There’s a flurry of activity surrounding BC Children’s Hospital these days. Piece by piece, layer by layer, the new Teck Acute Care Centre (TACC), the key component of the second phase of the hospital’s redevelopment, is starting to take shape. This has everyone — patients, their families, caregivers and more — bubbling over with enthusiasm.

“The excitement is building as the levels go up, as we move from a giant hole in the ground, which we had about this time last year, to an eight-storey concrete structure, ” said Gillian Hobbs, communications coordinator for the BC Children’s and BC Women’s Redevelopment Project. 

The project was designed with patients, families and care teams in mind. They have been part of the consultation process right from the start, but many still have questions about exactly how TACC is going to function. That’s where the redevelopment team comes in.

Display boards and floor plans in hospital common areas, family advocates in departments, and social media channels all help to keep the community informed as the hospital construction continues.

Over the past few weeks, information booths have been popping up in different areas as well. The goal is not only to keep everyone up to date on the construction, but also to engage with clinicians from various departments to ensure their needs are met once the centre opens in 2017.

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The biggest issue currently, by far, is the lack of space. With more and more technology needed to provide patients with the best possible care, the wings and patient rooms of BC Children’s Hospital, which was completed in 1982, have become extremely cramped, and parents are often found sleeping on the floor.

“Thirty years ago, we didn’t necessary value or think it was important to have family members stay with our patients, when you look at least on our floors,” said Analyn Perez, the clinical project lead for the hospital’s Oncology Department. “Rooms are single rooms. They basically fit a bed and a cabinet. Now we know that it is important to have family members as part of the healing process.”

Currently, the Oncology Department is segmented into three levels. The outpatient clinic, where children with cancer go for day treatment, is located on the first floor while the inpatient areas are on the second and third floors. About 130 children in BC are diagnosed with cancer every year and approximately 700 are in active cancer treatment. As the hospital stands now, there are simply not enough rooms (some have zero access to natural light) and patients constantly have to move between floors. That geological constraint has been frustrating for families and caregivers alike and is the inspiration behind the design of the new centre.

“Currently, the way we deliver care is because of geography,” said Perez. “What is exciting about [the new space] is that we are able to design our floor to meet the way we want to work versus having to work a certain way around the physical boundaries.”

The new Oncology Department will be housed on one level, with larger, more functional rooms and a dedicated family space that will include a kitchen, showers and even laundry. This design will allow staff to easily flow between patients and provide better infection control as the patients will no longer need to move between floors.

The Oncology Department isn’t the only one undergoing massive changes. Every floor, every unit in the hospital is redesigning its care delivery model. An important piece of that is interior design. Perez says she is looking forward to partnering with the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and its donors to create a holistic healing environment — through thoughtful design, the use of murals and much more — to transform patients’ experience and aid in their recovery.

“That way, when [the patients] walk in, it is less stressful and more welcoming and we can use it to decrease any anxiety or stress that they may have,” said Perez. “In many cases, we see that we are using less sedation because they are less scared and more comfortable in that type of space.” 

Over the past few weeks, we have been inundated by headlines proclaiming processed meat is just as carcinogenic as smoking, and red meat is probably harmful, too. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), placed processed meats in the same category as tobacco, asbestos and diesel fumes, claiming it had sufficient evidence to link it to colorectal cancer.  

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been questioning whether to order a hamburger or pick up some smoked turkey from my local deli since the report was released last month. The findings are alarming, but nutritionists say they need to be taken with a grain of salt.

“We need to put things in perspective and try to see that, in comparison with the other risks out there, this is much less,” said Dr. Rajavel Elango, a nutrition researcher with the Child and Family Research Institute.    

Yes, processed meat is now considered an established carcinogen. However, everything in that category should not be considered as equally dangerous.  According to the Global Burden of Disease Project, an independent academic research organization, approximately one million deaths can be attributed to tobacco smoke every year, and more than 200,000 a year to air pollution. Compare that with about 34,000 deaths linked to diets high in processed meats.

Eating red meat has not yet been established as a cause of cancer; however, researchers estimate it could be responsible for about 50,000 cancer deaths a year.

The risk of cancer generally increased with the amount of meat consumed. The report analyzed data from 10 different studies. It estimated every 50-gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by about 18 per cent.

The very nature of processed meats is where the problem lies. Preservation techniques, such as salting, curing or smoking, form carcinogenic chemical compounds including N-nitroso compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Those compounds also appear when red meat is overcooked, especially when it comes in direct contact with a flame or hot surface such as a barbeque or grill.

“The first thing is to not panic,” said Dr. Elango. “Nutrition in food is ultimately always about balance and moderation. Do not change your dietary patterns dramatically due to what you read in the media, but rather get sound advice.”

Dr. Elango says it is best to restrict red and processed meats, but you do not have to avoid them all together.

Canada's Food Guide offers advice on how people of all ages can eat a healthy, balanced diet. For example, it recommends children under the age of eight eat one portion (up to 75 grams) of meat or meat-alternatives, such as legumes, eggs and nuts, a day; older kids can have up to two portions. While the guide suggests up to three portions a day for adult males, Dr. Elango says every meal should not include meat.

 “Saying that people shouldn’t be eating meat is the wrong advice to give,” said Dr. Elango. “People should still be aware that if you do not eat red meat then your iron consumption will be low; you need to be getting your nutrients, especially iron and zinc, from other sources. It’s best to include a variety of food sources in moderate amounts.”

Analyn Perez navigates the tight, overcrowded hallways of the Oncology Department at BC Children’s Hospital with ease. She’s been here countless times over the past 17 years.

Perez, a procedure nurse, has one of the most challenging jobs in the department. Any child in BC or the Yukon who is diagnosed with a pediatric cancer or complex blood disorder is treated in this section of the hospital. Perez works with a team of caregivers to guide patients and their parents through what will, undoubtedly, be some of the most terrifying moments of their lives.

“[For a parent] hearing that their child might have a cancer diagnosis, it’s a scary, scary thing,” said Perez. “It’s a privilege to be someone dedicated to that role. When new families come in, you can be with them, listen to them, and try to give them that hope. You can try to help them make that experience, as scary and awful as it is, as good as it can be.”

The procedure room, where Perez spends much of her time, is where diagnostic tests and treatments happen. It’s where doctors do bone marrow biopsies and lumbar punctures to analyze and treat various malignancies. Approximately 130–140 children are diagnosed with a pediatric cancer every year; the majority are either dealing with leukemia or brain tumours. The average stay for a child is ten days. Unfortunately, some have to live in the hospital for much longer.

The procedure room is similar to an operating room, but is adorned with shells, turtles and fish, creating a calming underwater adventure scene that helps distract the young patients from the unnerving reality they have suddenly been thrust into.

Perez knows just how important those underwater animals are. They are part of the reason she took on a new, full-time role with the hospital’s redevelopment project. As the clinical project lead for the Oncology Department, Perez now spends her days with architects and technology and equipment planners to figure out how the space will look and function when it opens in the new Teck Acute Care Centre in 2017.

