In one dramatic life-changing turn, Donita Fowler experienced firsthand the importance of Teddy for a Toonie, ATB’s annual fundraising campaign for the Stollery and Alberta Children’s Hospitals.
In January 2010, the ATB associate and her husband saw their newborn baby boy Hudson lose his appetite and turn pale blue. Instinctively, the Calgary couple took Hudson to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Emergency department. Hudson’s condition spiraled and he went into cardiac arrest. He was rushed to the Stollery in Edmonton for open heart surgery – a five-and-a-half hour procedure that saved his life.
Amazingly, just two hours before Hudson arrived at Alberta Children’s, 12 members of the hospital’s acute care team had participated in a drill to learn how to care for a newborn infant in cardiac arrest. “The hospital has what’s called a Kid Sim,” said Fowler. “It’s a little doll that’s programmed for different medical conditions and the staff has to react to it. If they hadn’t done that training that day, Hudson might not have made it.”
After his emergency surgery, Hudson spent 43 days in hospital for recovery and follow-up care. Today, he’s a happy, healthy 15-month-old. “He’s a normal little boy for all intents and purposes,” reported Fowler. “You’d never know. He has a tiny little hairline from where they opened him up for open heart surgery. Other than that, he’s 24 pounds, two feet, seven inches, a full head of hair, he’s a big stocky kid. He’s doing great!”
Fowler is thankful for the work of the staff at both of Alberta’s children’s hospitals and the fundraising efforts of ATB Financial. “For Teddy for a Toonie, I always bought a teddy, but I never really thought about where my Toonie went,” said Fowler. “Now I know.”
She says she can’t say enough about the hospitals, their transport teams, their surgeons, their staff.
“Thank God for smart people,” she exclaimed. “They actually do jobs that save people’s lives. We cannot speak higher of them. We just love them.”
Edmonton’s Kevin and Leah Johnson are also big fans of the Stollery. In 1997, Leah gave birth to premature triplets. Born at just 24 weeks, all three babies weighed less than two pounds. Two of the siblings survived – Cole and Serena – but not without complications.
Cole was in and out of the pediatric intensive care unit with lung, stomach and intestinal issues and has undergone seven surgeries. Serena suffers from limited vision and cerebral palsy. She is now a Grade 9 honours student. Both enjoy camping, hiking and playing computer games.
“We kept them busy right from the start,” said Kevin. “One thing we were told was to be advocates for our children. They kind of learn from you as they go. We didn’t treat them like they were any different then anyone else. We’re avid campers so we took them out camping as soon as we could so they could have a life like any normal children.”
Just like the Fowlers, Kevin and Leah Johnson have a new appreciation for the work done at the Stollery. “The staff there, the nurses, interns, residents, doctors, were phenomenal,” beamed Leah. “They became a second family. Cole called some of the nurses aunties and uncles. Even now, we’ll go back in and see somebody and you’ll get a hug from them. They’re just awesome.”
Over the last 12 years, ATB Financial has raised $3.7 million dollars for the two hospitals. This year’s goal is $625,000, which will push our overall total well above the $4-million mark. Money raised this year will be split evenly between the Stollery’s Emergency Department expansion and the Alberta Children’s Hospital’s Blood and Marrow Transplantation Team.
“It’s great to see,” noted Kevin. “We didn’t realize how much support ATB has provided. Corporate support is really needed for the Stollery to do the extra things they need to do to give sick kids a fighting chance.”
To purchase a raffle ticket for Teddy for a Toonie, or for more information on how you can help the Stollery and Alberta Children’s Hospital, drop by an ATB Financial branch near you, or visit www.atb.com.
