I'm Fundraising in Support of SickKids!
I’m fundraising for SickKids to help them:
DIAGNOSE FASTER
For worried families, this means getting a quicker answer to "What's wrong?"
TREAT SMARTER
Treating underlying causes, not just symptoms, and reducing side effects & relapses – so kids get better, sooner
PREDICT BETTER
See illness coming more clearly – while there’s still time to prevent it or reduce its severity
In October 2014, Sara and Steph and their four children arrived in Vietnam to bring home the little boy who would be joining their family through adoption.
They were well aware that their soon-to-be son, Jadon, had undergone treatment for a severe congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot, and were under the impression that his heart had been repaired. But, within 24 hours of Jadon being in their care, Sara (who was trained as a respiratory therapist) became concerned with Jadon’s abnormal breathing. They family took Jadon to a medical clinic and learned that Jadon’s heart had not been repaired and that doctors had only provided a bridging surgery.
After learning just how serious Jadon’s condition was, the family arranged a series of appointments at SickKids immediately upon their return to Canada. The Labatt Family Heart Centre at SickKids performs more than 85% of paediatric cardiovascular surgery in Ontario, so the family felt there was no better place for their son to be.
In February 2015, Jadon underwent his first surgery. As his medical needs became more complex and further surgeries and treatment were required, Jadon ended up living much of his first year in Canada at SickKids.
The family still visits SickKids often and they maintain frequent email communication with his complex care nurse practitioner to proactively manage his symptoms.
His mother describes Jadon as “a very happy and playful boy. He is a big tease and laughs heartily whenever he is caught being mischievous.”
Sara and Steph are grateful for the “skilled, kind and truly dedicated staff” who gave Jadon a chance at life, including Jadon’s cardiologist, who continues to closely follow his condition. They also want to acknowledge the families and children they met within the Cardiac CCU at SickKids. “The children fighting for their lives each and every day … they bravely showed us what strong is.”
Thank you for your support!
JPL CANADA
Merry Christmas Jadon !