bcchf.ca
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THE NEW BC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL EMERGENCY AND CANCER CARE FLU SHOT
Change is in the air
superhero news
Healing the mind, body and soul The restorative powers of a healing environment on the human psyche have long been documented. A healing environment is one that takes, in addition to medical technology and patient safety, all aspects of a patient’s surroundings into account: air quality, light, noise, furniture, colour, nature and much more. Scientific studies have found that art heals by changing a person’s physiology, attitude, emotional state and even pain perception. BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Healing Environment Committee strives to create a welcoming and healing environment for children by placing appropriate art into the hospital. The hospital has benefited from a variety of donations of artwork as well as financial contributions from donors. Over the years many hospital areas have been dressed with donated artwork. Among the major works displayed are 65 Red Roses, which is on extended loan to the hospital and made possible by Cystic Fibrosis Canada and the Canadian Federation of Artists; Quantum Kismet, a gift made in memory of Mr. Alberto Morgadinho by his family; and the On Stage, Please Gallery, illustrations from a children’s book by the same
name and written by Veronica Tennant, COC, former prima ballerina with the National Ballet of Canada. On Stage, Please Gallery was acquired courtesy of the Art for Healing Foundation and was the foundation’s first installation in Western Canada. “Instead of walking through corridors that are blank, patients and their families can roam the hallways and be taken away from their illnesses, even for a few moments, by focusing on something other than why they are in the hospital,” says Earl Pinchuk of the Art for Healing Foundation. Members of the Healing Environment Committee will work closely with the hospital’s redevelopment team to ensure the healing aspect is considered during every stage of design for the new hospital. If you are interested in donating a work of art to the hospital, please contact Nancy Stoiber at 604-875-2444.
Top: Artist Norah Borden with her work, Quantum Kismet, at the Child & Family Research Institute; Below: Author Veronica Tennant, COC at the unveiling of the On Stage, Please Gallery at BC Children’s Hospital.
The Auxiliary to BC Children’s Hospital celebrates over $5 million raised The Auxiliary to BC Children’s Hospital was formed 31 years ago to raise money to enhance the comfort and welfare of children and youth, and their families at BC Children’s Hospital. This year the Auxiliary is celebrating the remarkable achievement of raising more than $5 million for the hospital. This total is testament to the commitment and hard work of the Auxiliary team, many of whom have been involved with the Auxiliary since the beginning. Volunteers donate countless hours to run programs 2 speaking of children fall 2012
and events, including the hospital’s Gift Shop, the Still Fabulous Thrift Shop, its holiday card program, clothing donation bins, silent auctions and summer book sales. Revenues generated go to support important items and programs including music therapy, the therapeutic clown program, recreation for mental health patients, Child Life, toys for clinics, and the Auxiliary’s $1-million pledge to the Campaign for BC Children. Thank you, Auxiliary to BC Children’s Hospital, for your steadfast support of the hospital!
inside speaking of children
fall 2012 www.bcchf.ca MANAGING EDITOR Stephen Forgacs EDITOR Winnie Tam CONTRIBUTORS Mona Bhullar, Alissa Collingridge, Stephen Forgacs, Susan Shumay, Winnie Tam, Janice Williams
features
PHOTOGRAPHY Vincent L. Chan, Invisionation Photography, Irvin Cheung, James LaBounty, Life In Images Photographics, Ron Sombilon Gallery, Goran Samardziski
6 The new BC Children’s Hospital New facility puts families first.
ART DIRECTOR Gabriele Chaykowski PROJECT MANAGER Casey Crawford
PRODUCED BY
8 Round-the-clock
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The best in emergency care 24/7.
10 Children with cancer Kids and caregivers to gain from new oncology floor.
For more information about the editorial content of Speaking of Children or to make a donation to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation or Sunny Hill Foundation for Children, please contact 604-875-2444, toll-free at 1-888-663-3033 or soceditor@bcchf.ca. Charitable Business Number: 11885 2433 RR0001 BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4
departments
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to SOC Editor at address above.
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Speaking of Children is published three times annually by BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Supporters who donate $50 or more receive a one-year subscription to the magazine, which is also distributed to government officials, public health units and libraries throughout the province. Publication sales agreement #40659514
A PUBLICATION OF
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation raises funds for Children’s Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children and the Child & Family Research Institute.
superhero news well said speaking of people what’s on caring for the future healthy habits what’s up, doc? children speak
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fall 2012 speaking of children
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well said
Your support is needed now more than ever We’ve come a long way since we launched the $200-million Campaign for BC Children in 2008 to support the construction of a new BC Children’s Hospital and improve access to pediatric care for BC’s children and families. We’re proud that, to date, we’ve raised $150 million of our $200-million campaign goal. Importantly, thanks to you, our dream of giving BC’s children a new, state-of-theart hospital is no longer just a dream, it’s becoming reality.
