Hello,
We would like to tell about the Living Pink Balloon project. And how it began…
Hollie’s story
Four days before Hollie’s 11th Birthday, On the morning of September 1st, 2008 Hollie Katherine Anne Gray was rushed to Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) after we as her parents found her unresponsive. There were no signs or symptoms to lead to the final conclusion. Hollie had a mild headache and was sick to her stomach. Nothing that would indicate anything more serious than a stomach bug. The paramedics arrived early in the morning and after resuscitating her put her in the ambulance. Her heart had stopped on the way to the hospital and another ambulance /paramedic team was called to meet us at county road 9 and Highway 45.They started her heart and after arriving at NHH she was quickly rushed into emerg. Where after numerous tests they had seen a “mass” on her brain and she was rushed by ambulance to Toronto’s Sick Kids Hospital. When we arrived at SickKids we were told that there was no function to her brain. Her brain had swelled and she was clinically “brain dead”. They were only keeping her alive long enough to have family come and say their last good-byes.
Even through our grief we decided to help other families live. We decided to honor Hollie’s truly giving nature, and donated Hollie’s “gifts of life” through Trillium gift of life Organ Donation. Hollie has become a hero in our eyes. She truly has a wonderful soul.
Trillium has since become a vital part of our lives. Through them Hollie was able to help save 5 lives with the gift of Organ Donation. Sadly there is not enough research on brain trauma for Hollie to have been saved. But we CAN make a difference…
Brenna’s Story
At three years old Brenna started to exhibit symptoms of a condition we had never heard of. She was throwing up and lethargic and we made many trips to the hospital but were told it was the flu. Her symptoms worsened and she started having headaches as well. She started having seizures and stopped breathing on the last trip to the hospital finally prompting a CT scan, which showed the mass. At this point we were air lifted to Sick Kid’s and she had surgery to relieve the pressure on her brain.
Brenna has a Craniopharyngioma – a brain tumour that has a cystic part that had filled or ‘grown’ to the size of a lime, which was blocking the normal drainage pathways of her brain and was pressing against the ventricles as well.
About a month after this surgery, she had a second to insert a catheter into the tumour itself. This catheter is used to drain the fluid, which builds up in the tumour, and to deliver the chemotherapy drugs, which are being used.
So far, she has undergone two surgeries and two bouts of chemo. Most days no one would know she was even sick. We are so thankful to Sick Kid’s – they saved her life.
We still have a long way to go this type of tumour can reoccur and can cause many other problems with hormone levels, eye site, growth, and development. With the ongoing care we are receiving from SickKids, we are confident that Brenna can continue to have as normal a life as possible.
In order, to bring awareness to other parents with children who have brain tumors or conditions as yet undiscovered, we have joined with another family who lost their loved one to put together an event with all proceeds to Brainchild, Brain & Behavior at Sick Kid’s hospital.