FALL 2016
LEADING
THE WAY
WITH
CARE.
GET TO Dr. Neil Chadha
KNOW: PEDIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGIST
(pron. otto-lar-in-gol-oh-gist)
Behind the Stethoscope:
One of the things that defines my job as a Pediatric
Otolaryngologist is that it’s one of the longest, most
difficult specialties to pronounce. Seven syllables!
I specialize in diseases of the larynx (voice box), upper
trachea (windpipe) and nasal/sinus, as well as congenital (birth) defects of the neck. My passion is applying
the best new techniques and technologies to provide the
least invasive care to patients. My training brought me
from the UK to Toronto and then to Vancouver. I have a
Master’s degree in Population Health and Epidemiology
and I have an active research program.
Family portrait:
My wife shares my love of medicine. She’s a physician
specializing in addiction and chronic pain. Our
daughter’s in Grade Five, our son is in Grade Four.
They’re amazing kids. We thoroughly enjoy our time
as a family, particularly with adventurous outdoor
pursuits, hanging out with friends, and playing
board games on rainy days.
Why I specialize:
Otolaryngology is a discipline with a lot of variety.
In fact, it’s like four or five different surgical specialties
rolled into one. When I discovered during my training
that I could be a specialist surgeon and spend my
career caring for kids, I never looked back.
My favourite day on the job:
I’m really touched when children bring me something
they’ve made themselves as a thank you for their care.
I have a lovely abstract hand-painting on my wall from
a young girl. I gave her a big hug when she presented
it to me.
“MY PHILOSOPHY:
TO BE HAPPY YOU
DON’T NEED TO
HAVE THE BEST OF
EVERYTHING –
YOU JUST NEED TO
MAKE THE MOST
OF EVERYTHING.”
The 2016 A Night of Miracles gala raised funds to fill the urgent need for vital equipment used
in the diagnosis and treatment of children with ear, nose, throat, and respiratory conditions such
as pneumonia, asthma, complex voice disorders, and tumours. More than 8,000 children annually
– from infants to teenagers – will benefit from the generosity of gala attendees.
AIDAN
CHIN
A SPECTACULAR
CANVAS AWAITS
You would never know to look at
Aidan Chin that he’s overcome a
life-threatening ordeal.
Diagnosed with leukemia when he was
11-years-old, Aidan underwent years of
care including spending several months
inside BC Children’s Hospital. Today
he’s an active Grade 12 student at
Templeton Secondary. And a persuasive
advocate for child health.
As the 2016 Champion Child – a key
ambassador role for BC Children’s
Hospital – Aidan found his voice
through numerous public and media
appearances. His experiences gave him
a unique perspective about how the
hospital environment affects wellness.
Now his advice is informing a seniorlevel committee called the Children’s
Healing Experience Project about the
use of art and positive distraction in the
new Teck Acute Care Centre that is
scheduled for completion in Fall 2017.
“To hear how the new hospital is coming
together is really amazing,” says Aidan,
who volunteered his services to the
patient art review panel.
“Having art specifically
created for the new
space will bring more
positive energy and
add a brighter feeling
to the whole hospital.”
The Children’s Healing Experience
Project is a Canadian – possibly a
world-wide – first. In the spring, artists
across Canada were challenged to make
their mark on what could be the largest
project of its kind in the country’s history.
Sculptors, painters, photographers and
graphic artists are working to create
400 unique pieces of artwork that
will be part of 60,000 square feet of
available space in the new hospital –
a massive canvas.
It’s not just about art. The program will
create inspirational healing experiences that engage and comfort children,
youth, family and staff. There is a
growing body of research that shows a
purposeful healing environment can
reduce the need for sedation, shorten
hospital stays and improve psychological
and physical functioning.
Aidan’s input will be combined with
that of patient families, medical staff
and senior-level volunteers who have a
close connection with Children’s
Hospital. Art and displays will be used
not just in public spaces but extensively
throughout clinical areas.
Several major provincial-based organizations with an expertise in engaging
children, including the Vancouver
Aquarium Marine Science Centre, Royal
BC Museum and H.R. MacMillian Space
Centre, have also signed-on. Generous
donor support from the Crystal Ball gala
launched this incredible project.
Aidan says his work on the patient art
review panel taught him how important
it was that young patients have a say –
and find a sense of control – during
difficult times.
REID
VAN ROSSUM
REID’S
RESILIENCE
A little boy’s spirit finally shines.
To passengers on the ferry from Nanaimo to
Vancouver that June day, a blond toddler running
circles around the deck was cute but maybe a little
too high-spirited. To his parents, Brad and Andrea
van Rossum, the sight was magnificent.
Even before he was born, Reid’s mom
and dad knew that he had a heart
condition: pulmonary atresia with
intact ventricular septum. It’s a
congenital heart defect in which a
valve fails to develop properly and
obstructs the connection between the
right and left ventricles of the heart.
In order to survive, baby Reid would
have to endure three surgeries – the
first just weeks after birth.
Until recently, Reid could barely play
with his big sister Alexa. He would
run out of breath, need to rest or ask
to be held. “I don’t think we realized
“Hearing his
laughter and
seeing him play
was pure joy.”
how limited he was, physically, until
after his third surgery,” says Andrea.
care from Dr. Andrew Campbell and
After his final surgery in the summer,
Reid’s parents witnessed his burgeoning
sense of independence and vitality.
Reid was a new person. “Four days
post-op, we were in the hospital
playroom, and he had more energy
than we had ever seen before,” says
Brad. “Hearing his laughter and
seeing him play was pure joy.”
from Dr. Brian Sinclair who sees Reid
Reid is one of over 2,500 kids from
Vancouver Island treated at BC
Children’s Hospital. He gets great
And we get a place where we know
cardiology team at Children’s – and
at clinics in Victoria and Nanaimo.
