Gregg Saretsky, and Lorenzo DeCicco, Vice President of TELUS Business Solutions, at the 27th Annual Miracle Gala & Concert held last year in Calgary.

www.davidfosterfoundation.com

Message from the CEO

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t is hard to believe it’s 2015 already and we are busy getting ready for our 28th Annual Miracle Gala & Concert coming up in September in Toronto!

It will be difficult to top last year’s gala where one of our special guests was five-year-old Curtis Kellar, 18 days post-transplant, who stole the show! Now almost six months after his life-changing surgery, Curtis is running and playing like any other five-year-old boy, with a smile that stole my heart! It’s incredible stories like Curtis’ that keeps us going through the hard times and helps everyone around the David Foster Foundation office keep the faith.

We are looking forward to being back in Toronto later this year and are busy putting together what promises to be another exciting event. The city of Toronto is always so supportive of our events and we are thrilled to be hosting the Miracle Gala & Concert at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, the home of the historic Maple Leaf Gardens. The David Foster Foundation Miracle Gala & Concert is more than just a spectacular night out, it provides the biggest financial contribution of the year to the Foundation, enabling us to support hundreds of families and change countless lives.

“The David Foster Foundation Miracle Gala & Concert is more than just a spectacular night out, it provides the biggest financial contribution of the year to the foundation, enabling us to support hundreds of families and change countless lives.” five minutes to register online to be an organ donor.

Although approximately 85% of Canadians agree with organ donation, less than one in four are actually registered organ donors. Thousands of people are on the National Transplant list and many die waiting for an organ to become available. The process is so simple and you can do it all online–go to www.davidfosterfoundation.com to find out how.

Together, with your help we can make 2015 one of the best years ever for organ donor registration!

With gratitude and appreciation,

Mike Ravenhill, Chief Executive Officer

With National Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness Week upon us, it is a good time to think about taking

“Although approximately 85% of Canadians agree with organ donation, less than one in four are actually registered organ donors.

Thousands of people are on the National Transplant list and many die waiting for an organ to become available.”

DFF CEO, Mike Ravenhill, with kidney transplant recipient, Aidyn, just before his first swim.

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continued from page 1

“Having your baby undergo surgery hours after his birth is ‘heartbreaking and scary’ says Danielle, who didn’t even get to hold her son until he was a week old.”

Danielle watching over Aidyn as he lay in the NICU.

Aidyn spent a few weeks in NICU, daily he grew stronger and stronger, however his creatinine levels continued to rise. Creatinine is the waste produced by muscle metabolism and the normally functioning kidneys work to remove this waste. The doctors were able to stabilize Aidyn with a cocktail of medications and we were able to move out of the NICU. Aidyn continued to grow and the family prepared to take him home; the nurses worked with Danielle to train her to put in his feeding tube in case he should pull it out, and he was released from the hospital when he was one month old.

In June 2008, Aidyn was put on dialysis for 12 hours every night and he underwent another surgery to have a PD (peritoneal) catheter placed. After another few weeks of training to set up the dialysis machine, Danielle again took her baby home and attempted to return to normal life with Aidyn and his four-year-old brother. Of this time Danielle says, “I was not alone on this journey, thank goodness I had the help from nurses, two or three (four if I was lucky) nights a week.

[Aidyn] adjusted with no issues and remained stable for the next few years... but there was never a dull moment. We still had monthly visits to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, where bloodwork needed to be done and progress needed to be made!”

In November 2010, the first ostomy was closed and to everyone’s surprise he was producing urine! Everything went smoothly until April 2011 when Aidyn developed

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his first of three cases of peritonitis which is the inflammation of the peritoneum, the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the abdominal organs. After Aidyn’s third battle with peritonitis in September 2011, the doctors determined that he needed to go on hemodialysis which is the most commonly used method to treat advanced permanent liver failure. Terrifying words for a mother to hear, and the fact that this meant Danielle could no longer hold down a job was doubly terrifying. October 10th, 2011 was Aidyn’s first hemodialysis treatment and he was hooked up to the dialyzer for three hours. It was a tough time, Aidyn hated the saline flushes (he could taste the salt) and Danielle and Aidyn had to be at the hospital four days a week for three hours every time.

