Read the full newsletter - Children`s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

CHEO is a proud member of
Teddy Bear
Times
Fall 2015
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40063574
Live the dream and help
the little ones at CHEO!
It’s time to start dreaming! The Dream of a
Lifetime Lottery has a spectacular line up of
prizes worth over $2.6 million with the everpopular Minto Dream Home as the centrepiece.
Come see all the special touches in the home at 800 Percival
Crescent, Manotick. This year’s Dream Home is Minto’s
Cedar home design, in a brand new modern architectural
style featuring over 5,035 square feet of fabulous finished
living space. If an in-person visit isn’t possible take a virtual
tour online at the newly designed site: dreamofalifetime.ca.
Not only will one lucky winner become a new home owner,
he or she will win $100,000 cash, a 2016 Chevy Camaro
from Myers Automotive Group, house cleaning for a year
and $5,000 in groceries from Farm Boy. A prize to dream
about indeed!
Contents
Dream of a Lifetime
CHEO BBQ
Fit for a princess
Max Keeping tribute
Donor dollars at work
1
2
3
3
4
Children’s Miracle Network 5
Hydro Ottawa fundraiser 5
Forever CHEO
6
From the Hospital
7
Trees of Hope
8
…2
Live the dream (cont’d)
There are 4,789 prizes to be awarded. Order before
midnight, November 13 to be eligible for the Early Bird Prize
which includes an NHL All-Star ® weekend package for two,
$50,000 cash, a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta Highline from
Myers Automotive Group, and a trip for two to the 5-star
Majestic Elegance Hotel, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
from Marlin Travel and Transat Vacations.
THERE ARE THREE EASY WAYS TO ORDER YOUR
The 50/50 Draw was a huge success last year so it’s back
and the minimum jackpot has been raised to $250,000!
With an escalating jackpot, who knows how large the pot
will grow! Last year’s winner won over half a million dollars
so don’t miss out. To get in on this prize you must order a
Dream of a Lifetime Lottery ticket.
200 local branches of TD Canada Trust, Scotiabank,
Tickets for the Dream of a Lifetime Lottery are $100
each or three for $250, while tickets for the 50/50
Draw are one for $10, five for $25, or 15 for $50.
TICKETS TODAY:
• Online at www.dreamofalifetime.ca
• By phone at 613-722-5437 or 1-877-562-5437
• In-person at the Minto Dream Home located at
800 Percival Crescent in Manotick, or in-person at nearly
RBC Royal Bank, BMO Bank of Montreal, CIBC and
National Bank in the Ottawa area.
Supporting the lottery has a very real impact on the lives of
children and youth at CHEO. Not only can ticket buyers win
a prize, a life at CHEO can be changed due to that support.
Thank you in advance for dreaming big! Best of luck in
the draws.
CHEO BBQ: A whole lot of heart…and loads of fun!
In 1993 Mike Machargo, Johnny Hunt and a group of
friends were having a backyard BBQ. That same day the
CHEO Telethon was airing so the group passed around
a fish bowl for donations for CHEO. That $40 pledge
with a gathering of friends has grown into a well-known
CHEO fundraiser called the CHEO BBQ, now held at
Shefford Park.
2
For 23 years running the community has participated in this
spectacular day of volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, family walk
and a 5 km run, all to benefit health care at CHEO. To date,
this event has raised over $565,000! “We recognize how
much work goes into organizing an event of this size and we
are so thankful for the efforts of this passionate team,” says
Chantal Charbonneau, Director, Community Engagement &
Annual Giving, CHEO Foundation. “It’s thanks to groups like
this that CHEO staff can provide the level of health care we
expect for our children and youth.”
This amazing summer tradition has a lot of heart. “I believe
it is important to give back to your community. For a society
to function properly, each and every one of us should
give back more than we take from it,” says Mike. “I love
planning this event, love the people we work with and can’t
help but smile with all the success stories we hear coming
from CHEO. I find it uplifting and inspiring to hear of these
extraordinary young people and the challenges they have
faced or continue to face but how they persevere and rise
above those hardships. It shows me that if they can be the
beacon of hope for themselves, their families and other
children like them, I can easily plan an annual event to help
raise funds and awareness for the hospital that enables
them to do so much!”
To participate in this annual event and become a part of this
fun day for CHEO please visit www.cheobbq.com.