Andrea gets emotional when she
considers the support that her family
has received, not only from Reid’s
doctors and caregivers, but from
donors across the province. “There
are no words to say what donations
mean. For us – it means we get Reid.
he’ll be taken care of, and we get to
be a family.”
Reid van Rossum is our
Champion Child for Victoria’s
Festival of Trees, starting
Nov. 16 at the Fairmont
Empress and the Bay Centre.
For more information visit
www.bcchf.ca/fot
WHAT’S
ON
2016
Nov. 18
Nov. 15
THE ART OF HEALING
FOR THE LOVE OF HUMANKIND
Proceeds from the 30th Annual Crystal Ball
go to the Children’s Healing Experience
Project, an initiative to create works of art to
reduce pain and anxiety in young patients.
On National Philanthropy Day, we celebrate
the 116,442 donors who opened their hearts
to support our cause this past year.
Mid-Nov. – Early Jan.
December
GET FESTIVE
THE GIFT OF GIVING
Soak up the holiday spirit at Festival of
Trees events in Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler,
Osoyoos and Sooke. Vote for your favourite
tree by making a donation to BC Children’s
Hospital Foundation.
What do you give the person who has everything this holiday season? How about a gift in
their honour to support urgent medical care
for kids across BC and the Yukon.
Dec. 5 – 11
Dec. 15
Double the impact of your contribution.
Aeroplan will match donations of up to
500,000 miles to the Air Canada Foundation
to help even more families reach the medical
care they need.
Get your charitable gift in before the 2016
tax deadline. The first $200 will receive
a 15 per cent non-refundable federal tax
credit. Donations beyond that amount
receive a 29 per cent credit.
GOING THE EXTRA MILE
CLAIMING CHARITABLE TAX CREDITS
2017
January
Jan. 21
Sign up for the Sunny Bear Birthday Club
and ask your friends and family to donate
to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation in
lieu of gifts for your child’s next birthday
celebration.
The 22nd Annual For Children We Care Gala
will support the purchase of a new heart-lung
machine for BC Children’s Hospital cardiology
department. To date, the gala has raised
more than $14 million.
TOO MANY PRESENTS?
FOR THE KIDS
GET SOCIAL ANYTIME
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to
read powerful stories of care and stay up-to-date with
everything happening at BC Children’s Hospital.
THE POWER
OF PLAY
MARKING
A MILLION
Wigs for Kids BC has reached
a major milestone, surpassing
$1 million and providing
hundreds of eligible children
with cancer and other serious
illnesses with free wigs.
It all began in 2006 when a group of
friends raised money to buy a teenage
girl a wig for her high school graduation.
They hoped to raise $3,000 – the
amount needed to purchase a humanhair wig – but soon realized they could
help many more children after their
fundraiser topped $24,000.
community, especially children who
are keen to support the cause through
hair donations and fundraising.
The support available through Wigs
for Kids reduces much of the financial
burden for families, allowing parents to
focus on their child rather than spending
time and energy worrying about money,
and helps children and teens regain
their confidence after treatment.
“My wig was a huge confidence boost
for me. I was no longer worried about
people looking at me with a sense of
pity,” says Diba Sanatgar, a patient at BC
Children’s Hospital. “I could just go out
Ten years later, the volunteer committee there, be myself and make friends.”
continues to raise funds for wigs as well
“My wig was
as medications and feeding supplies
not covered by BC’s medical plan. The
a huge confidence
program has also garnered support
boost for me.”
from other caring individuals in the
STOCKING STUFFER
Donate stocks and securities this holiday season to reduce taxes.
Ron Jansen handles his money wisely.
To reduce the future tax payable on his
estate, Ron has arranged a gift of
securities in his Will. He also donates
stocks to BC Children’s Hospital
Foundation every year.
units, will reduce his tax bill. He also
knows 50 per cent of his capital gain is
taxable if he sells publicly-traded
securities at a profit. However, the tax
will be eliminated if he donates those
same securities to a good cause.
“If you can give three times as much as
what it’s costing you, isn’t that great?”
Ron says.
For Ron though, the greatest motivation
isn’t the charitable tax credit or other
tax breaks. He says he is inspired to keep
giving every time he hears about a child
thriving after receiving care at BC
Children’s Hospital.
As a chartered professional accountant
(CPA, CGA), Ron knows his gift of
securities, like stocks or mutual fund
Microsoft Canada and
Children’s Miracle Network
is allowing young hospital
patients to stay connected
with the outside world like
never before.
In September, BC Children’s Hospital
launched the Child Life Interactive
Computers for Kids (CLICK) program.
Aiming to create a sense of normalcy
for children who experience lengthy
hospital stays, the CLICK program is
designed to provide access to bedside
connectivity. Through interactive
technology the program helps to
reduce anxiety, improve mobility
and creates an environment of fun
and learning.
Nathan Mitchell, 10, has spent the
past four months at BC Children’s
Hospital receiving treatment for
cancer. He recently tested out some of
the technology purchased for the
hospital through the CLICK Program
– including laptops, Windows Tablets
and Xbox One. “Since diagnosis in
June, we have spent only a handful of
nights at home,” says Tina, Nathan’s
mom. “Thanks to the new technology
provided by Microsoft, Nathan has
been able to immerse himself with
this creative technology, and keep his
mind off everything he is going through.”
HELP
KIDS
SHINE.
This holiday,
give a gift that
really matters.
Donate at bcchf.ca