BC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION Board of Directors 2012 as of June 30, 2012
Mr. Kevin Bent, Chair Mr. David Doig Mr. Larry Gold Mr. Doug Gordon Mr. Peter Green
In September, we celebrated the opening of the Clinical Support Building (CSB) located on our hospital site, which houses some of the staff who have vacated their workspaces in the 70-year-old Shaughnessy Building to make way for the new hospital. This was a remarkable milestone as the groundbreaking for the CSB marked the first sign of construction on our site and the beginning of the transformation that will lead to the opening of the new hospital in 2018. Although construction of the hospital building has not yet begun, BC’s children are already reaping its benefits in the form of the caregivers we are able to recruit. Over the past few years we have been extremely successful in recruiting top pediatric subspecialists from around the world, many of whom cite the promise of the new hospital as a factor in their decision to come to BC. By supporting the Campaign for BC Children your gift is already having an impact: not only are you ensuring children and families have a better-designed facility in the future, you’re also ensuring children are treated by some of the world’s best caregivers today.
Mrs. Lisa Hudson
I hope that as we pass the three-quarter mark of our campaign, you will continue your support and help us complete the largest fundraising initiative of its kind in the province’s history. BC’s children and families are relying on you to give them an enhanced health-care environment, and our caregivers are looking to you to give them the tools and resources they need to do their jobs – saving children’s lives.
Teri Nicholas, MSW, RSW
Thank you for standing beside us as we build a new hospital for our children.
Knut Nordlie, CFRE
Sincerely,
Mrs. Tammi Kerzner Mr. Don Lindsay Mr. Graham MacLachlan Mr. Geoff Parkin Dr. Erik Skarsgard Ms. Sandy So Ms. Andrea Southcott Mrs. Diane Zell
Foundation Executive President & CEO
Linda Muller, MBA Vice-President & Chief Philanthropy Officer Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer
Debora Sweeney, CFRE Teri Nicholas, MSW, RSW President & CEO BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
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Vice-President & Chief Strategy Officer
Change is in the air
Over the past two years, hospital administrators, frontline health workers and even patient family members have spent countless hours going through complex planning processes to come up with the best possible designs for the new BC Children’s Hospital. It’s time well worth spending – the new facility is expected to transform the delivery of care for generations and will continue to be a trusted place for children and families to receive the specialized care and support they need. The new facility will be much better equipped – in terms of its physical layout, technology and the enhancements in care that are enabled by these changes – to meet children’s and families’ needs. In this issue of Speaking of Children, you will read the latest news on the hospital’s planning and how children with chronic and complex illnesses will benefit from the rigour that’s being applied to the hospital’s planning process. You will also read about the changes in store for two departments – Emergency and Oncology – as the new hospital begins to take shape.
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feature story
Above: Andrea Howorth with her daughter, Clara; Right: Conceptual illustration of a patient room in the new BC Children’s Hospital (subject to change).
Mothers know best The mother of a six-year-old girl with cancer is helping hospital planners ensure the new BC Children’s Hospital meets families’ needs. by WINNIE TAM
A year ago, Andrea Howorth would never have guessed she’d become an expert on childhood cancer care. But that is exactly what she and her husband became when their daughter, Clara, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in January 2012. “We immediately became doctor mommy and daddy, administering many treatments at home,” says Andrea. “We wanted to know everything about ALL.” Clara was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) within hours of her arrival at BC Children’s Hospital. During her nine-day stay on the unit, Andrea gained a raw perspective of why a new Children’s Hospital is so desperately needed. “Things were tight and thankfully no one was beside us [in the PICU] so we were able to put a cot beside Clara’s bed. But there was just a curtain separating us from other families,” she says.
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Later, when Clara was transferred to the Oncology ward, Andrea noticed other challenges that aren’t immediately evident – such as how hard it is for families to make and store home-cooked meals. Chemotherapy affects a child’s sense of taste, making certain foods unpleasant to them. Many parents want to cook their own meals to encourage their children to eat. “But there’s only one stove on the ward and when we opened the fridge for the first time and saw that it was full, we were surprised because we didn’t realize how many people actually lived there,” Andrea says. Last spring and summer, during an innovative process called Integrated Facility Design (IFD), patient families like the Howorths, hospital administrators, front-line health workers and other stakeholders toured full-scale mockups of entire floors of the new BC Children’s Hospital. The feedback they provided on the proposed layouts will be made available to the final design team. “I can’t even describe how good it was to see the space in 3D,” says Grace Chan, program manager of the Oncology, Hematology and Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. “With IFD we were able to envision sight lines. We realized that certain areas on the unit, such as the playroom and the medication room, should be half-height – half glass, half wall – so that caregivers can have a better visualization of patients from a distance. “We also want to change the way patients are admitted so that there is a more seamless transition. Right now patients come to the outpatient clinic to start their treatment and then get admitted to the inpatient unit if necessary. In the new hospital we want to look at ways where we can reduce the number of transitions,” says Chan.