On November 11th the family was back in the hospital as Aidyn had surgery to remove his second ostomy and they waited with bated breath to learn the good news; he was still producing urine! The doctors had no explanation, but somehow his posterior urethral valve had corrected itself!

Although there was much reason for celebration, Aidyn still faced a long battle and he was quickly reaching the

Aidyn in the hospital.

www.davidfosterfoundation.com

“There are over 4,500 people in Canada waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.

Shelley Hunt says, ‘As a living donor, I got to check off a huge bucket-list item by saving a life. You can be a hero, too. In fact, there are thousands of Canadians waiting on it.’ ” end of sustainable hemodialysis. After approximately 350 days of dialysis, 972 hours, 32,900km, $1,320.00 in parking, and $10,000.00 in gas, Aidyn was finally placed on the transplant list on October 25th, 2012. This is where Danielle and Aidyn’s angel, Shelley Hunt, came in.

Shelley had met Danielle through Facebook, and in October 2014 she saved Aidyn’s life. She says, “I donated a kidney to save a little boy’s life. Through the work I do as Co-founder of the “Because I Can Project” – an organization that raises awareness for organ donation – I met six-year-old Aidyn. I had already begun the process of tests, paperwork and appointments required to be a living kidney donor anonymously, but when I met Aidyn and his family, I knew I wanted to donate to him. He is the same age as my son, so his situation hit close to home. Aidyn has been on dialysis since he was six months old and has needed a kidney transplant essentially his entire life. I soon discovered that I was not a match for Aidyn, so we entered into what is called the “Living Donor Paired Exchange Program”. For simplicity sake, I’ll call it a “kidney swap”.

I wasn’t a match for Aidyn, but I was still willing to donate so that he would receive a kidney. We entered into a chain of people who were in the same situation as us: one potential donor and one person in need of a kidney. They paired us all up with our best matches. I donated a kidney to someone I may never get to meet, and Aidyn received a kidney from someone that he may never meet as well. Our surgeries went perfectly: I am recovering very well and Aidyn is feeling fantastic and eating everything in sight, according to his mom!”

There are over 4,500 people in Canada waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. It doesn’t have to be this way. 85% of Canadians would take an organ if

Shelley and Aidyn meet for the first time!

they needed one and that same percentage of people are in support of organ donation. Sadly, Canadian national registration rates continue to stagnate at 14%. Did you know that if more people registered, we could collectively eliminate the transplant waitlist in our country? You don’t have to be a doctor or scientist to be a part of the “cure”. All you need to do is take a few minutes and register your wishes at becauseicanproject.com. Shelley Hunt says, “As a living donor, I got to check off a huge bucket-list item by saving a life. You can be a hero, too. In fact, there are thousands of Canadians waiting on it.”

In November 2014, Aidyn went swimming in a pool for the first time and the David Foster Foundation was there to see it! Every year we support hundreds of families just like Aidyn’s as they go through one of the hardest times of their lives. To get to share such an incredible milestone with one of our families is such a blessing and is the reason we do what we do every single day.

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Message from the SVP, Fund Development

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or my spring letter, I want to ensure you I am not requesting a donation but rather taking the opportunity to: 1) thank you 2) inform you and 3) make a commitment to you. Myself, and everyone at the David Foster Foundation want to make sure you are comfortable and confident when you are considering making a donation to our Foundation.

The Thank You

“Through the generous support and donations from 2014, the David Foster Foundation is able to continue to support Canadian families with the essential nonmedical expenses as their child goes through the life-saving organ transplant process. Most often, the majority of the families we support have a total family income under $30,000.00.”

From a fundraising perspective, 2014 was our most successful year to date. Support from many individuals and organizations all across North America were incredibly generous. Collectively, we have created more tomorrows for children in need of a life-saving organ transplant.

Through the generous support and donations from 2014, the David Foster Foundation is able to continue to support Canadian families with the essential nonmedical expenses as their child goes through the life-saving organ transplant process. Most often, the majority of the families we support have a total family income under $30,000.00.

The Information – 2015 and Beyond As a result of medical advancements in the area of pediatric organ transplants, the opportunity for organ transplant as a solution for treatment of serious medical issues, when previously not an option, will increase significantly. As well as medical advancements, organ donor registration is increasing annually which will result in more organs being available for transplants. Net result, more life-saving organ transplants.