Last year, the focus was on the design of the new hospital as a whole. Now, the team is diving into the details, making sure everything from the light switches to the door handles and medical equipment will be in the right places on her floor. Perez says standardization across all departments will be one of the keys to success. 

“That consistency not only helps with providing good care, but also patient safety,” Perez said.  “It makes sure mistakes don’t happen because you pressed the wrong button.”

From individual rooms to shared spaces, every inch of the new hospital is being planned out to provide the best possible care for patients and their families. Sadly, the turtles cannot be transferred to the new Oncology procedure room, but Perez says she and other clinical leads are working with the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation to find donors to create more murals and other patient enhancements. The program is also looking into the possibility of building virtual reality, which would reduce the amount of anesthesia needed to calm patients. 

Perez will go back to her old role once the new hospital opens its doors. She says that while it’s been an honour to help build the new hospital, she looks forward to returning to her old job. She says building relationships with patients and their families during such a vulnerable, critical time in their lives is extremely rewarding. 

“I’ve just seen so many examples of the resiliency of kids, of families, through just such horrible circumstances,” Perez said. “To witness how strong they are when you first meet them, when they think their world, naturally, has just fallen apart and they don’t think that they’ll ever survive — it is such a privilege in many ways to be a part of that.”

Learn more about specific floors of the new hospital and read about some of the special features they will have for our patients and their families:

Floor 1: Emergency

Floor 3: Renal Dialysis Unit

Floor 4:Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

Floor 8: Oncology/Hematology/Bone Marrow Transplant Program

For more information and construction updates, visit www.newcw.ca.

'Tis the season to take a moment and recognize all the wonderful people and experiences that have helped make your past year special. It’s also a good time of year to take part in fun family activities and to give back to your community.

Here are 12 great ways to get involved in fun activities in your community or to give a gift to help BC kids grow healthy and happy.

• Day1: Festival of Trees
• Day 2: Giving Tuesday
• Day: 3 Honour a loved one through a WISH ornament
• Day 4: Holiday E-Cards
• Day 5: Toy Donations
• Day 6: Holiday Events and Activities
• Day 7: Donations in lieu of presents
• Day 8: Holiday shopping with a cause
• Day 9: Christmas Wishes
• Day 10: Make Christmas magic with Portable North Pole
• Day 11: 12 Months of Giving
• Day 12: Dining for a Cause

The BC Children’s Hospital is celebrating a major milestone: 50 years of clinical care for young patients living with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Great strides have taken place since the clinic first opened its doors in 1965. At that time, most children did not live long enough to experience many of life’s precious gifts, including their first day of school. Today, according to Cystic Fibrosis Canada, nearly 60 per cent of people living with the disease in this country are adults and many are expected to live well into their 50s and beyond.  

The clinic, its caregivers and the medical researchers who work alongside of them are a huge part of that achievement.

“There have been major advances in treatment,” says Dr. David Speert, Senior Clinician Scientist and Head of theCentre for Understanding and Preventing Infection in Children at the Child and Family Research Institute.

“So many things have changed. It is very hard to identify just which one has been most responsible [for increased life expectancy]. There are better antibiotics than there had been years ago. Dietary care has changed substantially and physiotherapy has improved. Lung transplantation, which was brought in more than 35 years ago, has saved the lives of patients in end stage respiratory disease.”

Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults; approximately one in every 3,600 children is born with it. They inherit a defective gene called cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The protein produced by this gene affects cells that produce mucus, sweat and digestive juices. The mucus blocks ducts in the pancreas and creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, causing severe damage to the lungs and the digestive system.

Currently, there is no cure for CF and researchers have no idea if one will be found in the future. However, according to Dr. Speert, there is a lot of work going on right now to come up with new drugs to correct defects in patients who possess the more common forms of mutations created by the protein.

“A huge breakthrough would be prevention of infection,” says Dr. Speert. “If there was a way to prevent patients from becoming infected, that would make a tremendous difference. Infections are the leading cause of death of patients with CF.”

Luca Piccolo’s parents learned he had CF when he was just two years old. Today, the 14-year-old manages his disease through a strict regimen of physiotherapy and daily medication.

“I take 45 pills a day, sometimes even more if I have to take antibiotics to fight off an infection in my lungs,” says Luca. “CF is a 24/7 disease. That’s why the caregivers at BC Children’s Hospital keep a close eye on my health.”

Luca is examined by a physician at the CF clinic every few months.  The doctors regularly check his Positive Expiratory Mask (PEP) mask and nebulizer to make sure they are doing their job of keeping his airways open and removing the mucus from his lungs.

Once Luca turns 18, he will be transferred to an adult clinic. In the meantime, his mother, Lisa, believes he is receiving the best care possible here in Vancouver.

“BC Children’s Hospital is one of the best centres in the world to treat children with CF,” says Lisa. “We owe Luca’s life to the hospital, so we can’t really say thank you enough.”

For more on the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic at BC Children's Hospital, visit: www.bcchildrens.ca/our-services/clinics/cystic-fibrosis

BC Children’s patient, Maya Ahuja, and her family visited the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) in Abbotsford to enjoy a few short stacks of buttermilk pancakes in preparation of National Pancake Day on Tuesday, March 8.

We had a lot of fun hanging out with Maya, her brother Danny, and their parents Karm and Gary Ahuja at IHOP and captured many photos and videos to get ready for the third annual National Pancake Day!

Maya has been a patient at BC Children’s Hospital since birth, due to a congenital heart defect and soft cleft palate.  As her dad said, “We know first-hand the incredible work that takes place at the hospital every day, and our family is grateful for the care Maya has received. Nothing can prepare you for having a sick child, but knowing that fundraisers like National Pancake Day are providing funds for the urgent needs of the hospital that saved Maya’s life, demonstrates the huge network of support for families like ours.”

On Tuesday, March 8 head out to your nearest IHOP Restaurant, order a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes between 7am and 7pm, and make a donation in support of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Your generous support will help kids like Maya.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see some of the fun moments that we captured with Maya and her family at IHOP.

For more information on National Pancake Day please visit www.ihoppancakeday.com.

With your support we can make this year’s National Pancake Day the best year yet! 

March 26 is Global Epilepsy Awareness Day, or “ Purple Day.” Though there is no cure for epilepsy, you can play a part in raising awareness – just wear purple on Purple Day, March 26.

Did you know that an estimated 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a seizure disorder and one of the most common neurological disorders that is often offset in childhood. According to the World Health Organization, epilepsy is a chronic, noncommunicable disorder of the brain that affects people of all ages, and races. Often there is no clear identifiable cause.

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder in children. The Neurosciences Program at BC Children’s Hospital is the chief referral centre for pediatric neurological conditions in BC and one of the major pediatric neurosurgical units in Canada. They perform approximately 300 neurosurgical operations every year, including epilepsy surgery.

If someone is having a seizure

The BC Epilepsy Society states that one in 12 people will experience at least one seizure in their lifetime. Being prepared to assist someone in the middle of a seizure could effectively save that person’s  life.