enable them to provide treatment more efficiently,” says Chan. “Everything will equal less waiting time for families.” The new floor will also boast more patient rooms, each with windows, a bathroom and a sleeping space for parents. Patients and family members will also have access to dedicated lounge areas as well as larger shared facilities, including a kitchen. “Basically when your child is admitted you’re living in a bubble and their immune system is compromised. You don’t necessarily want to go out into the public for fear of catching something,” says Andrea. “It will be much more convenient to have access to everything on the same floor.” Since Clara will be monitored at Children’s until she’s 18, Andrea appreciated the opportunity to influence the design of a facility that will continue to play a big role in her family’s life when the new hospital opens in 2018. “It was really nice to be invited to give input from a family’s point of view.” She’s also grateful for the care her family is receiving now. “The thing I love is that the Oncology staff are our personal emergency department. It’s extremely comforting knowing they are just a phone call away,” she says. “When you have a child with cancer, you have lots of questions. The staff know our story, know our daughter and will count to three before giving a poke if needed. The staff are truly amazing!”
This streamlining of care will be aided by locating all oncology services on one floor rather than across three, as they are currently laid out.
Two donors who are leading the way in the transformation of Oncology are Capstone Mining Corp. and the ChineseCanadian community. In 2010, BC-based Capstone pledged $3 million to support the Oncology Outpatient Clinic in the new BC Children’s Hospital. The Chinese-Canadian community is raising another $5 million for the inpatient unit and is expected to reach its goal by spring 2013. Together, their generosity will ensure BC’s children with cancer and blood disorders continue to receive the best in care.
“Having staff physically connected is huge. It will save travelling time, improve communication amongst caregivers and
“We’re very, very thankful for all of the people and the money that is raised to build the new hospital,” Andrea says. fall 2012 speaking of children
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feature story
In case of emergency For most children catching a cold isn’t a big deal, but for children with chronic and complex conditions, like Gabrielle Friedman, it can mean a visit to BC Children’s Hospital’s Emergency Department. by MONA BHULLAR Stacey Friedman has lost count of the number of times she and her 10-year-old daughter, Gabrielle, have visited the Emergency Department (ED) at BC Children’s. “I remember the very first time was when Gabrielle was 15 months old,” says Stacey. “She had had the flu and the usual symptoms – fever, cough and sleeping lots – but when she wouldn’t 8 speaking of children fall 2012
wake up and became completely unresponsive, we knew something was seriously wrong.” When Gabrielle was two she was finally diagnosed with a condition called portal vein thrombosis and portal hypertension, in which a clot in a vein causes blood on its way to the liver to back up into the spleen. This causes other veins to dilate to create new paths for blood flow. Though Gabrielle is one of only a handful of people with this condition in BC, her condition illustrates the importance of having a child-specific ED that families from across the province can access 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “Respiratory-related conditions are the number one reason why children come to the Emergency Department, followed by fever and minor injuries from falls, accidents or sportsrelated incidences,” says Christy Hay, program manager of the hospital’s ED. Last year, the ED received close to 45,000 visits from children and families. That number is expected to climb, ironically, because of advances in pediatric medicine and the hospital’s reputation for its high level of care.
Above: Conceptual rendering of the new BC Children’s Hospital (subject to change). Right: Gabrielle Friedman and her mother, Stacey.
“Children with chronic and complex conditions are surviving much longer, which means they will require our care for a longer period of time,” explains Hay. “Our care providers are specially trained in pediatric emergency care. That’s comforting for families and that’s why they choose to travel here.”
a family walks into the department, they would be triaged by a nurse or physician in one of four assessment rooms. It’s within the privacy of these rooms that they would explain the reason for their visit and provide caregivers with their personal information.”
The 30-year-old ED has had to operate beyond capacity for many years, creating a host of challenges.
Children and families can also look forward to larger, more comfortable and private patient rooms in the new facility. “We’ll also have rooms where patients can stay up to 24 hours while we decide whether or not they need to be admitted to the hospital,” says Hay.
