Spring 2015 Grateful Hearts Newsletter
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In Your 2015 Spring Edition Music Therapy ......................... 2 Excellence in Care ................. 2 A Message from the CEO .... 3 Gift of Love Gala ................... 3 Our New Website ................. 3 A Loyal Corporate Donor .... 4 Upcoming Events ................... 4 canuckplace.org Kaitlyn Sidhu loves music. This brave little girl has recently begun music therapy here at Canuck Place. Kaitlyn is just six years old, but she has endured a lot in her short life. At birth, she was diagnosed with a rare life-threatening condition called semilobar holoprosenchephaly, which meant her brain was not fully developed. She has also undergone several rounds of extensive chemotherapy to treat cancer. Kaitlyn adores her older brother and sister – Sean, 14 and Brittany, 11 – who love to play with her. But with three children to care for, and Kaitlyn’s complex health challenges, her parents Amanda and Robert are stretched to the limit. Supporters like you have added a little extra music to Kaitlyn’s life. And helped us open our doors to this family. “Kaitlyn has spent almost half of her life in the hospital,” says Amanda. “This meant our family was living apart, until we were welcomed into Canuck Place. The clinical team has done everything possible to help Kaitlyn. Canuck Place literally saved our family from a very difficult time.” “Walking into Canuck Place is like walking into a whole other world,” says Amanda. “It’s a home filled with love that comes from the hearts of everyone inside. There is really nowhere else we can go for this kind of care. Thank you.” Just recently, Kaitlyn and her whole family joined us at our Gift of Love Gala in Abbotsford, where Amanda shared their story with the 300 guests in attendance. Read more about the Gala on page 3. A Home Filled with Love 1690 Matthews Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 2T2 Tel: 604.731.4847 Toll-Free: 1.877.882.2288 E-mail: [email protected] The Sidhu Family: Dad Robert, Brother Sean, Sister Brittany, Kaitlyn and Mom Amanda. Kaitlyn with Sister Brittany (left) and Brother Sean (right). Kaitlyn Sidhu on her first birthday.
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Our Grateful Hearts Newsletter features updates from a busy - and musical Spring at Canuck Place.
Transcript of Spring 2015 Grateful Hearts Newsletter
In Your 2015 Spring Edition
Music Therapy .........................2
Excellence in Care .................2
A Message from the CEO .... 3
Gift of Love Gala ...................3
Our New Website .................3
A Loyal Corporate Donor ....4
Upcoming Events ...................4canuckplace.org
Kaitlyn Sidhu loves music. This brave little girl has recently begun music therapy here at Canuck Place.
Kaitlyn is just six years old, but she has endured a lot in her short life. At birth, she was diagnosed with a rare life-threatening condition called semilobar holoprosenchephaly, which meant her brain was not fully developed. She has also undergone several rounds of extensive chemotherapy to treat cancer.
Kaitlyn adores her older brother and sister – Sean, 14 and Brittany, 11 – who love to play with her. But with three children to care for, and Kaitlyn’s complex health challenges, her parents Amanda and Robert are stretched to the limit.
Supporters like you have added a little extra music to Kaitlyn’s life. And helped us open our doors to this family.
“Kaitlyn has spent almost half of her life in the hospital,” says Amanda. “This meant our family was living apart, until we were welcomed into Canuck Place. The clinical team has done everything possible to help Kaitlyn. Canuck Place literally saved our family from a very difficult time.”
“Walking into Canuck Place is like walking into a whole other world,” says Amanda. “It’s a home filled with love that comes from the hearts of everyone inside. There is really nowhere else we can go for this kind of care. Thank you.”
Just recently, Kaitlyn and her whole family joined us at our Gift of Love Gala in Abbotsford, where Amanda shared their story with the 300 guests in attendance. Read more about the Gala on page 3.
A Home Filled with Love
1690 Matthews Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 2T2 Tel: 604.731.4847 Toll-Free: 1.877.882.2288 E-mail: [email protected]
The Sidhu Family: Dad Robert, Brother Sean, Sister Brittany, Kaitlyn and Mom Amanda.
Kaitlyn with Sister Brittany (left) and Brother Sean (right).
Kaitlyn Sidhu on her first birthday.
2 Canuck Place Grateful Hearts
The children at Canuck Place are a testament to the enduring, magical effect that music has on all of us.
As a Canuck Place supporter, you help us bring music into the lives of our children and families in so many ways.
Music therapists use songs and instruments to help children and teens express emotions. For some children who have trouble speaking and moving, the chance to express themselves through music is like a door opening up for them.
Canuck Place Music Therapist, Karin Roberts remembers one
teenager who composed a piece by moving his wheelchair through an ultrasonic ‘SoundBeam’. “The music he created was recorded and shared with family and friends,” recalls Roberts. “He’s proud of his creation, and now considers himself a composer.”
Instruments and songs are a wonderful way for children to connect with others, to communicate without words. At Canuck Place, we help our families make these very connections by singing and playing instruments together.
Music therapy helps reduce anxiety, and can help distract children from the pain they are in.