Fit for a princess
Hodan enjoying meeting princesses,
courtesy of Official Princess Parties
Once upon a sunny autumn day, people witnessed a little
magic at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).
Though we often hear of miraculous stories of recovery at
CHEO they usually involve the devoted medical team, but
this time was different… there was pixie dust involved.
Pixie dust is the stuff of fairy tales, where brave young
people overcome unfathomable obstacles to attain new
levels of success, wellbeing and the very sought-after
‘happily ever after’ status.
It appears that this is exactly what happened at CHEO
on October 1, 2015 when nine year old Hodan Osman
was surprised by a team of princesses. After roaming
the hallways of the medical day unit searching for Hodan,
the princesses sprinkled a little fairy dust above her head
and within seconds she was magically transformed into
a princess. With her sparkling tiara, her pretty dress that
twirled just so, and her winning smile Hodan looked the part.
The princesses explained that they had come a long way
to announce that she had been chosen to represent all
of CHEO’s remarkable patients as part of the Children’s
Miracle Network Champion presented by Walmart Canada
program. To date, Walmart has raised $5 million for CHEO
and $100 million for Children’s Miracle Network.
As part of Hodan’s ‘princess in training’ duties she will
represent CHEO and the Children’s Miracle Network
throughout the year at various fundraising events. As a
patient ambassador she will share her story of how she
got better with the help of the team at CHEO. In doing so,
she will help showcase how local donor dollars, and the
unwavering support of her family, her medical team and her
extended family and friends have made a positive impact
on her recovery. And, thanks to Walmart, this experience
culminates with a trip to Disney World to meet other
Champions from across Canada and the United States, and
it is where she will complete her princess training.
Though her story sounds like it is straight out of a fairy tale,
it has not been without a bump or two in the road – in fact,
Hodan truly earned her tiara by slaying a very large and
mean-looking dragon: she beat cancer!
Hodan was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a
cancer of the blood, at age seven. She had to face countless
blood tests, bone marrow aspirations, and chemotherapy
treatments. Her indefatigable spirit is what carried her
through this twist of fate. She made the best of every
situation – when she was in isolation and too fragile to go
out of her room she opened a nail salon offering manicures
to her oncologist, the nursing staff and other patients. She
made new friends and enjoyed doing crafts in the playroom.
Her positive attitude and sense of optimism carried her –
and her family – through her fight against cancer.
As it turns out, the storylines of classic fairy tales may not
be so unattainable; after all Hodan is indeed a brave young
person who overcame unfathomable obstacles. She also
reached new levels of health and wellbeing, and we hope
that she also finds the sought-after ‘happily ever after’.
YOU WILL BE MISSED BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN
MAX’S UNRELENTING LOYALTY TO OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED CHEO.
Max Keeping has been CHEO’s greatest ambassador and champion for the past 40 years. His presence on the CHEO Telethon
each June marked another year of countless appearances at special events, hospital visits to raise the spirits of kids and
families, and advocating for them nightly from the anchor desk. Max’s immeasurable love for the children of our community
was recognized in 2003 when CHEO named a new wing in his honour. The Max Keeping Wing stands as a permanent reminder
of his incredible dedication and contribution to CHEO and the difference Max continues to make in the lives of all children and
families we have the privilege of serving.
In accordance with Max’s wishes, the new Max Keeping Fund for Kids has been established. This fund will ensure that his name
and his unwavering support for children and families is ever present within CHEO and throughout our community.
On behalf of all CHEO patients, families, doctors, nurses, researchers and staff, we thank you for always being there for us.
To make a donation please visit www.cheofoundation.com.
3
Donor dollars at work and the importance of your
continued support
When you choose to support the CHEO
Foundation, rest assured your donation
will benefit areas where funds are
needed most. While funding needs at
CHEO change from year to year, some
things remain constant: the need to
purchase specialized and up to date
medical equipment, and to support work
being done in specialized clinics. It is
paramount that our doctors, nurses and
staff are working with the best tools
when caring for our children and youth.
