Jayce was looking forward to kindergarten, excited for the new experience, new friends 鈥� and the chance to show off his favourite backpack.
But before he got that chance, Jayce began experiencing fevers and at BC Children鈥檚 Hospital, his family learned the unthinkable: he had leukemia. Instead of meeting new kids at school, Jayce was admitted immediately to start chemotherapy treatments.
"Right away, he got the treatment he needed," says mom Maria, forever grateful for the support they've received throughout Jayce's journey. "It was so scary, but when we got to the room, it was cosy and homey, and we were able to stay with him when he was in treatment. Everything in BC Children's is designed for children and families to feel safe."
Jayce is one of approximately 155 children diagnosed with cancer each year in British Columbia 鈥� children treated through BC Children鈥檚 Hospital, the only dedicated pediatric hospital in B.C. where kids get care specifically designed for kids.
Serving more than 1 million children from across British Columbia and Yukon annually, it offers specialized care for children like Jayce who are facing critical health issues 鈥� from cancer to rare genetic disorders 鈥� with a dedicated team of more than 1,000 specialized professionals and researchers.
Jayce is one of approximately 155 B.C. children diagnosed with cancer each year who are treated through BC Children鈥檚 Hospital, the only dedicated pediatric hospital in B.C. where kids get care specifically designed for kids.
Later, Jayce was able to receive his treatment at his home, where weekly home visits from his kindergarten teacher also helped brighten the days as he isolated at home 鈥� challenging for the normally boisterous, outgoing boy, who through the process grew quite shy and nervous around others. As Jayce grew healthier, he needed little pushes to open up.
鈥淗e went to try taekwondo, and that first day he didn鈥檛 speak to the other kids,鈥� Maria recalls. 鈥淚 told him he needs to say hi, do his best to talk to others. And the next class, he did 鈥� he even starting planning play dates with his classmates.鈥�
The Mighty Journey Home
Today, while Jayce's cancer journey isn鈥檛 over, he's back to his normal self and has started first grade 鈥� with his favourite backpack. His Mighty Journey Home was made possible by his resilience and determination, but also the hospital teams and donors who enable the research needed to advance care and treatments.
As one of the top pediatric hospitals in the world, BC Children鈥檚 Hospital teams are tackling some of the most complex physical and mental health challenges facing kids, and because the hospital has its own research institute on campus, life-changing breakthroughs can be fast-tracked from the lab straight to the bedside of kids in the hospital. In fact, for every $1 donated to the BC Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation, $5 is secured for research.
The holidays are a time that beckons everyone home, but for seriously ill kids, that journey is not an easy one. Nurses, researchers, doctors and donors rally behind them, each one helping them get a step closer.
Even the smallest donations make a mighty difference, and this winter, your gift is even mightier: BC Dairy is matching your gift to BCCHF, helping get children out of the hospital and back home for the holidays 鈥� where they belong.
This Giving Tuesday, your gift can help more kids like Jayce enjoy the holidays at home: You can help small, fight big.