Our 2022 Champions

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Eric is energetic and loving. He especially enjoys spending time outdoors with his parents and sister.

On a family camping trip when he was 8, Eric became tired, nauseated, and broke out into a rash from bug bites—or so they thought. When his symptoms persisted, a trip to his pediatrician and an extra test by a diligent nurse led to Eric heading to CHEO’s Emergency Department and a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes.

Eric’s parents—Mom, Kelly, and Dad, Jason—speak highly about the care that Eric received at CHEO, including the resources and training through the diabetes clinic. His parents are especially grateful for the help from a CHEO nurse who came to their home twice a day to give Eric his first injections.

It’s typical for diabetes patients to receive injections, but it can be stressful for parents and kids to administer needles multiple times a day. Eric hated the needles and his parents had to hold him down.

To get comfortable injecting their son, his parents even practised on each other. But they also wanted Eric to understand that this was his disease to manage. With the help of CHEO staff who shared life-saving medical information with Eric, his parents emphasized how he needed to take ownership of his condition.

Today, Eric is open about his testing and injection process. His school friends are now educated on his condition and ask daily about his sugar level. Eric also helps his school understand what students with diabetes need to be healthy and supported.

While Eric has a naturally positive outlook, he also sees the realities of diabetes—an autoimmune disease that comes on gradually in children—clearly. He talks about how it’s with him “every moment of every day”: the blood testing, the carb counting, the ups and downs, his advocacy for other kids like him, and the hope that one day there will be a cure.

He says the experience inspires him to pursue a career as a diabetes educator and counsellor. Meanwhile, he is also focused on just being a teen and is currently pursuing his driver’s licence.

Eric recently had a new adventure at CHEO after a ruptured globe in his right eye and lacerated cornea. Four months, four surgeries, daily visits to CHEO Ophthalmology and many eye drops later, his vision is now restored. He has a new intraocular lens and can see 20/20, which he says, “is better sight than I had before!”

In classic Eric fashion, he’s all about the positive, including his experience at CHEO.

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As a baby, Carson had exceptionally soft skin.  He could get cut simply by running a finger over the seam of an inflatable toy. He also needed multiple stitches from small tumbles when learning to walk.

At 23 months, Carson was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome – a rare and complex group of disorders affecting his connective tissues that can cause easy bruising, skin tearing, bone dislocations, and more.

Carson does not play contact sports or rough house with his friends. For him, bruising can become very serious. He also can’t walk for long because of sore joints and can’t do repetitive lifting and exertion.

Carson also was diagnosed with Vestibular Migraines that can make him feel like he is falling or spinning when sitting still.

Plus, at five weeks old, he had a common respiratory virus – but one that can be fatal for small infants. He is now prone to pneumonia and has it almost every year.

A team of highly skilled specialized healthcare professionals at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital are by Carson’s side, helping him to manage his conditions and providing pain management, physiotherapy, and psychological support.

Carson is a true champion, never complaining about what he can’t do and enthusiastic about his favourite activities. For him, every day is about making it a fun day.

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Éléonore is a fighter. Although it was predicted that she would never walk, at the age of two and a half she took her first steps with a walker and has been walking, running, jumping, and dancing ever since.

At birth, Éléonore experienced severe respiratory distress. She also did not gain much weight in her first few months and vomited frequently because of a vascular defect causing her liver to function at only five per cent.  She needed surgery quickly, followed by critical care in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Éléonore also experienced severe motor delays and was diagnosed with a condition where brain tissue extends into the spinal canal.  At 18 months, she underwent three surgeries in three months.

Éléonore was also diagnosed with ‘brittle bone disease’.

She is currently undergoing diagnostic testing for Noonan syndrome.

A team of approximately 25 specialists work with Éléonore and her family across various children’s hospitals in Quebec. At every appointment, her mother says that Éléonore looks for the Opération Enfant Soleil logo who raise funds for the four major pediatric centres in Quebec.

She says it gives Éléonore great comfort, knowing that Opération Opération Soleil and its corporate partners are by her side – and it gives her inspiration to be the feisty, energetic child that she is.

