Our 2024 Champions

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Rylie is a kind-hearted, energetic kid who loves to make people laugh. Born prematurely and with a hole in her heart, Rylie was rushed to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at the Stollery Children’s Hospital where she received incredible care for three months. At six months old, she returned to the hospital for open-heart surgery. The next day, Rylie took a turn for the worse and spent a week on life support. Thanks to a lifesaving, second open-heart surgery performed by her healthcare team, Rylie is now thriving. And the best part? She gets to do what she loves best: putting a smile on the face of everyone she meets!

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Cole is an active teenager who loves basketball. At age four, he was admitted to the Paediatric Critical Care Unit with unexplained kidney failure. Surgery to remove a dying colon was a success, but the cause of his kidney failure was still unclear. While Cole was placed on dialysis and plasma exchange to help his kidneys, his expert team waited on genetic testing to confirm their suspicion—Cole had a rare blood disorder that was causing his kidneys to fail and his blood to clot. After a life-saving amputation of his left arm and leg, Cole received a kidney transplant that changed his life. Now 17, Cole continues to thrive, recently competing with Team Ontario in wheelchair basketball at the 2023 Canada Games.

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Kherington is positive and ambitious despite having numerous diagnoses—some life-threatening, some life-limiting—as well as a rare and unknown autoimmune disease that continues to elude a diagnosis. Her medical journey began when she had a life-threatening event happen when she was four years old. Since then, she has received thousands of needles and multiple surgeries at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital. While it can be scary, her specialists make her feel welcome and she always looks forward to her biweekly appointments. Kherington is outgoing and loves to make friends everywhere she goes. She excels at many things and has competed in Irish Dance Championships around the world. Kherington also loves taekwondo, rhythmic gymnastics, and art.

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Cohen and his little brother Nash love playing sports and wrestling. Both were born with congenital heart defects and as tiny newborns fought hard to survive. Cohen had his first surgery at BC Children’s Hospital at just a few days old. Born three years later, Nash remained in the hospital for the first 10 weeks of his life and underwent three major surgeries due to defects affecting his heart, esophagus, and stomach. Despite life-long heart journeys ahead and continued visits with their cardiology specialists, both boys never miss a chance to smile and charm their way into the hearts of everyone they meet.

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Fatoumata is a wise-beyond-her-years, ambitious teenager dreaming of a career in medicine, law, or even acting! Fatoumata was just an infant when the pain began. Enduring years of pain and sickness due to sickle cell anemia, she began treatment at CHEO upon arriving in Canada at age 9, when her pain crises worsened. After undergoing multiple surgeries and a stem cell transplant that altered the course of her life, Fatoumata was offered new hope. For the first time in her life, she is pain-free and can look forward to going to school, embarking on travel adventures, and hanging out with friends.

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Janessa loves the outdoors. Starting at age five, Janessa experienced recurrent urinary tract infections. At HSC Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg, doctors told the family that Janessa’s kidneys weren’t functioning properly; one was small, and the other was diseased. By age 7, Janessa had reached Stage 4 kidney disease with 25 percent kidney function that continued to decline. Recognizing the need to be closer to the specialized pediatric care at Manitoba’s only children’s hospital, Janessa’s parents moved the family from their First Nations community in Pukatawagan to Winnipeg. After support from pediatric nephrology specialists and a successful kidney transplant, Janessa is doing well and back in her community with family and friends.

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Canon loves Halloween, playing hockey, and paddling. After undergoing surgery and 26 long weeks of chemotherapy, Canon successfully beat kidney cancer. A few months later, shortly after turning 12, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from his cancer journey. After eight months of regularly scheduled therapy sessions, medication to manage his anxiety and follow-up care with his healthcare team, his family noticed a big change. He became more present, able to function, and could actively participate in his therapy. Canon is now back to filling his days with all his favourite hobbies.

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John is an awesome brother and friend, and a true star both on the soccer field and hockey rink. John was failing to thrive before a visit to Janeway Children’s Hospital revealed he had cystic fibrosis (CF). He began digestive enzyme treatment and dramatically improved overnight. John has regular tests and appointments to monitor his lungs and has daily preventative physiotherapy. He also receives regular ultrasound testing thanks to new imaging technology at the hospital, helping John’s team assess the status of his disease, detect complications early, and guide therapeutic interventions, contributing to improved quality of life. Through incredibly valuable tools in the management and care of CF patients, John’s life as a super-star athlete and advocate for CF patients is back on track.

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Mori is an outgoing kid with a love for the performing arts. As a toddler she began experiencing a series of stubborn infections that just would not go away. Tests revealed a rare bacterial infection and complications with her kidney and ureter, resulting in a diagnosis of Vesicoureteral Reflux. Mori underwent surgery twice to address her condition, but her journey was far from over. Despite continued treatment and care, breakthrough infections remain a part of her life. Mori navigates her chronic condition with unwavering courage and the support of a hospital that understands her unique needs. With help from her medical team, Mori sang, acted and danced her way through a local production of Annie Jr.

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To her family, Claire is unstoppable. She has cerebral palsy and while she is unable to move on her own or speak, innovative, donor-funded technology called Brain Computer Interface (BCI) at the Alberta Children’s Hospital is helping her use her mind to do things her body cannot. When she’s not making milkshakes or playing games using BCI, or also communicating through eye gaze technology, you can find her on her Trexo Robotics walker, which helped her walk down the aisle as a flower girl. She’s recently started her own business selling products she made using BCI! She also loves Moana and making new friends.

Watch Claire’s story here!

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Justine is a resilient young girl who loves dancing and drawing. She was born prematurely and was hospitalized for 90 days in the NICU of the Centre mère-enfant Soleil, part of the CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval. She was treated for underdeveloped lungs, high blood pressure, and heart failure. From the day Justine was born, her parents did not know if she was going to survive. She had to be intubated to breathe as soon as she was born, and she received continuous oxygen for her first year of life, as well as being fed by a tube passing through her nose. By the age of three, she had undergone four major surgeries and was hospitalized many times. Despite her complicated medical journey, Justine is now developing well and has regular follow-ups with her specialists. Her unique personality and ambitious spirit shine.

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Nori is an inquisitive young girl who loves arts, dance and drums. At age six, she experienced debilitating back pain that led to a diagnosis of stage 4 neuroblastoma, a rare pediatric cancer. Nori underwent 21 months of comprehensive treatment that successfully restored her health. A few months later, the cancer returned. Nori continued her fight and kicked her cancer back into remission with radiation and oral chemotherapy. In December 2023, a follow-up scan revealed that the cancer had returned a third time. While the fight against cancer continues for Nori, she has big plans for a bright future with SickKids by her side.