“When I carried Gabrielle into Emergency you’re right there in the open. Everyone can hear everything you’re saying. There’s no privacy,” Stacey says. Other factors exacerbate the situation. “Unlike an adult facility, when a child comes into Emergency, they’re accompanied by multiple family members and that impacts our limited space,” says Hay. “It’s almost like our patients are in a fish bowl. Some of our hallways are like thoroughfares and become congested, creating unnecessary noise and stress for families.” Feedback from Hay, as well as from patient families like the Friedmans, is being considered by the planning team for the new BC Children’s Hospital, whose top priority is to address the needs of children and families. The work of the planning team is further supported by the leadership of donors like the Ledcor Group of Companies and the Dave Lede Family Charitable Foundation, which, together, generously contributed $5 million in support of the ED in the new hospital. “What we’re envisioning for the new Emergency Department is to eliminate the concept of the traditional waiting room,” says Hay. “Instead, what you’ll see is that as soon as
Rather than waiting for the new hospital to open in 2018 before implementing changes, Hay says the ED is already testing new models of care within the existing floor plan. “We’ve hired two nurse practitioners and for our less urgent cases, families won’t necessarily have to wait to see a doctor,” she says. “The nurse practitioners will be able to assess, diagnose and prescribe medications within their scope of practice. For example, if a child comes in with an earache, the nurse practitioner will be able to assess the child, prescribe antibiotics and the family can then go home.” Stacey says she’s indebted to the caregivers in Emergency and in other disciplines for managing Gabrielle’s complex health conditions over the years. Today, Gabrielle is healthy and comes to BC Children’s every nine months for checkups. “I can say with certainty that if Children’s Hospital didn’t exist, Gabrielle wouldn’t be here today,” says Stacey. “I want people to donate to the hospital. Everyone goes about their daily lives not thinking about it; it’s only when people need BC Children’s do they realize how lucky we are to have it.” fall 2012 speaking of children
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feature story
A new BC Children’s Hospital: An investment in the future Luca Piccolo’s parents don’t need a crystal ball to see into the future; they know that their son will need the services of BC Children’s Hospital again and again. The new hospital, to open in 2018, will ensure Luca, and children like him, continue to receive the best possible care far into the future. by STEPHEN FORGACS Luca, a Burnaby resident and keen soccer player, appears healthy, but like a growing number of children who are living with chronic conditions, he will require specialized care for the rest of his life. The 11-year-old has cystic fibrosis, a chronic condition that affects his lungs and digestive system. To combat his illness he follows a strict daily regimen that includes two physiotherapy sessions, and taking up to 40 pills. His parents know with certainty that Luca will benefit from the new BC Children’s Hospital, and they understand how badly it’s needed. 10 speaking of children fall 2012
“Kids like Luca are a relatively new phenomenon in pediatric care,” says his mother, Lisa. “He has frequent routine appointments at the hospital, and even though he always receives excellent care, the need for a new facility is particularly evident to us when he has to stay overnight.” Dave Ingram, the chief project officer leading the planning of the new BC Children’s Hospital, looks to children like Luca as he leads his team through the lengthy and complex planning process. This summer the team completed a planning
Planners working on the new BC Children’s Hospital assembled full-scale versions of each floor of the new hospital and then, with the help of caregivers, parents and architects, tested the layouts.
exercise that involved mocking up full-scale models of entire floors of the new hospital in a Burnaby warehouse. The feedback from that exercise, called Integrated Facility Design, in which parents whose children have spent time in the hospital worked alongside caregivers, architects and administrators to test floor plans, will influence the final design. “This is the first time this has been done on this scale in a Canadian health-care environment,” says Ingram. “It allows people to interact with the design in a much more meaningful way. It brings to life the architectural drawings. It’s much more experiential in nature.” Close collaboration with parents and with caregivers is vital to ensure the new hospital is built to address dramatic changes in the pediatric health-care environment since the current hospital opened in 1982. “When planning was underway for the 1982 hospital, open wards were the way to go,” Ingram says. “Today the single room is the modern health-care standard.” Striking a balance between the needs of patients and their families and those of care providers is a priority today, he says, emphasizing that the two are not mutually exclusive. “A quality environment for providers helps them put patients first,” says Ingram. “And if patients have a calming, healing environment they are more receptive to providers.” Ingram says that a more patient- and family-friendly environment is an important consideration in planning the new hospital, but adds that it is just one of many factors behind the urgent need. While an ever greater number of children are now being treated at the hospital on a day-patient basis, the beds they once required are being occupied by a different type of patient – children, like Luca, with chronic conditions and those who have undergone complex surgeries or have suffered severe injuries. The hospital’s ability to care
for children with life-threatening illnesses and injuries has improved, and with that comes the need for spaces suitable for large surgical teams and a range of equipment, as well as patient rooms uniformly outfitted to meet the medical needs of children in moments of crisis. Planners are also working with hospital staff to design for greater efficiency. A pod structure, for example, in which groups of patient or treatment rooms are located around decentralized supply stations and even medication rooms, will reduce the amount of time staff have to spend retrieving equipment and other items and, in turn, increase the amount of time they can spend with patients. “One thing that won’t change is the passion and commitment of staff to delivering excellent care,” says Ingram. “It’s a demanding field and we want to make sure the new facility will help us continue to recruit the best and the brightest.” BC Children’s Hospital Foundation is raising $150 million to support the construction of the new Children’s Hospital. In 2008, Teck Resources Limited made an historic $25-million gift to support the hospital’s construction, safeguarding the health of children for generations to come. Luca’s mother, Lisa, says children like her son are living proof that investments in pediatric care yield great benefits to children and to society. “I feel it’s our duty to do what we can to help the hospital and BC’s kids,” she says. “And by investing in a new BC Children’s Hospital we are showing our children and grandchildren that, really, nothing’s more important to us than their future.”
To make a donation to BC Children’s Hospital, please visit www.bcchf.ca.