If you’re in the company of someone who suffers an epileptic seizure, there are many ways to help:

1. Remain calm
2. Protect the person from getting hurt

• remove objects that might cause injury 
• loosen anything tight around this person’s neck
• cushion their head
• remove their glasses

1. Gently turn them to their side as soon as it is safe
2. Stay with them until they become fully conscious again
3. Comfort them and explain what happened

Epilepsy is not an easy thing to live with, something that Miracle Kid Matthew Williams knows all too well. When Matthew was just three months old he was diagnosed as epileptic, suffering from four different types of seizures. By the time he was six, Matthew was suffering from epileptic seizures up to a hundred times a day.

After undergoing surgery to remove the cyst in his brain that was causing his seizures, Matthew is now nearly seizure-free. Matthew lives by his own personal mantra of "Even though we have a disability, we can accomplish so many great things." He has gone on to win gold and silver medals at Special Olympics events and was elected to the Board of Directors for Special Olympics International, the top governing authority for the Special Olympics movement.

Read more on Matthew’s inspiring story.

We are proud to highlight the work of the RICHER Initiative, a little-known but important program of BC Children’s Hospital.

Established in 2006 the RICHER, or Responsive Intersectoral Child/Community Health Education and Research, Initiative serves vulnerable children and families in Vancouver’s inner-city neighbourhoods – specifically Grandview/Woodlands, Strathcona and the Downtown Eastside. There, nurse practitioners, developmental pediatricians, specialists in mental health, dermatology and many others, provide integrated health care to families through community clinics, local schools and social services.

Many families living in those neighbourhoods struggle with poverty and don’t benefit from equal access to health care. RICHER’s model addresses these families’ barriers to care and helps restore their trust in the system.

“If you pay attention to the places that children naturally congregate and bring care to venues that families trust, then families will get access to that care. That’s proven to be very true in our experience with RICHER,” says Lorine Scott, one of RICHER’s founding members.

Thanks to RICHER, many children whose complex developmental, mental and/or physical conditions would have gone undiagnosed now receive the care they need, right in their community.

RICHER relies on the support and donations of many organizations, including TELUS. Thank you to generous donors like TELUS for helping bring RICHER’s important services to some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

For more information about the RICHER Initiative, visit: http://www.bcchildrens.ca/our-services/clinics/social-pediatrics

With over 12 million volunteers in Canada, it’s only fitting to dedicate an entire week to inspire and activate volunteers in the community and across the country.

National Volunteer Week spans the week of April 10 to 16 and celebrates the outstanding efforts of volunteers, shining a spotlight on the generous people who help our communities grow.

BC Children’s Hospital Foundation relies heavily on dedicated volunteers to help make events like Miracle Weekend, Slo-Pitch and RBC Run for the Kids shine. Without these volunteers we wouldn’t be able to set our Miracle Weekend fundraising goal to $18 million this year.

With Miracle Weekend just around the corner, June 4 and 5, and new volunteers joining our team, we decided to catch up with one of our veteran volunteers, John Chandler. This year marks John’s 25^th year volunteering with BC Children’s! We’re so grateful he is able to pass on his knowledge and share some helpful advice to our newcomers.

A Veteran Volunteer’s Perspective

There are many great reasons to volunteer, but John, who is the chair of Registration for Miracle Weekend chooses to because it is an extremely rewarding experience. “Thanks to the Foundation, I have the opportunity to participate in a great event that provides me with a very rewarding experience,” he says. “My worst fear is that I mess up horribly one year at the [Miracle Weekend] and then don’t get invited back the following year.” So far so good, John; we can’t do it without you!

If you’re a new Miracle Weekend volunteer, John encourages you to just enjoy the event. “Get to know the other volunteers; chat with people coming down to present [their fundraising cheques]; spend some time in the food tent!” At Miracle Weekend, and many other volunteer-run events, people are always in a good mood and ready to have a fun time. John says, “Whatever problems people are having in their lives, they seem to leave them behind when they come onsite.”

What advice would John give to someone looking to start out? “Just do it! It’ll be such a great experience and you’ll have so much fun you’ll regret that you waited so long to start volunteering.”

A Rookie Volunteer’s Perspective

This is all great guidance for our newest Miracle Weekend volunteer, Taylor. Taylor started on the Miracle Weekend volunteer team in February and was immediately welcomed by the returning volunteers. Being a full time student, she admits that it can be difficult to manage your time, but “everyone knows what they’re doing and love it so much that they are so invested in it.” Taylor’s favourite part about volunteering is that it takes you out of your regular routine and can show you the bigger picture. She says, “giving back is so rewarding and doing a small duty can make such a big difference,” which echoes John's sentiments.

One week is not enough time for us to show our thanks to the hundreds of volunteers that help our cause, but it’s a fantastic start! A big thank you to everyone who volunteers for the Foundation on a regular basis, and also to the ones who we’ve only met once. Every contribution makes a difference, and every volunteer adds value. Happy National Volunteer Week!

Looking to get involved with BCCHF? Check out our volunteer page. We are currently recruiting for Miracle Weekend, Slo-Pitch and RBC Run for the Kids.

Miracle Weekend Play Area	Miracle Weekend Phone Panel
Run for the Kids Cheerleader	Mascots at fundraising events

To volunteer with the hospital, visit the hospital’s volunteer page.

With support from a caring Vancouver Island community the Ocean 98.5 has made a significant impact the lives of children and their families who visit BC Children’s Hospital over the past 13 years, raising a cumulative $1.8 million through their annual Radiothon for Kids.

In preparation for the 14^th annual event taking place May 12 and 13 in Centennial Square, Victoria , OCEAN hosts,AJ and Lisa D, visited with BC Children’s patients, families, and caregivers to see firsthand the miracles happening at BC Children’s Hospital. Talking with these families really drove home for them the importance of donating and how these donations are saving lives.

Now 12-years-old, Aidan was six when he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s is an incurable type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes severe abdominal discomfort and pain. “There were definitely some tears shed,” said his mother, Heather, “but this place is full of amazing people and we have had nothing but exceptional experiences and care.”

Wendy, mother of three-year-old Carretha, couldn’t agree more. “Every aspect of this place is valued,” she says. The mother of two never anticipated that one of her children would ever need the help of BC Children’s Hospital. No one ever does, but she says, “It could be one day. Donating goes a long way.” At 10 weeks old, Carretha developed a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the brain’s nervous system. The toddler now must come to BC Children’s Hospital two days a month to get IV infusions of pure antibodies.

Wendy’s son, Dominic, sees his younger sister go through these treatments and knows that the IV machines keeping his sister alive cost money. Both Carretha and Dominic are a part of the Sunny Bear Birthday Club and donate to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation in lieu of receiving birthday gifts. Wendy says, “[Dominic] sees how important these [IVs] are for his sister. It feels better than getting toys.”

