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THE FOUNDATION REPORT
Summer 2023
IN THIS ISSUE:
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MENDING LITTLE HEARTS: ONE FAMILY’S INSPIRING STORY OF GRIEF AND HOPE
On September 29, 2021, Declyn Carman was born at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) with AVSD Complete, a Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) which is a common condition for children with Down syndrome. Despite needing weekly hospital visits until undergoing open-heart surgery in February 2022 at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa, Declyn was a happy baby with a smile that lit up the room.
On New Year’s Eve, Declyn wasn’t his happy self. He was admitted to KHSC and prepped for a transfer to CHEO but his health continued to decline. It was clear he now needed to go to SickKids: The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Sadly, the ambulance did not arrive at KHSC in time and Declyn passed away on January 2, 2022, at three months and four days old.
For Declyn’s family, supporting local health care is helping them grieve. Through the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF), Declyn’s parents, Amanda McArthur and Brad Carman, have set up a fundraiser called Mending Hearts with Declyn. The funds raised are donated to the KHSC Pediatric Cardiology fund to help other children and families who face similar diagnoses.
“First and foremost, we are very thankful for Declyn’s cardiologist at KHSC, Dr. John Smythe,” says Amanda.
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