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speaking of people
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1 LUCA PICCOLO, CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK CHAMPION PRESENTED BY WALMART CANADA
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation is proud to announce that 11-year-old Luca Piccolo is the new Children’s Miracle Network Champion, presented by Walmart Canada. When Luca was two years old, he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) – a chronic and life-limiting illness that requires him to follow a strict daily regimen of medication and therapy. Twice a day Luca must do physiotherapy, in addition to taking up to 40 pills a day to combat infection and aid digestion. CF is said to be an invisible disease because Luca appears to be healthy on the outside, but underneath lies a disease that he battles every day. To read Luca’s full story, visit www.bcchf.ca/miracle-stories.
CN MIRACLE MATCH The CN Miracle Match program, which ran through the summer, was a tremendous success, raising $1.8 million for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Individuals, businesses and community groups across the province raised funds in response to CN’s fund-matching challenge. At the CN Canadian Women’s Open, spectators, volunteers and players also made contributions, leading to this impressive result. To date, the CN Miracle Match program has raised over $8.2 million in support of children’s hospitals across Canada. 12 speaking of children fall 2012
5 MIRACLE TREAT DAY Miracle Treat Day was a great success again this year. On July 26, $1 or more from every Blizzard Treat sold at participating Dairy Queen locations benefited Children’s Miracle Network hospitals, including BC Children’s Hospital. DQ Blizzards have never tasted so good!
SMILE COOKIES From September 17 to 23, Tim Hortons and its customers helped put smiles back where they belong for BC’s kids. Delicious chocolate chip Smile Cookies were sold for $1 each with 100 per cent of proceeds going to Children’s. The campaign raised over S193,000 toward the purchase of equipment for BC Children’s and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children.
GRIND FOR KIDS The third annual Grind For Kids, in which Grouse Grind enthusiasts solicit pledges of $1 or more for every Grind they complete, wrapped up upon the close of the Grouse Grind this season. Thanks to the support of dedicated participants and sponsors, Grind For Kids has raised over $430,000 for BC Children’s Hospital in the past three years.
KIDS RUNNING FOR KIDS A group of 70 kids from Williams Lake celebrated their year-long fundraising efforts for BC Children’s Hospital by running from Williams Lake through various BC communities
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6 to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. From June 30 to July 7, this group of youngsters, ages six to 18, ran approximately five kilometres each day. The original fundraising goal of Kids Running for Kids was $25,000. Through raffles, a dinner and dance, bottled drink sales at sporting events, a garage sale, recyclables collections and donations from friends, families and community supporters, the group has now raised $100,000!
CELEBRATING A TRUE PHILANTHROPIST On September 27, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, together with the Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation, proudly hosted an intimate dinner to celebrate the appointment of Dr. Djavad Mowafaghian to the Order of British Columbia. Dr. Mowafaghian is one of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s closest friends and donors, and is a foundation governor. Dr. Mowafaghian’s family and friends, as well as representatives from the government and other charitable organizations, attended and honoured Dr. Mowafaghian for his tremendous contributions to the province.
THE LADNER STORM WINS BIG Congratulations to Ladner Storm – the winning team of the 2012 BMO Team of the Week Championship. In addition to winning $125,000 toward the refurbishment of a soccer field in Ladner, the team directed its $5,000 charitable
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Overwaitea Food Group president Darrell Jones with BC Children’s Hospital Foundation president and CEO Teri Nicholas.
7 donation prize to BC Children’s Hospital. Thank you, Ladner Storm, and everyone who voted to help the Ladner Storm win this generous prize from BMO.
CHILDREN’S CIRCLE OF CARE On September 15, Children’s Circle of Care donors and their guests got a rare chance to view “Grandpa’s Old Cars” – a magnificent collection of vintage cars owned by Jim Ratsoy. Mr. Ratsoy owns one of the largest collections of its kind in Western Canada. Guests enjoyed a 1950s-inspired dinner and received updates on plans for the new BC Children’s Hospital. For information on the Children’s Circle of Care, please contact Amanda Sayfy at 604-875-2545 or ccc@bcchf.ca. Photos (from left): 1 Luca Piccolo; 2 Mr. Hamid Eshghi, Dr. Djavad Mowafaghian, Ms. Teri Nicholas and Mr. Abrahim Tahsili at Dr. Mowafaghian’s Order of BC celebration dinner; 3 Grind For Kids participant, Jason Chong; 4 Circle of Care member Sylvia Chen, Jim Ratsoy and performer Tracey Bell as Marilyn Monroe at the Children’s Circle of Care event; 5 Team members of the Ladner Storm; 6 Kids Running for Kids; 7 Natasha Feuchuk, BC Children’s Hospital’s CN Miracle Match ambassador (second from left) and Teri Nicholas, president and CEO of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation (second from right) accept a $1.8-million cheque at the CN Canadian Women’s Open.