Music follows our children along every step of their journey. When the end comes, our music therapist and families may choose to sing their child’s favourite songs for them at their bedside. In a moment of such sorrow, it is a beautiful gift to help families care for their child in this way at this time, creating a peaceful and harmonious world around them as they pass.
Whether it’s at the bedside, or in the garden – music is part of the very fabric of Canuck Place life. Thank you for all you do to keep that music playing.
A Peek Inside Canuck Place
Dr. Louie’s smile and genuine care light up Canuck Place hospice.
As a pediatric palliative care specialist, Dr. Louie plays a key role in caring for our patients. And he is deeply moved by the commitment and dedication of the families who care for their children.
“The complexity of care these children need is daunting even to most physicians,” says Dr. Louie. “When the kids are not in our care they are in their homes - all
over this province - and parents must provide care for them 24/7. That’s why the Canuck Place program is so important for these children and their families.”
He talks about how much he himself has learned through his work here. “From our nursing and counselling teams, I have learned how to better communicate to families during challenging situations. I have learned to be both comforting, to be present, and to provide hope in unimaginable circumstances.”
Making Memories with Music
Excellence in Care: Dr. Peter Louie
Nehal playing the drums.
“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.”
- Victor Hugo
A Message from the CEO: Collaborative Care
Canuck Place Grateful Hearts 3
On Saturday, February 7, over 300 guests attended our first Gift of Love Gala in Abbotsford. The evening brought tears and laughter, joy and music to everyone who attended.
Local Abbotsford high school marching band, the MEI Screaming Eagles opened the evening. While later on, nine-year-old singing sensation, Tyson Venegas, filled the room with a high-energy musical performance.
To a hushed crowd, Canuck Place mother and Fraser Valley resident, Amanda Sidhu, shared with guests the story of her daughter, six-year-old Kaitlyn. Amanda spoke powerfully of having the support provided by Canuck Place and how it allowed them to savour life as a family together.
Presented by a caring community partnership between Aldergrove Financial Group, Envision Financial and Prospera Credit Union, the gala raised a wonderful $210,000 to provide support for the children and families of Canuck Place.
We are deeply grateful to the incredible individuals and organizations who supported us. Thank you!
It is going to be a busy spring for Canuck Place and the children and families we care for.
Over 20 youth on program will gather for the Canuck Place Youth Retreat in March. Together, with the help of our talented clinical team of recreation therapists, nurses, counsellors and volunteers, the teens in attendance get to experience the thrill of the outdoors, the joy of accomplishing new challenges and most of all making new friends and reconnecting with others. At the heart of it, they get to just be kids.
This experience only happens with your support. It makes the collaborative care that
takes place at Canuck Place possible. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of children and families facing the most challenging of times. We are so glad to have you on our team.
Margaret McNeil, Chief Executive Officer
Gift of Love Gala
Come along for a peek at our new website, CanuckPlace.org, created by Vancouver’s talented Drive Digital. Our new site is now easier than ever to use on your smart phone, tablet and home computer. You can learn more about the children and families you help us care for and find out how to get involved and join Team Canuck Place!
Visit the new CanuckPlace.org
Gala Co-chairs, Yasmin Alibhai & Jennefer Vanderpol
The Sidhu Family with Gala MC,
Riaz Meghji
Canuck Place CEO, Margaret McNeil
CA
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4 Canuck Place Grateful Hearts
A Loyal Corporate Donor
YVR for Kids has been committed to supporting the children and families of Canuck Place since 1994 and has made a tremendous difference not only in the work that we do, but in the community.
In August 2014, YVR for Kids kept up this tradition of support by generously donating $125,000 to Canuck Place from their annual Golf Tournament, Gala and Auction. This was a record-breaking contribution!
We are extremely grateful and proud to call the generous donors of YVR for Kids our long-term partners and friends. Thank you, YVR for Kids, for investing in the hospice’s highest quality of care. And sharing a passion for world-class care and service. It is your support that helps sustain the future of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice!
BMO Vancouver Marathon | Sunday, May 3, 2015 Support Canuck Place and register as a Run4Hope Charity Runner for the marathon, half marathon or 8km courses. Visit www.bmovanmarathon.ca for more information.
Scotiabank Half Marathon & 5K | Sunday, June 28, 2015 The Scotiabank Charity Challenge is a unique opportunity for runners and walkers to fundraise for charities including Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. Visit www.canadarunningseries.com/svhm/ for more information.
Gift of Time Gala | Saturday, October 3, 2015 Enjoy a fabulous evening of dining, live entertainment and auctions to support Canuck Place.
YVR for Kids has helped us soar!
Upcoming Events
Did you know that making a monthly donation is a wonderful way to support Canuck Place? Just a few pennies a day makes a big difference. You can become a monthly donor at www.canuckplace.org or by contacting Ryan Eason at [email protected]
or at (604) 646-1343.
Become a corporate partner, and create a culture of caring in your business or organization. For more information
on our corporate
partner program please
contact Jennifer Polci at
or at (604) 646-1113.
LTR: Cheryl Hendrickson (YVR for Kids), Karina Chow and Margaret McNeil (Canuck Place), Nigel Newsome (YVR for Kids).