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Elijah loves hockey and superheroes. Thanks to the Stollery Children’s Hospital, he can continue to play sports and be the strong superhero he is.

Thirteen years ago, Tracie and Sue learned that the child they were to foster (and eventually adopt) was born at only 33 weeks. Experts at the Stollery diagnosed him with Tetralogy of Fallot, meaning a valve in his heart was too narrow.

Elijah had his first open-heart surgery at eight months old. Despite complications, his surgery went well and he was able to go home much sooner than expected. Over the years, he grew into an active boy.

But then, at the age of seven, he needed a second open-heart surgery and five years later, his valve needed replacing. This time however, instead of a third open-heart surgery, he could have a catheter procedure which was less invasive and safer.

While Elijah’s heart will always need monitoring, he is doing great – playing hockey again, doing all the things he loves and living his life to the fullest.

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In grade two, Evelyn, who loved to dance and do cartwheels, developed a fever and sore jaw which both a walk-in clinic and emergency room physician attributed to a virus. A week later, the pain and fever were back and one side of her face was sore and swollen. After more physician visits, a blood test was ordered.

Evelyn developed a fever and sore jaw which both a walk-in clinic and emergency room physician attributed to a virus. A week later, the pain and fever were back and one side of her face was sore and swollen. After more physician visits, a blood test was ordered.

Evelyn had acute lymphoblastic leukemia and if not treated quickly, this type of leukemia could be fatal.

Evelyn started chemotherapy the very next day and was treated at BC Children’s Hospital. She completed her treatment in the fall of 2021 and is now back at school, seeing her friends, performing again, and full of life.

Her form of cancer is very curable if the patient receives the right care and at the right time. Thanks to BC Children’s Hospital, Evelyn quickly got what she needed and is thriving.

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Everlee is very active. As a young child, she loved to dance, skate, play t-ball, and more.

Then, at the age of four, her parents noticed she was not her usual outgoing self. They also noticed her skin was turning an odd yellow-grey and her fingernail beds were blue.

They rushed her to the emergency department at McMaster Children’s Hospital to discover that she had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of blood cancer.

Almost immediately, Everlee began treatment with chemotherapy and oral medications which became a regular part of her routine for the next two and a half years.

During the darkest times of her cancer journey, Everlee formed an amazing bond with her hospital care providers. Her mother calls them Everlee’s second family and talks about how kind they were, how they patiently listened and responded to their “thousands” of questions, and how they took the time to ask how they were feeling, mentally and emotionally.

Everlee’s treatment was an enormous success. The cancer was eliminated and seven years later, no trace can be found in her system. In addition, she doesn’t feel sick anymore and wakes up every day raring to go. She currently loves to play baseball, hike, and paddleboard, and is a member of a karate black belt club. Nothing is holding Everlee back.

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At birth, Katie was diagnosed with Laryngeal Cleft Type IV, a condition causing life-threatening respiratory and feeding issues.

For the next 630 days, IWK Health became Katie’s home and over her first six years, she had scores of surgeries to reconstruct her trachea and esophagus with a few operations since.

Katie is now closely monitored by an incredible multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals at IWK Health, all helping Katie to rehabilitate and move forward. Katie has become a lot healthier as she’s gotten older, but her family still views her team as their lifeline. They are always there to provide guidance and reassurance to help Katie thrive.

Meanwhile, Katie is going to school, being with friends, dancing, riding her bike, listening to music, playing with her dog Shadow, doing crafts – and being the lovable and energetic kid that she is.

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Keira loves doing anything to support HSC Winnipeg Children’s Hospital.

This is because Keira was born with craniosynostosis – when the plates in a baby’s skull fuse too early and before their brain is fully formed.

If left untreated, it can cause vision loss, facial disfigurement, developmental problems due to the skull putting pressure on the growing brain, and other complications.

Keira had her first surgery at nine-months old and another one followed when she was eight.