To show how your support has helped
CHEO over the past year, and reinforce
how important your continued support
is to your children’s hospital, we have
put together a short list of recent
equipment purchases that community
donations have funded and a few
examples of equipment that the hospital
is looking to purchase in the near
future. CHEO’s patients range in age
from pre-mature babies weighing little
more than a few grams to 18 year olds
battling obesity - and kids of every age,
size and weight in between. Equipment
must match this vast assortment of
sizes but it’s not only items like blood
pressure cuffs, incubators and surgical
tools that fall into the “one size does not
fit all” category. With your continued
support, we can arm our medical staff
with the equipment and tools that
will help them send more and more
children and youth home healthy!
Thank you for helping to fund:
Equipment piece
Description
Transport VentilatorPortable units that enable patients to breathe while being transported
between hospital units. These ventilators are used in multiple areas
including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
and the Emergency Department.
4
Cost
$31,000
High Frequency Jet Delivers oxygen in tiny little bursts with as little ventilator pressure as
Ventilatorpossible so tiny babies can breathe during treatment. This unit protects
the fragile new lungs of CHEO’s tiniest patients.
$42,000
Concussion ClinicThis clinic will help our concussion specialists with symptom assessment
and diagnosis for patients suffering post-concussion symptoms. It will
assist in identifying the need for additional therapies and faster recovery
times for patients with concussions.
$40,000
We still need your support for:
CT ScannerThis scanner will provide faster scans and more precise and detailed
images – including spiral imaging and 3-D capabilities. It will transform
the ability to diagnose patients and will have tremendous impact on
patient care. Most importantly, it will minimize radiation for CHEO’s
young patients.
$3 million
Portable
This machine allows nurses to see through patients’ skin to
Transilluminator
find the tiny veins in their arms. By minimizing the number of
needles for tiny ones, this machine ensures the quickest and most
painless treatment for patients and relieves stress for worried moms
and dads.
$5,995
These are just a few examples of the difference you have made at CHEO, and why your children’s hospital will
continue to need your support for years to come. Thank you!
What is Children’s Miracle Network®?
Children’s Miracle Network raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals, 14 of
which are in Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare
services, pediatric medical equipment and research. Its various fundraising partners
and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many
children as possible.
THE BRICK
EXTRA LIFE
Coming on board to help kids in our
community from September 2015 –
February 2016
Last year the Brick Ltd. employees
pledged their commitment to support
children’s health care and raised over
$24,000 for CHEO.
The Brick is Children’s Miracle
Network’s newest Canadian partner.
“The Brick is a great Canadian retailer
which has provided value to the homes
of Canadians. It just makes sense to
partner with this community-focused
business,” said John Hartman, Chief
Operating Officer, Children’s Miracle
Network, Canada.
The Brick is committed to helping
improve the lives of children and their
families. As a part of their fundraising
efforts, The Brick has introduced
Brickley Bear to help raise funds.
Brickley Bear, made by Gund®, is
available at The Brick’s 220 stores
nationwide and online. All proceeds
from the sale of Brickley Bear go to
the Children’s Miracle Network and
support the children’s hospital serving
the community where the purchase
was made. The 2016 campaign bear is
a Brickley SuperHero Bear and a great
addition to any child’s toy collection!
The campaign also raises funds for
CHEO through vendor programs,
employee giving, icon sales, and
corporate giving. We are thrilled to
welcome The Brick to our CHEO family
and we encourage individuals to drop
into their local Brick stores between
September 2015 and February 2016
to help make miracles happen for
children in our community and across
the country.
Play games and
November 7, 2015.
kids
on
The gaming phenomenon of Extra
Life is back! On November 7, 2015,
join thousands of gamers across
North America in their goal to raise
awareness and money for their local
children’s hospital. Whether you enjoy
table top board games, playing sports
or traditional video games, you can
fundraise for CHEO and be a part of
the Extra Life movement.
This year Ottawa turned up the dial
and began its very own Extra Life
guild. The guild connects local gamers
together through discussions, making
friendships and sharing fundraising
tips! Be sure to register today at
www.extra-life.org or search Extra
Life Ottawa Guild on Facebook. It’s
not too late to sign up and start
fundraising today.
SMALL CHANGE. BIG DIFFERENCE.
Register for E-Billing by December 31st and we’ll
donate $5 to the Max Keeping Fund for Kids at CHEO.