Dominic isn’t the only one who realizes how special the treatment and equipment is here at BC Children’s Hospital. Seven-year-old Joshua was born in Uzbekistan and contracted pneumonia at a young age. His health deteriorated to a point where his heart eventually began to give out. When the care he needed wasn’t available in Asia, Josh came to BC Children’s Hospital and received a Berlin heart, a machine that acts as an external functioning heart, while waiting for a heart transplant.

“There are no words available to explain the works of the doctors and nurses [at BC Children’s Hospital],” says Josh’s dad. “It is the best hospital in the world. If you bring your child here, you’re in the best hands.”

John, dad of Kimber-Lynne who is nearing the end of her  ALL leukemia treatment, echoes this message. “If you are going to give,” he says, “give here.”

Inspired by the strength of the families they met on their visit, first-time Radiothon hosts, AJ and Lisa D are armed with a better understanding of how expert care and treatment wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of donors, and they can’t wait to get started on the Radiothon where they will meet more families and broadcast those stories live on air.

Tune in to Ocean 98.5 on May 12 and  13 from 6 am to 6 pm to hear more from the families introduced above, as we well as live interviews from Centennial Square. Call 250-519-KIDS during our live broadcast to donate to help BC kids get the care they deserve. You can also donate now online.

Any child who deals with cancer is forced to cope with sudden emotional challenges, such as isolation from friends, and the effects of abrupt changes to their normal routine. But it’s the physical changes like hair loss that come with chemotherapy treatments that can cause just as much strife, particularly to teens. Fortunately, patients and families dealing with this stress can turn to groups like Balding for Dollars for compassion and care.  

Created as an annual fundraising event where people collect pledges to shave or cut their hair in support of children diagnosed with cancer or blood disorders, Balding for Dollars works in partnership with BC Children’s Hospital to provide oncology, hematology, and bone marrow transplant patients and their families with experiences and programs to help them cope with the difficulties associated with serious illnesses.

Collected hair is donated to craft wigs for kids, and funds raised provide patients and families with the opportunity to take part in Balding for Dollars’ programs. These unique programs include group adventures, bursaries, family support and outreach efforts, and contribute to improving the quality of life for patients and their families in treatment.

The event has grown tremendously over the years and has been adopted by schools, universities and clubs across the province, raising over $190,000 last year alone.

This year’s main Balding for Dollars event, which takes place on May 14 at BC Children’s Hospital, hopes to boast over 500 participants made up of patient family members, friends, and staff who will enjoy live music, take post-shave photos and donate to the Balding for Dollars cause. We look forward to the great fun at this year’s event.

The annual Balding for Dollars main event is sure to be a blast and we hope to see you there. For more information, visit: http://www.bcchf.ca/balding-for-dollars

More ways to get involved in Balding for Dollars

Despite the “Balding” moniker, participants aren’t limited to chopping off locks of hair. Fundraising can take many forms. Here are some ways you can get involve as well:

• Host a bake sale at your school or office.
  
  
• Set up a lemonade stand. With the weather warming up, nothing is more refreshing than a glass of ice cold lemonade. Set up your stand on a street corner with heavy foot traffic for maximum reach.
  
  
• Organize a 50/50 raffle and donate half of the funds to Balding for Dollars. Ticket rolls can be found at your local party supplier or dollar store. For example, you can charge $1 for one ticket, $2 for three tickets, and $5 for an arm’s length. It may be a good idea to include a “by donation” option as well. Just make sure to review the guidelines for raffles as described by the BC Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch.
  
  
• Ask students or coworkers to submit recipes and compile a charity cookbook. To keep costs low, you may consider an e-cookbook in a PDF format. Sell this cookbook to friends and foodies, and remind them that since the project will fund a good cause, it’s best not to distribute it for free; rather, encourage them to purchase it so Balding for Dollars can benefit from proceeds.

Check out the Balding for Dollars event package for more information and support in organizing your own community fundraising initiative.

Whether you’re looking to be an advocate in your community, or support someone who already is, there are so many ways to give back to BC’s kids during the month of May. Here are some Foundation, community, and corporate events to get involved with this spring.

Spice Radiothon – May 6

Tune in and donate to the Spice Radiothon on Friday, May 6 from 8 am to 7 pm! This year, we’re setting a goal of $85,000 to replace an outdated ventilator – a piece of life-saving equipment for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit to assist patients who cannot breathe on their own. With the purchase of this new apparatus, BC Children’s Hospital will be able to treat 350 patients each year.

The Radiothon will feature interviews with several patients and their families whose lives have been saved from the use of a ventilator at BC Children’s Hospital.

Call 604-820-1200 or visit www.spiceradio.net to make a donation and support this important initiative!

Teck Celebrity Pie Throw 2016 – May 12

Get ready for the Teck Celebrity Pie Throw, an annual Mining for Miracles event, which will take place  Thursday, May 12 at the Vancouver Art Gallery! Each year, CEOs and senior leaders from BC’s mining industry compete to raise funds for BC Children’s Hospital. Whoever raises the most money gets to toss a pie at their opponent’s face!

Every dollar raised supports the CAUSES Research Clinic at BC Children’s Hospital, which helps caregivers treat children living with rare and previously undiagnosed diseases through advanced DNA testing.  Learn more at www.miningformiracles.ca

If you would like to make a gift in support of a Pie Throw participant, please check out our event and select a name from the “Pie-ees” list. You can also make a general donation now to Mining for Miracles.

Ocean Radiothon for Kids – May 12 & 13

On May 12 & 13, tune into Ocean 98.5’s Radiothon for Kids from 6 am to 6 pm! With many new and exciting opportunities, this year promises to be the best one yet. Listen for gift-matching times, patient stories, new fundraising efforts, raffles, and so much more!

If you’re in the area, join us in Centennial Square to raise awareness and funds, and celebrate the impact of our community on BC’s kids.

Please tune into Ocean 98.5 on May 12 & 13 and call 250-519-KIDS to donate during the live broadcast. You can also donate online and make miracles happen on Vancouver Island!

Slo-Pitch – May 27, 28 & 29

Go to bat for BC’s kids on May 27-29! Over the past 25 years, the annual Slo-Pitch event has raised more than $8.7 million by bringing together industry for a weekend of networking, corporate-team building, and of course friendly competition at the softball tournament!

Thank you for continuing to support BC Children’s Hospital and ensuring that children and families from across the province get access to care when they need it most.

You can get involved today by registering your team, making a donation, or volunteering.

Balding for Dollars – May 14

Join more than  500 other participants on Saturday, May 14 from 11 am to 4 pm for the annual Balding for Dollars main event! The Child and Family Research Institute at BC Children’s Hospital campus will be transformed to celebrate the day with  fun-filled activities, with a goal of topping last year’s total of $80,000 in funds raised.

Sign up now to pledge to shave or cut your hair. Not ready for the chop? Read our blog post on some fun ways to get involved.