17TH ANNUAL CLASSIC FORE KIDS TOURNAMENT Organized by Overwaitea Food Group, lead benefactor to Child Health BC Overwaitea Food Group (OFG) is a lead donor to the Campaign for BC Children and the lead benefactor to Child Health BC with a generous pledge of $20 million. The tireless efforts of the OFG family culminated in a remarkable milestone this year - $10 million raised toward its $20million goal! On September 13, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation proudly celebrated OFG’s achievements with 334 OFG supplier partners and team members who participated in the 17th annual Classic Fore Kids golf tournament. Everyone delighted in this year’s theme of “Around the Globe – in Birdies & Bogies” with creative golfing outfits. Continuing its distinguished history, the 2012 tournament was once again a huge success, raising much-needed funds for Child Health BC. “The Overwaitea Food Group and its partners demonstrate annually that when people pull together for a common cause they can make a real difference in the lives of children,” said Teri Nicholas, president and CEO of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Money raised in support of Child Health BC and BC Children’s Hospital has an immediate impact on children in hundreds of communities across the province, giving them access to specialized care closer to home. Families from all corners of the province benefit every day from the fact that Overwaitea Food Group’s customers, team members and suppliers truly care.”
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what’s on
FESTIVAL OF TREES
26TH ANNUAL CRYSTAL BALL
Celebrate the holidays and visit the Festival of Trees happening in Vancouver and on the island. In Vancouver, trees will be on display at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and Pacific Centre Mall. Don’t forget to vote for your favourite tree and make a donation in support of the Campaign for BC Children. Follow the Victoria Festival of Trees on Twitter, @FestivalOTrees, and ‘Like’ them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ pages/BC-Childrens-Hospital-Festival-of-Trees to stay up-to-date on the event.For more information, visit www.bcchf.ca/festival-of-trees. VANCOUVER November 21, 2012 –January 1, 2013 The Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and Pacific Centre Mall VICTORIA November 20, 2012 – January 4, 2013 The Fairmont Empress PORT ALBERNI November 21, 2012 – January 4, 2013 The Best Western Barclay Hotel SOOKE November 30, 2012 – January 4, 2013 SEAPARC Leisure Complex
November 29, 2012, marks the 26th annual Crystal Ball. Once again, this black-tie affair will welcome 400 guests to the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver in support of the Campaign for BC Children. For more information, or to make a gift to the Ball’s Special Giving Program, please contact Amanda Sayfy at 604-875-2545 or crystalball@bcchf.ca.
pected to attend this spectacular black-tie event. All proceeds will go to the Campaign for BC Children. Contact Wendy Wong at 604-875-2673 or wwong@bcchf.ca for sponsorship opportunities and ticket information.
CALLING SLO-PITCH TEAMS! 2013 FOR CHILDREN WE CARE GALA The 19th annual For Children We Care Gala, presented by the Metro Vancouver BMW Retailers, will take place on Saturday, February 2, 2013, at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Organized by caring members of the ChineseCanadian community, 1,000 guests are ex-
It’s not too early to think about going to bat for BC’s kids! Be one of the first teams to register for 2013 Slo-Pitch, happening May 24-26, and reserve your preferred game time at www.bcchf.ca/slopitch. Now is the time to start fundraising and making plans to join your colleagues and friends on your industry’s designated day at Softball City. Softball skills are not required to hit a fundraising home run for BC’s kids!
BOARD, GOVERNOR AND SOCIETY ANNOUNCEMENTS Bob Bryant has resigned from the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation Society after serving BC’s children and families for more than 20 years. Bob’s service with the foundation is extensive and includes serving as a foundation governor for six years, on the foundation’s Board of Directors from 1991-2002 (as chair from 1999-2001), as a society member from September 2007-2012, and as a member on many committees. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Bob for his many years of service. Stephanie Carlson is leaving the society after serving her maximum 12-year term. She will join the governors and continue to serve on the Healing Environment and Allocations committees. Stephanie is a past board chair and was on the Board of Directors from 1992-2005. We welcome our longtime volunteers Isabelle Diamond and Jeff Dowle to the society. Isabelle served on our Board of Directors from 1984-2005, was a society member from 1993-2004 and
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lent her expertise on many committees, including the inaugural Crystal Ball committee 26 years ago. Jeff also has more than a decade of service under his belt, including serving on the board from 2006-2008, as a governor from 2005-2012 and as a member of various committees. Departing governors include Lisa Graham, who has served a three-year term, and John Ridley, who fulfilled his appointment as a governor when his term as the 2012 Miracle Weekend chair ended. John remains on the Lottery and Communications Advisory committees. We are pleased to welcome our new governors Raymond Li, incoming chair of Miracle Weekend and senior private banker with International Private Banking at RBC Wealth Management, and Candice Alderson, vice-president and associate counsel at the Ledcor Group of Companies, a privately owned company and one of the most diverse conglomerates in North America.
caring for the future
2012 HOLIDAY CARDS A legacy gift that comes straight from the heart
Auxiliary to BC Children’s Hospital 2012 holiday cards are now available.
Visit www.bcchholidaycards.com to place your order. For more information please contact Diana Steele at holidaycard@cw.bc.ca or 604-875-2000 ext. 5393.
Purchase your cards today! (Pre-packaged card sets are available for purchase in the Auxiliary Gift Shop at BC Children’s Hospital, located in the main lobby.)
