SickKids Foundation’s Post

Susan Ackerman doesn't have the word "matchmaker" on her resume, but she should. The Registered Nurse, who recently retired after 38 years of service at The Hospital for Sick Children, introduced Regan and Brad when they were teenaged nephrology patients on 6A, undergoing peritoneal dialysis and waiting for kidney transplants. The first spark ignited on Regan’s final day of admission when, at her nurse’s suggestion, she agreed to visit with Brad. By then, he was recovering from a successful kidney transplant surgery. They spent hours chatting that day, became fast friends and bonded through the shared experiences of peritoneal dialysis, their kidney transplant surgeries and recoveries. They officially started dating in February of 2013 and have been together ever since. 🥰 In an even more ‘full circle moment’, Regan recently started working at SickKids as a surgical administrative coordinator with the cardiovascular surgery team. Both Regan and Brad are so grateful to their living donor relatives who matched; Brad’s cousin, Stephanie was his donor in November 2011. And they say Regan’s mom gave her the gift of life, twice – she was Regan’s kidney donor in June 2012. The beautiful couple got married this month and chose to donate to SickKids Foundation in lieu of wedding favours. We’re so happy to be part of their love story. 💙 Please join us in sending our best wishes and congratulations to Regan and Brad! 💍💒🥂

We're excited to share the 2023-2024 SickKids Annual Report. ...As are some very special SickKids insiders. Quinn, Norah and Penny are here to offer you a sneak peek of some of this year’s highlights! Explore The Hospital for Sick Children report here: https://bit.ly/475URgS

When you go too hard on your first day of Kindergarten 😂🍎 April was diagnosed with Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at just six months old. After an extensive treatment plan of blood transfusions and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, April completed her treatment two years ago this month. It's thanks to the exceptional care she received at SickKids that April is able to experience the magic, joy...and messiness of her very first day of school. The Hospital for Sick Children is a global leader in leukemia treatment research and clinical care. With the five-year survival rates among the highest in the world, SickKids is healing the future. This September, we hope you’ll join us as we share some of the ways SickKids is helping childhood cancer patients be kids again. #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth

Kids Health Alliance (KHA) is a network of community partners committed to advancing excellence and expertise in paediatric care across Ontario. In partnership with SimKIDS, The Hospital for Sick Children, Kids Health Alliance recently facilitated in-situ simulations with hospital partners around the emergency management of Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), a complication of diabetes wherein the body cannot produce enough insulin. These sessions allow teams to simulate the use of suggested policies, procedures, and equipment to achieve universal standard of care for DKA patients, while also identifying other potential opportunities to improve that care. Thanks to the generosity of donors like BMO, KHA and its partners have actively pursued its mission of sharing paediatric expertise and learning between academic children’s hospitals and community hospitals, enhancing the care provided to children across our communities. For more information about Kids Health Alliance: https://bit.ly/3X5LXLM

Liam is a nine-year-old piano-playing, social butterfly who loves hanging out with his family and friends. He’s also in the middle of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia after relapsing last January. Liam continues to push forward and is receiving the best possible care at The Hospital for Sick Children, an experience made even more personal to his family because of his mom Melanie's connection to one of our generous donors, RE/MAX Canada. “My journey into RE/MAX was a quick one. I was invited and privileged to be a broker manager at our Oakville office for as long as I could. I didn’t know RE/MAX was such a pivotal supporter of SickKids at first, and when I learned of what my brokerage had already accomplished in giving, I knew it would be my new home. I am already dreaming up what I can accomplish with RE/MAX when Liam is done with treatment.” – Liam’s mom, Melanie Chiu This August marks the 13th annual RE/MAX Canada Month of Miracles, a four-week celebration of the contributions made by agents throughout the year to support Children's Miracle Network Hospitals/ Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations. To date, RE/MAX has raised over $21M for important initiatives at SickKids. We are so grateful!

From the halls of SickKids to walking down the aisle! 💍 We’re so incredibly happy for former The Hospital for Sick Children patients, Regan and Brad! Stay tuned this week as we bring you a closer look at their special day 😍 💙

30 years of support, over 5.5 million dollars raised and thousands of volleyballs spiked. We want to extend our sincerest thanks to Heatwave for SickKids and all those who have supported their mission to raise funds for childhood cancer research and care The Hospital for Sick Children. Heatwave is making an impact on child health and helping us heal the future. 💙

Captain of our hearts and now the Toronto Maple Leafs! 👏 HUGE congratulations to our friend Auston Matthews on being named the 26th captain in franchise history! Auston's leadership on and off the ice truly makes an impact on our city, our team and The Hospital for Sick Children. 💙 We can't wait to cheer you and the team on this season!!

When Toba was planning her son Ethan's 3rd birthday party, she said it was "bittersweet" - many children with his condition don't survive past the age of two. Ethan was diagnosed with Nemaline Myopathy (Type 2), an ultra-rare neuromuscular condition that affects all of a person’s muscles, including those needed for breathing and eating. He relies on a feeding tube to eat, and a tracheostomy and ventilator to assist his breathing. While his brain is totally unaffected, simple illnesses like a common cold are life threatening. And yet, despite 30+ ICU admissions amounting to 1/3 of his life spent in hospital, numerous surgeries and countless other procedures, Ethan smiles bigger than most, carries out mischievous plans, is obsessed with animals, lives for a thrill, and brings endless joy to his parents and brother, Jaxson. Here are some pictures from his 3rd birthday celebration capturing a special visit with therapy dog Harlow of Corporate Canine Therapy. Since Ethan spends much of his time in the ICU, this is the closest he can get to a pet of his own (at least for now). Ethan’s doctor, Dr. Jim Dowling, a neurologist and scientist specializing in rare genetic diseases The Hospital for Sick Children, and his team are leading pre-clinical genetic therapy development for several potential gene-based therapies that could help treat Nemaline Myopathy and other incurable rare diseases. Philanthropy is what makes this type of precision-medicine research possible - research that has the potential to change the lives of tens of thousands of children living with rare diseases, just like Ethan. To date, Ethan’s family has raised close to $300,000 in support of Dr. Dowling’s research, including from a recent neighbourhood Block Party that brought together local businesses and hundreds of community members, all in support of precision child health and a precision treatment for Ethan. For more information and to support Ethan's fundraiser: https://bit.ly/3YIB1Gu 📸 Galit Rodan