As a result of medical advancements and the increased number of available organs, more pediatric life-saving transplants will be the reality and concurrently there will be a significant increase in the demand for financial

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How to make a donation to the Foundation: 1. Mail your cheques to David Foster Foundation, 212 Henry Street, Victoria BC V9A 3H9 2. Credit card–call our Victoria office using our toll free number @ 1-877-777-7675 3. Online at www.davidfosterfoundation.com

assistance from the David Foster Foundation from the families going through this difficult process.

Our Commitment With the continued assistance and guidance of our donors and sponsors, as we close in on the David Foster Foundation’s 30th anniversary (2017) we are honoured and committed to continue our support of Canadian families going through the life-saving organ transplant process with their child.

www.davidfosterfoundation.com

Sincerely,

John Danson, Senior Vice President, Fund Development

Message from the Director of Family & Community Relations

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feel honoured to see firsthand the difference the David Foster Foundation’s support makes in a family’s life while they go through the difficult journey of trying to save their child’s life. No parent should ever have to go through watching their child slowly die; not knowing if their life will be saved in time. Over the three years I have been with the foundation, I have celebrated with families each time another one of our children is removed from the transplant list because they have received the gift of life. This is all due to the selfless act of another human being who was a living or registered organ donor. I have met so many wonderful families and have rejoiced as I see their child’s health return, and watch them begin to live life as a “normal child”.

I have also been heartbroken many times when I hear that one of our children has passed away because they did not receive their life-saving organ transplant in time.

I have a personal understanding of what the families go through, and the instability it creates in your life when a loved one in your family is affected by organ failure.

I applaud the transplant teams and the social workers who are so dedicated in providing the best care for our families. The transplant social workers are so important to the David Foster Foundation who advocate for the families and walk them through their transplant journey. As we celebrate National Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness Week, I want to thank everyone that helped us with the WestJet organ donor registration campaign in February. We had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful volunteers from numerous organ transplant awareness programs like Canada Transplant Association, BC Transplant, Trillium Gift of Life Network, Lung Association of Alberta & NWT, Saskatchewan Transplant and the Canadian Liver Foundation. On behalf of everyone at the foundation, I want to thank

“I have met so many wonderful families and have rejoiced as I see their child’s health return, and watch them begin to live life as a ‘normal child’. I have also been heartbroken many times when I hear that one of our children has passed away because they did not receive their lifesaving organ transplant in time.” you for your tireless efforts of continuing to spread the message of the importance of being a registered organ donor.

Sincerely,

Lara Knudsen, Director of Family & Community Relations

Lara Knudsen with liver transplant recipient, Lily Hague-Wautier.

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WestJet Cares for Kids & DFF

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n February 24th, the David Foster Foundation and their partners at WestJet and WestJet Cares for Kids program teamed up to display information booths in airports all across Canada to raise awareness on the impact of life-saving organ transplants. Through the month of February, WestJet also featured special luggage tags designed to encourage people to “Be an organ donor. Save a life.”

WestJet President and CEO, Gregg Saretsky, with DFF CEO, Mike Ravenhill.

WestJet President and CEO, Gregg Saretsky, was joined

by David Foster Foundation CEO, Mike Ravenhill, at a media event held at the WestJet Campus in Calgary, Alberta to highlight the partnership between the two organizations. Gregg Saretsky spoke about the importance of becoming an organ donor in Canada and publicly signed his provincial registration form for Alberta.

“WestJet has been an instrumental supporter of the David Foster Foundation for more than five years.

We are so thankful for the gift of flights we have received. The flights have allowed us to fly children to their transplant medical appointments and fly family members to be by their child’s side during a time of need. We are so inspired by the spirit and culture of all of the WestJetters and are so proud to call them our partners,” says Mike Ravenhill.

WestJet’s social media team challenge you to be an organ donor!

Volunteers from multiple regional transplant organizations assisted in making this day such a success! A huge thank you to all of the volunteers from the Canadian Transplant Association, BC Transplant, Canadian Liver Foundation, the Lung Association of Alberta and NWT, the Saskatchewan Transplant Program, and Trillium Gift of Life Network.

Mike Ravenhill with volunteers from the Canadian Liver Foundation.

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If you would like to be a part of our next organ donor awareness initiative, please email info@davidfosterfoundation.com for potential volunteer opportunities.

www.davidfosterfoundation.com

Be Somebody’s Hero

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alking about death is no one’s favourite subject.