In both cases, Keira was cared for by exceptional staff in the hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit and recovery ward. In fact, Keira’s mother attributes Keira’s good spirits and positivity to these caring staff giving Keira what every kid needs in situations like these – incredible care, support, encouragement, and lots of laughs.

Keira has regular follow-ups at HSC Winnipeg Children’s Hospital because her skull is constantly changing as she grows.

In the meantime, she is full of energy, an avid performer, and living life to the fullest, including dancing to help to raise funds for local children’s hospitals.

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At two days old, Krish’s bowels were not functioning properly and diagnostic tests at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) soon revealed that he had Hirschsprung’s disease, which can be fatal.

He has had many surgeries since and was also placed on Total Parenteral Nutrition because he was unable to absorb nutrients any other way.

Unfortunately, this type of feeding procedure is hard on the liver and over time, Krish became critically ill. When he was seven, he spent weeks in the SickKids pediatric intensive care unit. His kidney was also failing and Krish was placed on the transplant waiting list for both a kidney and liver.

Two years later, a kidney and liver were available from the same donor. He underwent a 19-hour transplant surgery for both, and for his pancreas and intestines too – one of the most complex transplants ever done by SickKids.

Today, Krish is back at school with his energy levels rivalling his peers. He also has become a mighty ambassador for organ donations and how they can save and transform kids’ lives.

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Madden is a bright and energetic seven-year-old who loves to play, especially with his big sister Everleigh.

And it’s thanks to Everleigh, the Alberta Children’s Hospital, and generous community support, that Madden is with us today, full of fun and good cheer.

Following his birth, Madden had severe skin issues that no cream or treatment could soothe. In addition, he had seriously low platelets.

At the age of two, Madden caught a virus which landed him in the pediatric intensive care unit.

After various tests were exhausted, the genetics team at the Alberta Children’s squeezed him into a research study and ran his DNA through donor-funded state-of-the-art Next Generation DNA sequencing technology, looking for abnormalities in his genes.

In a matter of days, physicians determined that Madden had a rare genetic disorder called IPEX (Immune Dysregulation Polyendocrinopathy Enteropathy X-linked) that can trigger uncontrolled immune responses. If left untreated, IPEX is fatal.

So, treat Madden’s IPEX they did and with the only cure that is available – a bone marrow transplant.

Thankfully his sister could become one of his donors and after two BMTs, Madden is now cured and carefree – with thanks to the incredible care at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

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Tia was strong and nothing slowed her down, which is why her family was shocked to discover she had multiple congenital heart defects.

She quickly required open heart surgery that took place in Toronto and spent weeks afterwards in critical care. When Tia returned home to London, Children’s Hospital was there for her to provide rehabilitative care – working on her range of motion, muscle strength, respiration, endurance levels, and more.

Both children’s hospitals not only made Tia better but made her feel good too. Their state-of-the-art equipment and facilities that are designed to help clinicians treat the most complex of conditions like Tia’s, also have a kid and family-friendly magic at the heart of their design.

Thanks to their incredible care, Tia is carefully managing her condition and determined to continue to hit every milestone. She is also back to being an active kid doing karate, hanging out with her friends, and living her life to her fullest.

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Xavier loved hockey and was on the rink three times a week.

Then, at the age of seven, he became very sick. He lost interest in food, lost weight, and became weaker each day. After numerous trips to the Janeway Children’s Hospital, he was sent home after a series of tests, only to become sicker. Finally, he was admitted to the hospital and within days his doctor diagnosed Chron’s, a bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation.

Most people with Crohn’s disease can enjoy healthy, active lives. While there isn’t a cure, treatments and lifestyle changes can keep the disease in remission and prevent complications. But finding that right balance can be tricky.

Through trial and error, Xavier was put on numerous medications. He missed a lot of school but with the support of his teachers and friends, he managed to keep up.

He currently has IV-infusion every eight weeks and is on a restrictive diet to help manage his symptoms

Xavier gave up hockey because of lower energy levels and to avoid getting accidentally hurt. But he is now active in lots of other wonderful ways, playing volleyball and soccer, and playing video games and making YouTube videos with his friends.

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