After retiring from a busy career as an educator, Carol Miller yearned for something more. “I saw the needs of children and their families, and volunteering at BC Children’s Hospital was a natural fit.” For over 15 years, Carol has volunteered with the Auxiliary to BC Children’s Hospital, serving on its board. She is currently the Auxiliary’s liaison with the hospital foundation’s Miracle Weekend. “As a volunteer, I try to make a difference with my time but I also wanted to make a difference far into the future. By supporting research at BC Children’s Hospital with a legacy gift, I am able – in a small way –to help children.” Deciding to join the Caring for the Future Society by naming BC Children’s Hospital Foundation in her will was easy for Carol. “I’ve seen how illness can devastate a family,” she says. “If I can assist in any way, I want to do it.” It was a behind-the-scenes tour of the Child & Family Research Institute (CFRI), located on the site of BC Children’s Hospital, that cemented Carol’s decision. “I’m the kind of person who needs to see things for myself. On the tour, I saw and heard first-hand from the researchers the relationship between our on-site research facility and bedside care. Research into childhood diseases is their passion and boy, did it show.” The tour showed Carol exactly where she wanted her legacy gift to go. “When you’re thinking of making this type of gift, you want to know it will have an impact – research makes a difference. BC Children’s Hospital and CFRI have some of the best researchers in the world and their success means fewer children suffering from devastating diseases.” Once Carol had narrowed the focus of her legacy gift to research, the rest was simple. “It was an easy process and I had complete control. The foundation’s staff helped me find just the right wording to fulfil my wishes and then I visited my lawyer to revise my will,” says Carol. Supporting a cause so close to her heart is extremely rewarding for Carol. “To be able to use my money to change lives is a privilege. Nothing gives me more pleasure than knowing I’ll be making a difference to children long after I am gone.”
For more information on charitable bequests or to order our Guide to Giving, please contact the Gift & Estate Planning Team at plannedgivinginfo@bcchf.ca or 604-875-2444 or 1-888-663-3033.
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healthy habits
The Flu Shot: The What, the Why and the Who
It’s the flu season. Here are a few tips on protecting your child from the flu and preventing them from catching it.
There are different schools of thought surrounding the flu vaccine. Many parents have questions about the vaccination and whether it is right for their family. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about the flu vaccine.
by Alissa Collingridge, MN, NP (Pediatric), Susan Shumay, MSN, NP (Family) from the Nurse Practitioner Child & Youth Primary Care Clinic at BC Children’s Hospital
Influenza, also known as the flu, is an infection of the upper airway (for example, the nose and throat) caused by the influenza virus. Influenza spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing or face-to-face contact. The virus can also spread when a person touches secretions from a cough or sneeze and then touches their eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands. The flu often comes on suddenly and commonly causes headache, body chills, cough, fever, severe tiredness, muscle aches, runny nose and sore throat. Many of the symptoms of the flu are similar to the common cold. However, the symptoms of the flu are more intense and last much longer than a cold. Children may also experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
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WHAT IS INFLUENZA?
WHY SHOULD WE PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THE FLU? Young children and those with weakened immune systems and chronic illnesses are at highest risk of developing complications from the flu. These complications include ear and sinus infections, bronchitis and more serious illnesses such as pneumonia. Those in close contact with people at risk, such as parents and caregivers, should also protect themselves from the flu.
WHO SHOULD GET THE FLU SHOT?
WHAT IF MY CHILD HAS AN EGG ALLERGY?
The flu shot protects against viruses that cause influenza. Annual flu vaccines are encouraged for everyone and particularly those at higher risk of flu complications. There’s a new flu shot each year because the virus that causes the flu changes or mutates each year. This year, the flu shot is free for children ages six months to five years old. Those in close contact with people at risk should also be vaccinated. Older children with certain health conditions and the people who are closest to them can also receive a free influenza vaccine. BC residents who are not eligible for a free flu shot can still receive the influenza vaccine for a fee.
The influenza vaccine may contain trace amounts of egg protein. The Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS) states that the vaccine is safe for people with a mild egg allergy (i.e. mild gastrointestinal or mild local skin reaction, can tolerate ingestion of small amounts of egg, or have a positive skin/specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) test to egg without known exposure to egg). The CPS recommends that in these circumstances, the vaccine be given in a setting equipped to manage anaphylaxis. If you suspect or know that your child has an egg allergy, please speak with your primary care provider regarding the flu vaccine.
WHERE CAN MY CHILD GET THE FLU SHOT? To find the nearest flu shot clinic and/or to find out who is eligible to receive the vaccine for free, visit Immunize BC’s Flu Clinic Locator online at http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/flu/ or call HealthLinkBC at 8-1-1.
REMEMBER: Washing your hands is still one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the flu.
Test your flu shot knowledge 1. The composition of the flu shot remains the same year to year. a) True b) False 2. If you have received the flu shot last year you don’t need to get one again this year. a) True b) False 3. Children and people with weakened immune systems and/or chronic health conditions are at highest risk of contracting the flu. a) True b) False
Answers: 1b; 2b; 3a.
