It’s Ironic

Readers of my blog will know I try hard to keep my son’s image and personal information out of this space.

So when I received a message from a representative from Ornge, the world’s innovator in the emerging field of transport medicine to speak at a launch of their program in Markham, ON, I hesitated.

I hesitated because by agreeing to attend their event, my guy – and his story of survival - would no longer be private.

While we would love to donate both to Ornge and to the Hospital for Sick Toronto for saving our son’s life two and a half years ago, we, at this time, cannot. So instead, I figured by making myself available to tell E’s story, it was a way to tell the world about the great things Ornge does for sick children.

Yesterday was the event.

We listened to speeches from Ornge and Markham Stouffville Hospital people as well as someone from Ted Rogers Foundation, which donated $250,000 to bring a branch of Ornge to Markham Stouffville Hospital.

There was also a slideshow of pictures when E was sick, but on the mend, and from now when he is considered cured.

A representative of Ornge read E’s story and my belated letter of thanks to the team that ensured E survived the journey from Markham Stouffville Hospital to SickKids.

I confessed I sobbed, sobbed when I thanked – via letter – the Ornge team for ensuring E made it to the hospital safely and for ensuring he wasn’t alone. It still makes me cry.

E had a blast. The Flying Lion (thanks A) mascot was a hit; the stuffed flying lion toy that each child who is helped by Ornge receives is still being carried around; and E got to check out a critical care land ambulance; sit in the front seat; talk through the sound system; play with the siren; sit on a stretcher; go in the elevator; check his lion’s blood pressure and heart rate (sadly it was flat lined); kiss a baby; be interviewed; have his picture taken; and basically be the star of the show.

His story – and his picture – was on CityTv and Global TV. His photo was captured by Canada Press and therefore can be in newspapers and websites across the country and therefore can be viewed by millions of people.

Yes it’s ironic I have been so careful about Ethan’s information, but I am so glad we went and hopefully helped out a program that Canadians are so lucky to have.

Help! I am Lost Again

On Wednesday I had to drive to the Hospital for Sick Children in downtown Toronto.
My husband was supposed to go with me but he fell victim to the flu that my son brought home on the weekend and I had to fly solo.

I have driven to Sick Kids dozens of times yet I am one of those people who can’t retain directions.

Let’s just say if the police closed down my route to work, I would have to really think about how to get there another way.

It’s sad really.

So my husband gave me directions on how to get downtown, including what he said was the off-ramp from the Gardiner Expressway.

He lied.

OK, he didn’t lie per se, but he gave me lackadaisical directions including an off-ramp that didn’t exist.

We have been together for 10 years now. You would think one would know you can’t do that.

If you tell me to get off at say, York, I will get off at York or at least I will stay on until I find York, which in this case didn’t exist.

I knew I had missed my turnoff when I was past the Air Canada Centre and travelling west. I called him telling him I was getting of at Dunn Avenue and had no idea where I was or how to get back to where I was suppose to be.

He informed me he didn’t know where I was either and had no idea how to get me back to where I was suppose to be.

Great.

So I turned right and hoped I was heading at least in the correct direction. I had a lovely tour through Parkdale, one of the communities we cover in my job at a newspaper.

Eventually my husband called me and directed me to where I was suppose to go.

Unfortunately, the City of Toronto was against me. Everywhere I wanted to turn left, I couldn’t. If I wanted to turn right, I couldn’t. Eventually, my son and I made it to his appointment – minutes to spare.

I am happy to report we did not get lost getting back onto the Gardiner Expressway, or getting home.

Success.

Singing the praise of Sick Kids

When our son was one month old, he was airlifted to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

Those first few days were dreadful as we watched our little guy struggle to live - his heart racing and skipping at 240 beats per minutes, double what it should have been.

While we were petrified our son’s heart would be damaged beyond repair if it didn’t stop working so hard, we never doubted the care or expertise of the doctors and nurses at Sick Kids.

We were constantly told by family and friends that while no one wants to darken the doors of Sick Kids, if you have to be there, the downtown facility is the best.

They were right.

Our son received constant care and so did we. Our endless questions were answered, and the nurses and doctors were patient, kind and professional.

Once our son was stabilized we were moved out of the cardiac intensive care unit to the cardiac unit. Despite the nurses having multiple patients, we never felt our son was not receiving the best care.

Almost two weeks after being admitted to the hospital, we were sent home - glad to be going but worried.

Our little guy will be seven months old in a couple of days and while we still worry, we know he is better. We also know that if we need to, care and compassion will be found at Sick Kids.

Sick Children’s Hospital information
http://www.sickkids.ca
Donations
http://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/donate/

PS-A special thank you to Markham Stouffville Hospital for the care they gave to our son then and now.
Markham Stouffville Hospital information
http://www.msh.on.ca/
Donations
http://www.msh.on.ca/donate_now