Organizations We Support
Ronald McDonald House
Over the last year our family spent 83 nights at the Ronald McDonald House. We met many families during our stay. Some families stay for a few nights, some stay for over a year. This is the home to families during some of the most stressful nights of their life. The Ronald McDonald House provides meals, supplies, schooling, financial support, self care, activities, transportation and accomodations for families who have children undergoing medical treatments. Our amazing experience at the Ronald McDonald House in Edmonton has made it one of our favorite organizations to support.
Stollery Children's Hospital
Due to Emmett's condition the boys were delivered in Edmonton and we anticipated him having to spend many nights in the NICU at the Stollery. Thankfully he was only there for one day for them to do a test on him before he was discharged home that afternoon. However, the Stollery Children's Hospital became home to our family for just over 5 weeks as Emmett experienced complications after his first surgery. The PCICU in Edmonton is phenomenal and has some of the best doctors and nurses we have dealt with. Wewill always be grateful to the staff in the PCICU for saving our little boy.
Heartbeats Children's Society
Heartbeats Children's Society is an organization in Calgary that supports families with children with Congenital Heart Defects. They organize parent, children and family activities as well and provide resources and giftcards for families spending time in hospital. Our familly has been lucky enough to be the recipient of those giftcards a few times and it has helped so much with the expenses of travelling to Edmonton.
Alberta Children's Hospital
Alberta Children's Hospital is our home hospital where we do all of Emmett's regular Cardiologist appointments. After Emmett's first surgery we were eventually transferred back to ACH and spent about 5 weeks as an inpatient. We have made numerous trips to the Alberta Children's Hospital over the past year and a half and have met many families through the hospital who are going through some very tough circumstances. The Cardiac Clinic is our home there where we have a great relationship with our Cardiologist, Nurses, Dietician and Speech Language Pathologist through this clinic.
Lucille Packard Children's Hospital
We first experienced the Lucille Packard Children's Hospital when we travelled down to the Stanford area for Emmett's second heart surgery. We were so nervous given our experience with his first surgery. The team of Doctors, surgeons and nurses are amazing. We loved having Emmett in the care of medical professionals who understand his condition and can explain and anticipate the changes his body is going through with each procedure. This hospital is saving the lives of so many babies and children with Emmett's condition. His surgeon, Dr.Frank Hanley takes on some of the most difficult cases to give these children their best chance at a good life. We will forever be grateful that we had the opportunity to travel to LPCH for Emmett's second and third surgeries.