For more information visit: BC Centre for Disease Control www.bccdc.ca/dis-cond/a-z/_f/Flu/default.htm Canadian Pediatric Society www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/influenza-vaccines-in-children-with-egg-allergy HealthLinkBC www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile12d.stm Public Health Agency of Canada www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/im/iif-vcg/index-eng.php
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what’s up, doc?
Dr. Allison Eddy CHIEF OF PEDIATRIC MEDICINE
WHAT YOU’D NEVER KNOW ABOUT ME For the past 20 years my husband Patrick, son Jamie and I have been “recharged” by regular trips to our camp in the high peak region of the Adirondack Park near Lake Placid. This place is my utopia. On another note, I spent six months in Africa after my residency and I continue to be intrigued by the culture and involved with the medicine in East Africa.
HOBBIES BEHIND THE STETHOSCOPE I am a pediatric nephrologist. As a clinician, I especially enjoy working with children and youth with chronic kidney disease and their families. I specialize in the care of children with diseases that are mediated by the dysfunction of the immune system. I have had the privilege of experiencing first-hand the discovery of new diagnostic tests, drugs and biological therapies that have revolutionized treatment and outcomes for many of the kidney diseases that affect our patients. I also find it extremely rewarding to teach and mentor young pediatricians who have chosen to specialize in the field of nephrology.
I enjoy working hard but I need to balance this with some hard play. As a result, I have always been active in sports. My true leisure time is most likely spent skiing, hiking, playing squash, or walking our English cocker spaniel, Porter. I love being mom to our 20-year-old son (a role that will never end; it just evolves) and catching up with friends and family.
SECRET FANTASY I think my endorphins are highest when I am physically challenged in the great outdoors and I have a secret fantasy of being an elite athlete, perhaps a high-altitude mountain climber or a skier on the world cup circuit.
MEDICAL TRAINING Medical school - McMaster University Pediatric residency - McGill University Subspecialty training in Pediatric Nephrology - University of Minnesota
WHY I BECAME A DOCTOR Midway through an undergraduate degree in Biology, I realized that medicine was the ideal profession and every day I consider myself lucky to have been one of the chosen ones. For me, being a physician is both a hobby and a profession. The opportunity to develop close partnerships with patients and their families, to be entrusted to help them make difficult health-care decisions, to be able to pursue scientific questions, to serve as a teacher and mentor, to work with amazing colleagues in multidisciplinary teams, to think locally and globally, and to believe that you really can make the world a better place are unique opportunities for us. 18 speaking of children fall 2012
IF I DIDN’T HAVE TO WORK I am not sure that I would completely give up medicine – it’s too much fun – but I would allow much more time for current and new hobbies. I would travel more, spend more time with friends, take interesting classes, become more involved in global health and get more exercise.
PHILOSOPHY Follow your dreams, pursue things that you are passionate about, strive for excellence, believe that life’s disappointments usually bring new and perhaps even more rewarding opportunities.
WHAT I’M READING NOW Everything I can about living in British Columbia and navigating the intriguing and complex web of practising academic pediatric medicine in this province.
children speak
Dear Children’s Hospital . . . Fifteen-year-old Natasha Feuchuk, BC Children’s Hospital’s CN Miracle Match Ambassador, shares what it means to give back to the hospital for saving her life. Thanks to Natasha and the generosity of thousands of individuals and community groups across the province, a total of $1.8 million was raised last summer through the CN Miracle Match program in support of the hospital’s Excellence in Child Health Fund.
p ital , Dea r C hild ren ’ s H os ery w hen I w as rg su t ar he en op Ever sin ce I h ad to help th e ho sp ital cont inue n ine, I’ ve w ante d th y and get th em ba ck to to keep ki d s heal after I le ft th e ho sp ital , I n orm al . A monthg by do in g p resentat ion s to ra ise starte d fun d ra is ingen ital heart defec ts . I ra ised aw arenes s of con u r p resentat ion s I d id . I help ed $ 1, 2 0 0 from fo ore th is year by bein g th e ch ild ra ise so muc h m e C N M irac le M at ch . It w as am ba ss ador fo r thas very h appy to be givin g ba ck a lot of fun . I w ho sp ital after all th at th e staff even more to th e I’ m so h appy th at th e ho sp ital h ave done fo r me! oney to fun d resear ch , train in g w ill h ave more mr th e ki d s in B C . and equ ip ment fo N atas h a Do you have a story about BC Children’s Hospital to tell? Please submit your Miracle Kid stories to stories@bcchf.ca.
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You can create a lasting legacy of love for all of BC’s children. It is a magical thing to know that a decision you make today could save the life of a child 20 years or more from now. But that’s what happens when you include BC Children’s Hospital Foundation in your estate plans.
Small Patients Great Needs When you leave a bequest in your will to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, you help to build a brighter and healthier future for BC’s kids. For more information or to let us know you have made a gift through your estate, please contact the Gift & Estate Planning team at 1-888-663-3033 or plannedgivinginfo@bcchf.ca.
www.bcchf.ca
PM 40659514