In fact, it might be a conversation that people tend to avoid the most. No one really knows what happens to us after we die, but we all have the choice to live on as somebody’s hero by choosing to be an organ donor. In Canada, there is an average of 4,500 people actively waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Just one organ donor can go on to save up to eight lives and potentially improve the lives of up to 75 people.

Statistics Canada records indicate that 256,721 people died between July 1st 2013 and July 31st, 2014. If all of those people were organ donors that could potentially result in 2,053,768 lives saved that year alone.

It is true that not everyone is medically eligible to be an organ donor; however, you can see how easily Canadians could help in eliminating the wait for a life-saving organ transplant. It could have meant that fifteen-year-old Cody Halfpenny from British Columbia who was listed on October 13th, 2013 might not still be waiting today for his heart; or little Aurora Blomerus from Ontario who requires a small intestine, liver and partial pancreas transplantation could already be on her way to becoming a healthy toddler. Imagine that these are just two of the children out of the 4,500 individuals waiting and hoping the call will come before it is too late.

Fifteen-year-old Cody Halfpenny has been waiting for a heart since October 13, 2013.

This year, Canada celebrates National Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness Week from April 22nd to 28th, 2015.

If you are not an organ donor, we encourage you to take the time and consider registering in your province. It is equally, if not more important, to let your loved ones know your wishes to be an organ donor. In the event a decision has to be made, they know you have made the choice to be someone’s hero by donating your organs.

The David Foster Foundation stands behind presumed consent organ donation. A presumed consent system would mean that all Canadians would become registered organ donors, and would opt-out, rather than opt-in to the national system. If you are in support of presumed consent, visit becauseicanproject.com and sign the online petition. You never know– the life you save one day could be your own– #EliminateTheWait.

Aurora Blomerus requires a small intestine, liver and partial pancreas transplantation.

Please join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to help us spread the word about the importance of becoming a registered organ donor and helping to save lives.

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e are grateful for the contribution of our Life Legacy Members who have committed to donating a minimum of One Million Dollars to The David Foster Foundation. The financial commitment of the Life Legacy Members will ensure the foundation is able to assist families in need of life-saving organ transplants for generations to come.

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Oak Bay Beach Hotel TELUS Slaight Family Foundation Newton Glassman Charitable Foundation Tan Sri Dr. Francis Yeoh Jim & Sandi Treliving

Thank You!

www.davidfosterfoundation.com

Spring Cleaning with

Cohen, kidney recipient, and Evanne, heart recipient, with their siblings during the first scrap metal drive.

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pring time is the perfect time to clean out the clutter! If you have any spare pieces of scrap metal, we encourage you to take them to our National Partners at Schnitzer. There are currently two locations on Vancouver Island that offer scrap metal donation bins. If you decide to donate your scrap metal, 100% of your donation will go to The David Foster Foundation.

In 2013, Schnitzer and The Hillyard Stephen Group, RBC Wealth Management Dominion Securities, teamed up for the first scrap metal drive where $24,572 was raised in one day! To date, Schnitzer has donated over $125,000! To learn more about donating scrap metal, please call the Schnitzer location in Victoria at 250-381-5865 or 250-746-4573 in Duncan.

Organ Donor Awareness Did you know…

• There are approximately 4,500 people on the transplant wait list.

• Approximately 85% of Canadians support organ and tissue donation, however, only 14% of Canadians are registered organ donors.

• An organ donor can save up to 8 lives.

• A single organ donor can improve the quality of life up to 75 people.

• It is possible to donate your kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, pancreas, eyes, tissue, bones, stomach, and small bowels.

Please consider becoming a registered organ donor and one day giving the gift of life. For more information on how to register within your province please visit: www.davidfosterfoundation.com.

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P RO U D LY P R E SEN T ED BY

SAT U RDAY, SE P T EM B E R 26 , 2015 M AT TA M Y CEN T R E AT T H E G A R D EN S TO RO N TO . O N TA R I O I N PA R T N ER S H I P W I T H

J oin our g rowin g Gala sponsors M I R ACL E M A K ER S P O N S O R

LU X U RY S P O N S O R

RED CARPET SPONSORS

N AT I O N A L S P O N S O R S

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