RBC Run for the Kids – June 5

RBC Run for the Kids (formerly ChildRun) is Vancouver’s largest family fun run, raising funds for childhood cancer and mental health initiatives at BC Children’s Hospital. Join us on Sunday, June 5 at 9 am to participate in either the 2km “Fun Run” route, or the 5km scenic route. The run is followed by a carnival celebration and is sure to be a day full of excitement for the whole family!

Register yourself, join a team, or support a participant now!

Miracle Weekend – June 4 & 5

This June 4 and 5, join us for the 29^th annual Miracle Weekend benefitting BC Children’s Hospital! Each year, Miracle Weekend raises millions of dollars during this two-day celebration. The telethon, broadcast  live on Global BC, features patients, their families, caregivers, and supports who come from every corner of BC.

Make sure you tune in and call 310-2224 on June 4 & 5 to donate to a brighter future for BC’s kids!

Thank you for your continuous support! We look forward to your involvement this May, however you may choose.

Make sure to check out our event calendar for more information on future events to take part in.

What would our Miracle Weekend telethon be without our incredible Youth Hosts who will speak about their own hospital experience and the impact your donations make on their lives and the lives of children like them? This year our broadcast, which takes place June 4 and 5 on Global BC, will feature three veteran hosts - Luca Piccolo, Grace TeBoekhorst, Faris Abdulwahab and two new faces - Will Heine and Danielle Hoult.   

Read all about these incredible champions below, and make sure to tune in 7 pm Saturday, June 4 through 5:30, Sunday, June 5, to hear inspiring stories and learn how your donations make a difference.

Will Heine, age 16, Oncology – Saturday evening host

Will Heine’s teenage years have been filled with many long stays at BC Children’s Hospital to treat acute myeloid leukemia. Although complications arose after he began aggressive chemotherapy treatment, ultimately leading to multiple stays in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Will is now in remission!

Will’s joining us to host Miracle Weekend for his first time as a Youth Host. Tune in on Saturday, June 4 from 7 pm - 9 pm to see Will in action!

Read Will’s full story.

Luca Piccolo, age 15, Cystic Fibrosis – Saturday evening host

Ongoing health concerns led to many tests at BC Children’s Hospital and a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis for then two-year-old Luca. Now a young teen, Luca manages this chronic life-limiting illness through a strict daily regimen of medication and therapy. From the look of this happy and outgoing boy one might never know he copes with such a serious condition every day.

Luca is a Miracle Weekend veteran and returns to the telethon as a Youth Host again this year. Tune in to Global BC on Saturday, June 4 from 9 pm - 11 pm to see Luca in action!

Read Luca’s full story.

Grace teBoekhorst, age 11, Kidney Transplant – Sunday morning host

When Grace teBoekherst was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome and required a kidney transplant, her father quickly signed up to give her his own kidney. By the time Grace had her transplant she had less than 20 per cent kidney function remaining and spent four days a week on renal dialysis. Today, she is still currently in treatment for early signs of rejection and visits the hospital frequently for treatment.

You will probably recognize Grace from hosting Miracle Weekend last year. Tune in on Sunday, June 5 from 11 am - 1 pm to see Grace in action!

Read Grace’s full story.

Danielle Hoult, age 15, Oncology – Sunday afternoon host

After the 22^nd month of her 30-month acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment at BC Children’s Hospital, Danielle Hoult was faced with the news that she had relapsed and had to remain in treatment for another two-and-a-half years. She admits that some days have been hard, but she maintains a positive attitude. She loves performing and has dreams to one day become an actor.

Danielle will be living her dream to be in front of the camera when she hosts Miracle Weekend for the first time this year. Tune in to Global BC on Sunday, June 5 from 1 pm - 3 pm to see Danielle in action!

Read Danielle’s full story.

Faris Abdulwahab, age 12, Brittle Bone Disease – Sunday afternoon host

In Faris’s words, his bones used to fracture “24-7.” When his mother, Liza, was six months pregnant, doctors diagnosed baby Faris with a genetic disorder known as brittle bone disease. Today, there is no cure for the disease, but BC Children’s Hospital provided Faris with the treatment and care he needed to improve his quality of life. Thanks to the life-saving care Faris received at BC Children’s, he has been able to do some pretty amazing things, like voice acting for cartoons.

Faris will get to put his acting skills to the test again this year as a returning Youth Host. Tune in on Sunday, June 5 from 3 pm - 5:30 pm to see Faris in action!

Read Faris’ full story.

Miracle Weekend is just around the corner and we're so grateful to have Global BC on board again this year, broadcasting live from BC Children's Hospital 7 pm Saturday, June 4 through to 5:30 pm Sunday, June 5!

This special event gives us the opportunity to celebrate BC Children’s Hospital patients, families, caregivers, and doctors, and allows us time to celebrate the tremendous fundraising done throughout the year by dedicated companies, communities and business divisions.

We couldn’t do it without the help of the Global BC hosts who volunteer their time. Here's a glimpse at who will be attending:

Steve Darling

As co-anchor for British Columbia’s most watched morning newscast, Global News Morning, and a veteran to hosting Miracle Weekend, Steve Darling joins us again this year to celebrate the fantastic fundraising done for BC Children’s Hospital in the past year. Steve is also the Honorary Chair of the Ronald McDonald House, which is situated on the hospital grounds. Thanks for supporting us again this year, Steve!

Aaron McArthur

Aside from being a part of BC Children’s Hospital events through Global BC, Aaron McArthur has a personal connection to the hospital – his daughter, Addison, was the first infant in BC to receive a heart transplant! Joining us again this year, Aaron will be promoting the importance of organ donation and supporting Miracle Weekend on June 4 and 5.

Mark Madryga

A face we all know and love, Mark Madryga is Global BC's chief meteorologist and a huge supporter of BC Children's Hospital. We're thrilled to have him back at Miracle Weekend again this year.

Chris Gailus and Sophie Lui

Global News Hour at 6 co-anchors Chris Gailus and Sophie Lui are long-time friends of BC Children’s Hospital and get involved in several of our fundraising events throughout the year. We are happy to announce that Chris and Sophie will host the final hours of Miracle Weekend, 3 pm - 5:30 pm, Sunday June 5! 

Full list of hosts:

Saturday – 7pm - 11 pm

Shanel Pratap
Steve Darling
Robin Stickley
Squire Barnes
Kaitlyn Herbst

Sunday – 10:30-1:00

Barry Deley
Samantha Falk
Aaron McArthur
Lynn Colliar
Sonia Beeksma

Sunday – 1:00-3:00

Ted Field
Geoff Hastings
Catherine Urquhart
Kate Gadjosik
Anne Drewa

Sunday – 3 pm - 5:30 pm

Mark Madryga
Sophie Lui
Chris Galius
Jay Durant
Yvonne Schalle

Big thanks to Global BC for hosting Miracle Weekend again this year!  

Did you know that 67 per cent of the nearly 87,000 patients who visit BC Children’s Hospital each year come from outside the City of Vancouver?  That’s more than 58,000 children who must travel long distances. Some of them make the trip many times a year.

This year for Miracle Weekend, June 4 and 5, we are going on the road to visit a few of these families in their hometowns!