GO PAPERLESS TODAY
heal
hydroottawa.com • 613 738-6400
Andy, 6 years old
CHEO Patient
5
Legacy Story
The Bird Man of White Lake
Born in Arnprior in 1938, Wayne Robillard was the first born
in Harrison and Christina Robillard’s family of seven. He spent
most of his career working at the Kenwood Mills in Arnprior
while living in nearby White Lake. He played hockey there and
started a Sunday morning hockey pick-up game in the 1960’s
at the old arena in Arnprior. That game is still going strong
today. Wayne loved the outdoors and lived a modest life
very close to nature on property near White Lake. He raised
Huskies and was an avid fisherman. He dabbled in taxidermy
and there is an example of an Ottawa River Muskie on his
brother Jim’s wall to prove it. Later in life he got into racing
pigeons. In fact, he was known locally as “The Birdman of
White Lake.” He had a sense of adventure and while he spent
most of his life in the Ottawa Valley, he did enjoy some road
trips in his Volkswagen Beetle with his brothers Monty and
Jim. He also loved motorcycles and fixing up old trucks. His
brother Jim said, “He had the money to go buy a new truck,
but instead he enjoyed fixing up old half ton pick-up trucks
and getting them running.”
Though Wayne never married or had children of his own, at
some point in his life he made a decision that would impact
the lives of many children and their families. He decided that
he was going to leave the majority of his estate to CHEO.
He never notified anyone at CHEO that he had made this
decision. He just quietly did it! His brother Larry credits
Wayne’s love for family and children as the motivator behind
his generous gift to CHEO.
6
We wish we could thank Wayne in person for his most
generous gift to CHEO, however we are now only able to
thank his surviving family: his siblings, Monty, Shirley, Jim,
Larry, Carey, Rodney and their families.
“To know even one life has
breathed easier because
you have lived. This is to
have succeeded.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Through a generous bequest of about $350,000 made from
his estate, Wayne will continue to leave a legacy that reflects
that children were a priority in his life.
Consider creating a truly lasting legacy that reflects what was
important to you during your lifetime by including CHEO in
your estate plans. If you are interested in more information
about making a legacy gift to CHEO, please contact Megan
Doyle Ray, Manager of Legacy Giving and Memorial Programs
at 613 738-3694 or megandoyle@cheofoundation.com or by
visiting www.cheofoundation.com/donate/legacy-giving.
Shelley Ordorica and Dr. Olga Jarinova,
of CHEO’s Molecular Genetics Lab,
proudly show off the new NextSeq500
sequencer.
From the Hospital: A little knowledge goes a long way
Imagine finding out you or your child has an inherited heart
condition. Many scenarios might run through your mind. You
wonder…have I passed this on to my children? How might this
affect my life and theirs? As a parent, you want to protect your
children; you want them to lead healthy lives and you want to
do everything in your power to keep them safe. At CHEO, we
understand this and want to help. That is why, starting July
1st, CHEO introduced more comprehensive genetic testing
for inherited heart conditions for patients both in the Ottawa
community and across Ontario.
Early detection is key to managing and fighting disease —
inherited heart conditions are no different. Frighteningly, it is
estimated that over 700 children and youth in Canada die from
sudden cardiac issues each year. But by detecting the genes that
cause heart conditions, steps can be taken to manage the risks.
As a nationally recognized leader in genetic care and research,
CHEO is using the latest technologies, called Next Generation
Sequencing, to read patients’ genes and unlock the clues to what
makes them tick.
CHEO’S Molecular Genetics Laboratory is the only centre in
Ontario designated by the Ministry of Health to provide this new
testing for inherited cardiomyopathies. Cardiomyopathies are
conditions that weaken the heart muscle, decreasing its ability to
pump blood. While not all cardiomyopathies are inherited, genetic
testing is used to help diagnose the ones that are, and to identify
which family members may be at risk of a life-threatening cardiac
episode.
How it works:
Thanks to generous donations from the community, the CHEO
Foundation was able to contribute $339,500 so that the hospital
could purchase and begin using a new instrument, a NextSeq500
(Illumina). This special instrument joins our MiSeq sequencer
(Illumina) in diagnosing a range of conditions and aiding with
life-saving research. These machines allow CHEO geneticists to
examine a person’s genes much faster than any technology we’ve
had before – meaning results and information to your doctor and
your family sooner.
Once a machine has read your genes, genomic specialists,
genetic counsellors and scientists compare your genes against a
human genome database and consult a variety of other sources
to find out what your genetic make-up is saying about you. The
sequencing machines are able to read your relevant DNA regions
hundreds of times making the results highly accurate.