Take a look below for a sneak peek of who you'll meet and dn’t forget to tune into Miracle Weekend on Global BC, Saturday, June 4 at 7 pm through Sunday, June 5 at 5:30 pm to hear from these incredible families from Kamloops, Prince George, Chilliwack, and Victoria. They’ve graciously taken the time to share their experiences at their home-away-from-home, BC Children’s Hospital.

SHARE YOUR STORY! We may share it live, at Miracle Weekend. Submit your story here.

When Livia’s never ending “cold” reached a desperate state, a doctor in her hometown of Kamloops finally found something that could explain her illness – a mass in the back of her throat. Within a few days Livia was sent to BC Children’s Hospital and admitted to the oncology ward. After many tests, an MRI confirmed that the mass in her head was large--over 11 cm--and had reached her skull, filled her nasal cavity to the tip of her nose, and had continued down to her throat. Livia was sedated for five days after the MRI to allow her body to rest – something the tumour did not allow her to do before.

When Livia woke up, she was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of muscle cancer. During chemotherapy and other treatments and after more than 20 surgeries, her tumour shrank. On May 10, 2014, Livia and her family were able to return home to Kamloops with the support of home nursing.  “We were so grateful to have these caring, compassionate nurses in our home,” says Livia’s mom. “It was comforting to have support at home and not feel like we are flapping in the wind trying to get a grip on this new [life].”

On April 7, 2015, after over one year in treatment, Livia went back to school for the first time. That November, her MRI showed fantastic results with no regrowth of the tumour. The family cannot be more thankful for the wonderful staff and caregivers at BC Children’s Hospital. “We know that we would not be where we are today without each and every one of them.”

Meet Livia on Sunday at 12:20pm and two other Kamloops families, the Turners and Harbaruks at 2:20 pm and 3:45pm.

Collyns Doran from Prince George

The joys of becoming first-time parents are like none other. The Dorans experienced this with their daughter Collyns. But new parenthood brings with it many unknowns; it’s not easy to gauge what could be considered normal development.  When the couple noticed Collyns wasn’t gaining weight as quickly as she might, and she hadn’t hit her developmental milestones at the same rate as her peers, the Dorans grew concerned.

Collyns’s doctors and geneticists suspected she had underlying genetic condition, but it wasn’t until the CAUSES Research Clinic at BC Children’s Hospital was established that the family could get a chance at a diagnosis. The CAUSES Research Clinic provides genome-sequencing, clinical evaluation, and genetic counselling to families of children dealing with rare and undiagnosed conditions. Since June 2015, the CAUSES Clinic has seen 70 families from Vancouver, Courtenay, Prince George, Kelowna, and Victoria.

Check in on Collyns on Sunday at 4:20pm and the two other families from Prince George, the Torravilles and Nicholsons, also on Sunday at 11:30am and 12:30pm.

Angelina Kereliuks from Chilliwack

Before Angelina was even born, doctors diagnosed the baby with Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA): her arteries were backwards and oxygenated blood was not being pumped through her body. While still in utero, Angelina relied on her mother for oxygen. But as soon as she was born, the baby required immediate medical care. Her entire family – mom, dad, brother, and two sisters – temporarily moved from Chilliwack to Vancouver, where they stayed at the nearby Ronald McDonald House while Angelina and her mom were monitored.

Angelina underwent many surgeries, tests, and procedures during her stay, but the family felt safe in the hands of the doctors and caregivers at BC Children’s Hospital. The Kereliuks family members say they’re grateful for the care that their daughter and entire family receive. “We know that without a facility like Children’s, Angelina’s outcome may have been very different and we will always be eternally grateful to Children’s for being with us on this scary journey,” her mother says.

Hear more from the Kereliuks family June 4 at 9:30pm when they share their story during Miracle Weekend. Make sure you also tune in to hear from two other Chilliwack families, the Stewarts and Martzs, Saturday at 7:30pm!

Rowan Loran from Victoria

Rowan, who has a naturally playful personality, would develop bruises when he would play with his toys. This wasn’t too alarming to his parents, however, because his mother, Kristin, has a family history of low blood platelets. After a case of norovirus raised red flags, the family was told that little Rowan had a condition called Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a rare genetic immunodeficiency disorder.

After this diagnosis at his local hospital in Victoria, the family was sent to BC Children’s Hospital where Rowan underwent a bone marrow transplant, which kept him as an inpatient for two months. He was treated as an outpatient for another two months. During this time, the Lorans stayed in Vancouver.

“I was alone with Rowan the majority of the time, and that was so hard,” Kristin recalls. “Chris was only able to stay with us for four weeks, through the worst part right at the beginning.”

Rowan is on the road to recovery today and lives his life as a normal spunky and talkative little guy.

Hear more from Rowan and his family June 5 at 3:15pm. The Potyrala family, also from Vancouver Island, will be featured during Miracle Weekend at Sunday at 11:00 am and hear about Piper from Sidney, Sunday at 1:20pm.

Show your support for these and other families from every corner of BC by calling to donate during Miracle Weekend on Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5– 310-2224 from anywhere in BC, or donate now to the telethon total through our secure online form.

Just as our incredible fundraisers are starting to tally up all the incredible donations they will present at our 29^th annual Miracle Weekend telethon, taking place June 4 and 5 on Global BC, our spectacular phone volunteers are also prepping their rolodex and getting ready to man the phones during our live TV broadcast!

We’re grateful to have key members of our hospital community highlighted on air, giving back to a cause that is close to their hearts. Click on any of the links below to learn about each of the groups answering the phones over the broadcast.

Phone Volunteer highlights:

Vancouver Island Volunteers

Rare Disease Advocate Families

Sunny Hill Health Centre and Infant Transport Team

BC Children’s Research Teams

BC Children’s Patient Families

BC Children’s Family Support and Resources

Auxiliary to BC Children’s Hospital

 Saturday, June 4 – 8 PM – 9:30 PM - Vancouver Island

Each year nearly 2,500 children from Vancouver Island make a visit to BC Children’s Hospital. During Miracle Weekend, you will see eight people from the Vancouver Island community who have been personally inspiring by the work happening at BC Children’s Hospital. These are patient parents, supporters and key volunteers.

A big thank you to everyone on Panel 2 for making the trip over from Vancouver Island for Miracle Weekend!

 Rare disease advocate families - Sunday, June 5 – 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

According to the Rare Disease Foundation, a rare disease is defined as a condition affecting less than 1 in 2000 people. Today, there are more than 7000 diagnosed rare diseases however many are still unknown. On top of the medical difficulties associated rare diseases, often times patients must meet with various medical teams to be treated by specialists.

BC Children’s Hospital provides patients and their families with a place to see all of their required specialists on the same campus. “If we did not have such a wonderful place we would be spending hours driving around to different specialists,” says Allison Jones, phone seat three, and mother of BC Children’s patient Max.

Tune in on Sunday, June 5 from 10:30 AM -11:30 AM and call any of the numbers listed below to donate and chat with our Rare Diseases Foundation supporters.