If a genetic risk factor is identified in a family, then other family
members can pursue genetic counselling and testing to determine
if they could be at risk. Parents can work closely with their
child’s care team to manage the condition by making lifestyle
adjustments like modifying your child’s physical activity routine
and taking medication, if needed.
In the case of inherited heart conditions, a little knowledge can
save lives and change lives, from newborn infants, to teenagers
in competitive sports, to family members of all ages.
This is simply the beginning of a new generation in medicine. The
field of genetics is becoming more and more sophisticated. Soon
we will be entering what scientists call “the era of personalized
medicine,” where new advances will allow geneticists to read
genes like a book, meaning medical decisions and treatments
can be tailored specifically to your story. The future of genetics
is looking bright!
7
Fairmont Château Laurier Trees of Hope
for the Children at CHEO
Canadian Tire at root of event’s success!
continue to make a positive impact for the
families who rely on CHEO.”
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Pat Winchester is the Operations Manager
at the Canadian Tire in Orleans, and for
her, the Trees of Hope event is not only
a wonderful, seasonal event that she and
her staff participate in and support every
year, it also holds a special place in her
heart because of a personal connection
to CHEO. When Pat’s daughter was a
teenager she frequently visited CHEO
and she is thankful for the medical staff’s
expertise and knowledge that helped her
daughter recover and become the woman
she is today. She also knows that many
of the staff at Canadian Tire have needed
CHEO whether their child has a chronic
illness or have just had to make the
occasional visit.
Many thanks to all those who have
volunteered, attended, donated, or
participated in any of our events. Your
devotion to our children’s health is greatly
appreciated. We look forward to seeing
you at our upcoming events.
Special thanks to Smiling Cat Inc.
(www.smilingcatinc.com), whose
support of CHEO Foundation projects
throughout the year helps make this
beautiful newsletter possible.
For the past four years The Ottawa
Valley Dealers group (owners of
Canadian Tire stores in the city)
chose to support the Trees of Hope
event by not only entering a team
in the tree decorating contest,
but also by providing the artificial
holiday trees that teams decorate during
the event. Over the years the trees can
become a little worse for wear and the
team at Canadian Tire is there to donate
new trees to make sure each team has
a beautiful canvass as they begin their
seasonal creativity!
This 18th annual Fairmont Château Laurier
Trees of Hope event will take place on
Monday, November 30th, 2015 from
4:45 – 6:30 p.m. and once again teams
will do their best to create the most
beautiful holiday tree. An incredible array
of silent auction items, delicious treats,
and beautiful music adds to a festive
atmosphere that warms the heart and
gets everyone into the holiday spirit. All of
the trees will be on display in the halls of
the Fairmont Château Laurier throughout
the holidays. This year the teams will be
creatively challenged to decorate within
two themes: 1) Royal Tree Theme – purple
and gold should be used to salute the
many Kings and Queens the castle has
hosted over the years and 2) Nutcracker
Theme – Let the spirit of this famous
ballet shine through using soldiers, toys,
ballerinas and more. The beauty of the
holidays will be on full display thanks
to these wonderful themes. Make sure
The Trees of Hope for the Children at
CHEO is in your calendar and we will see
you at the Fairmont Château Laurier on
November 30th. For more details please
visit www.cheofoundation.com.
The Fairmont Château Laurier’s Deneen
Perrin says, “Our friends at Canadian Tire
truly demonstrate the spirit of the Trees
of Hope event and we are so thankful for
their commitment and enthusiasm, and for
playing such a big role in this important
event. Last year we raised over $80,000
and we are hoping to surpass that goal and
For additional information on entering
a team in the tree decorating contest,
sponsorship opportunities or donating
silent auction items please contact
Deneen Perrin, Fairmont Château Laurier
at (613) 562-7001. Don’t forget to vote for
your favourite tree for the People’s Choice
Award. Be a part of the magic!
Teddy Bear Times is a semi-annual
newsletter for donors, supporters and
friends, published by the Children’s Hospital
of Eastern Ontario Foundation. If you
have any questions or comments please
contact the CHEO Foundation or visit 
www.cheofoundation.com.
CHEO Foundation
415 Smyth Road
Ottawa, ON K1H 8M8
(613) 737-2780
Publications Mail Agreement
No. 40063574.
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