 Sunny Hill Health Centre and Infant Transport Teams - Sunday, June 5 – 12:30 PM –1:30 PM

Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children provides specialized development and rehabilitation services for BC kids needing support for anything from motor or sensory development to mental health support to respite care. Many patients are treated on an outpatient basis, with many more helped through the Outreach Program in their community. Volunteers at Sunny Hill help to add to the comfort, support, and distraction through play for patients and their families. Call anyone in seats 5 - 8 from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM on Sunday, June 5 to speak to a Sunny Hill volunteer and make a donation towards Miracle Weekend.

Made up of 26 highly trained paramedics, the Infant Transport Team responds to emergency calls from all over the province and is the only critical care paramedic-based team in BC. There are four Infant Transport Team members on the panel during this hour, so call anyone in seats 5 - 8 to talk to one of them and make a donation to Miracle Weekend.

 BC Children’s Hospital Researcher Teams - Sunday, June 5 – 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

The Child & Family Research Institute (CFRI) is housed on the BC Children’s Hospital campus and conducts discovery, translational, and clinical research. Working in close partnership with BC Children’s Hospital its focus is to benefit the health of children and their families and focuses on childhood illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, and genetic and immunity diseases.

From 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM on Sunday, June 5, call any of the following numbers to speak to one of our fantastic researchers during the telethon and donate to Miracle Weekend.

Want to learn more about our researcher panel? Click on their names for an overview of their area of research!

 BC Children’s Hospital and Pediatric Transplant Centre Patient Families - Sunday, June 5 – 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Miracle Weekend’s 2:30 phone panel is made up of one of our most important supporter groups, patient families.

For every child who comes to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, there are parents and family members affected as well. Although each journey is different, the level of care and compassion provided to each one is held constant. Every family has a different reason for giving back, but the following families chose to do so by taking part in Miracle Weekend!

We’re also lucky to have families on this panel that share their story through BC Transplant, BC’s agency which provides support for families of organ donations and transplantations.   BC Children’s Hospital is the provinces only pediatric transplant centre to perform kidney and heart transplants.

Call seats 1-4 for transplant panelists and seats 5-8 for parents of patients’ panelists, and donate to Miracle Weekend!

More transplant resources:

COTS – Children’s Organ Transplant Society

Canadian Transplant Association

Transplant Games

Children’s Heart Network

 BC Children’s Family Support and Resources - Sunday, June 5 – 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

There are so many resources for family support at BC Children’s Hospital! From the Family Resource Centre which provides a library of medical resources in everyday language, to cuddly therapy dogs that offer companionship to children in the hospital.

On our 9^th phone panel, from 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM PM on Sunday, June 4, you’ll see representitives from family support programs at the hospital, including Mehar on seat one who is part of an innovative face-to-face patient/provider engagement tool called Patient’s View, which solicits feedback about quality and safety from the unique perspective of patients and families.

 Auxiliary to BC Children’s Hospital - Sunday, June 5 – 4:30 PM – 5:20 PM

The Auxiliary to BC Children’s Hospital is an independently organized volunteer group that runs businesses and services such as the Still Fabulous Thrift Shops, clothing donation bin program and gift shop, with 100 per cent proceeds supporting urgent needs of the hospital. Because of their tireless efforts, the Auxiliary to BC Children’s Hospital was able to raise over one-million dollars towards the new Teck Acute Care Centre at BC Children’s Hospital, opening in 2017.

As a tradition, our final phone panel is made up of Auxiliary volunteers! Please call and donate to Miracle Weekend on Sunday, June 5 from 4:30 – 5:20 PM and chat with one of the panelists.

BC Children's Hospital houses incredible research teams hard at work conducting discovery, translational, and clinical research on childhood illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, and genetic and immunity diseases. Working in close partnership with BC Children’s Hospital physicians many teams practice "bench to bedside" medicine, meaning their discoveries that have direct impact on BC kids today and in to the future.

Below, hear from eight researchers and learn what exciting discoveries they hope to make within their lifetimes.

Dr. Kelly Brown, Asst. Professor UBC Pediatrics.
Research focus: Rheumatic Diseases

My main research interest is on childhood rheumatic diseases, which includes arthritis, lupus, vasculitis and fever syndromes. The children get inflammation in joints, muscles, and major organs of the body.  My basic science research program aims to better understand and monitor the inflammation so that the disease can be treated effectively with as little drug as possible.

I hope that my research will be able to give doctors the evidence they need to make treatment decisions (like when to start, stop or change medication) that are specific to each child rather than the current 'one size fits all' approach that runs the risk of a child with aggressive disease being under treated, and a child with mild disease being over treated.

Anita Sham, Neuroscience – Goldowitz Lab, Molecular Medicine

Our lab investigates the neurological alterations occurring in kids affected by developmental neurological disorders, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, autism.

We need support from donors to recruit and retain experienced scientists/clinicians, to purchase and maintain state of the art medical equipment, create and maintain programs critical for prevention, diagnosis and treatments of acute and chronic childhood diseases.

I am especially interested in this volunteer opportunity because I am currently pregnant and would like to do something good on my unborn child’s behalf.

Fern Jaspers-Fayer, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow CFRI

I use brain imaging techniques to study the emotions of children and youth with psychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and depression.

I would like to make substantial contributions to our scientific understanding of how the brain functions – before the onset of a mental health disorder, during an episode, and in recovery. This knowledge can then be used, for instance, to predict whether a child is at risk of developing OCD, and what treatments would be best for that child if they start showing symptoms.

BC Children's Hospital supports early treatment of childhood mental health disorders. As an example, the hospital supports the Provincial OCD Program. Through this program children can received scientifically informed treatment, and the majority of them are likely to recover. 

I think research gives hope to children and their families. Research promises a better tomorrow, when we will have a better understanding of the brain and be able to provide better treatment.

Sarah McCann, Clinical Research Coordinator
Area of research:  Vaccine Evaluation

The Vaccine Evaluation Centre (VEC) focuses on research related to vaccine safety, effectiveness and optimizing current immunization programs. We also monitor hospital admissions caused by vaccine-preventable diseases like influenza, pertussis, meningococcal and pneumococcal disease to name a few.

 Before moving into research I worked at the bedside and cared for many children who were affected by these preventable illnesses.

 In my working lifetime I hope to continue to provide education and insight for families around immunization and help to dispel vaccine misconceptions.

 Conducting research studies is a huge task that takes a committed team of individuals. BC Children’s has excellent passionate researchers in so many specialty areas, and continuing to support BC Children’s and the research done here will ensure we continue to better the lives of children through science and knowledge.

Young Lo, Pediatric Immunology Research Lab- Inflammatory Diseases

I work in Dr. Laura Sly’s Pediatric Immunology research lab investigating inflammatory diseases, specifically Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD). Canada has the highest incidence of IBD worldwide affecting 1 in 200 Canadians.

Currently, there is no cure for Crohn’s disease-caused intestinal fibrosis and this often results in the need for surgery to remove the diseased area. New treatment and cure options are desperately needed to avoid this major surgery, which is why it is important for donors to help BC Children's Hospital.

Kayleigh Campbell, Msc Candidate
Area of research: Reproductive development

My research investigates the effects of maternal antidepressant (SSRI) use during pregnancy on the brain development of the fetus and newborn. I first look at blood flow the fetus' brain at 36-weeks of pregnancy with ultrasound, and then neural connectivity at approximately 6 days after birth (early newborn period) with magnetic resonance imaging techniques.

 My research is important because the early developmental effects of antidepressant (SSRI) exposure on the developing child are largely unknown, making effective treatment of mothers experiencing mood disturbances during pregnancy a difficult clinical decision. Investigating such potential effects is critical to better inform safe antidepressant use during pregnancy, as well as postnatal care for the newborn child.

Bruce Verchere, Head of Diabetes Research and professor in pathology medicine

It is an exciting time for diabetes research at BC Children’s Hospital. The Canucks for Kids Fund Childhood Diabetes Laboratories are going strong with close to 100 researchers - clinicians, scientists, trainees - all trying to understand the causes of diabetes and searching for a cure for this disease. The laboratories are being outfitted with new state-of-the-art equipment for diabetes research thanks to recent investment by our partners including the provincial and federal governments, and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. There has never been a better time to support diabetes research at Children’s! 

The Diabetes Research Laboratory at BC Children’s Hospital is home to a world-renowned team of diabetes investigators. The team includes outstanding clinicians and scientists who aim to understand the causes of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children, and ultimately hope to develop new treatments to prevent or cure this devastating disease.

See a list of their phone numbers and call any one of them to make a Miracle Weekend donation between 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM on Sunday, June 5.

www.MiracleWeekend.com for more information.

BC Children’s Hospital is fortunate to benefit from the generosity and kindness of many people from across the province.

Jack Gin is one of them.

When Jack, a Vancouver Golf Club member, learned that the hospital needed a new camera for treating children with ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions, he called on a few reliable friends at the Vancouver Golf Club to help fund the device.

His initiative paid off: he was able to raise enough funds for the purchase of a rhinolaryngo videoscope for the ENT team at the hospital. The scope combines a tiny imager with fibre-optic lighting housed in a maneuverable 2.6mm-diameter tube, which is tinier than a baby’s pinky. Despite its small size, its capability is astounding.

Access to high-resolution images, such as those produced by the videoscope, is critical for the correct diagnosis of children, particularly infants who are expected to undergo surgery. Dr. Fred Kozak, head of the ENT department of BC Children’s, speaks to the importance of the equipment: “We use [it] to examine children and to diagnose illnesses affecting the airway. It’s particularly helpful for treating pediatric patients as it enables us to view areas that are otherwise inaccessible without performing more invasive procedures. The scope is equipped with a built-in high-definition camera that transmits an image to a monitor, and the picture lets us and the family see the problem and to find an appropriate treatment. Later, we’re able to use the video recordings for training and education purposes.”

Jack is proud to have played a role to help improve care for BC’s youngest. “Our club members are great people and generous contributors in our community,” he says. “Bob Shijvi, Bob Muster, Rick Bohonis, Luc Bergeron and others all wrote handsome cheques. They deserve the credit for answering my call.” 

Photo: With help from their parents, BC Children’s Hospital patients and siblings reviewed artist applicants in a focus group held in May. 

This past spring, artists from across Canada were asked to submit their interest to provide original art for the new Teck Acute Care Center at BC Children’s Hospital.

BC Children’s Hospital Foundation would like to extend an enormous thank you to all of the artists that responded to our national call for art.  By the time the application deadline passed in early May, we had 1247 applications from across the country, and more than 100,000 clicks of interest on the call for art website. This was the largest response of its kind in North America for a pediatric hospital call for art.

The art being created is part of the Children’s Healing Experience Project. This project will enhance the interior design of the new building with art and technology installations to support a child-friendly healing environment.

Focus groups with patients and their siblings, hospital clinicians and advisory committee volunteers, have been reviewing artists, and will gather again later this month.

BC Children’s Hospital Foundation will be contacting every artist who provided a submission of interest in all categories by the end of the summer.  

As the Children’s Healing Experience Project continues to unfold, updates will be posted on BC Children’s Hospital Foundation social media channels. 

Read more details about the call for art launched in March.  

Despite the heroic efforts in recent years to normalize the topic of mental health, the stigma remains; many believe that young people and children don’t, or can’t, suffer from mental illness.

In fact, mental illness and emotional disorders, such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and depression, are common among children, affecting one in seven – or 14 per cent – in BC alone, with, most conditions developing before the child is 18. So if mental health conditions are so common, why do these nagging stereotypes still exist?

Myths surrounding mental health keep children and families suffering in silence, too fearful to reach out for help. These social anxieties generate a vicious cycle and allow stigma to grow. It takes brave advocates willing to share their stories to break through the wall that surrounds public perception of mental illness – advocates like Lily and her family.

At 12 years old, after years of being consumed with the fear of germs and contagion, Lily was referred to BC Children’s Hospital and was quickly diagnosed with OCD.

Lily’s parents said that by the time she was diagnosed, the OCD had not only completely taken over their daughter’s life, but the family’s as well. “Whether it be an inability to be driven in a vehicle, a fear of going out the door, an inability to sit in a chair at school, piles of laundry every day…The life of a child  with OCD is completely taken over by the rituals and fears and the parents become its prisoner as well,” said her father.

At BC Children’s Hospital, Lily was treated in Canada’s first pediatric OCD clinic, headed by Harvard-trained psychiatrist Dr. Evelyn Stewart. There, she went through rounds of cognitive behaviour therapy to help her understand the thoughts that shape behaviour and, eventually, overcome fear.

Since her treatment, Lily has made great progress and acts as an advocate in her community. In Grade 8, Lily gave a speech to her school about her battle with OCD.

“It was really hard for me to get up and tell my classmates and teachers that I have OCD and depression,” she said. “It was a big thing because we live in a society where it is not okay to be different or mentally ill. Stigma is so prevalent.”

This year, RBC Run for the Kids’ fundraising centres on two worthy causes – children in cancer treatment and, for the first year ever, mental health initiatives at BC Children’s Hospital. We’re looking for more stories to share with our community to inspire donations to the event!

Through sharing stories like Lily’s, we can work toward breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness, and help children and families fearlessly seek the help they need and deserve.

Each year, caregivers at BC Children’s Hospital receive over 16,000 patient visits to the mental health outpatient program and provide psychiatric assessment, short-term individual, family and group treatment, and medication review. In most cases, these patients see great results with time, and many learn coping skills that help them move forward in life.  

Together we can support BC’s kids fighting mental illnesses by showing them that what they are dealing with is more common than they think, and that there are resources available to help them.

Have you been touched by, or overcome a mental health hurdle in your life? We’d love to share your story! Please submit your story to www.bcchf.ca/share.