Jean-Gilles’ Story
When he was nine years old, Jean-Gilles, an otherwise healthy child, developed an intense fever. Blood tests revealed he had leukemia.
Keep reading
JIM PATTISON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Blake and his fraternal twin brother, Noah, were severely premature and were born 14 weeks early. Moments after their birth, the fragile babies were rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Heart murmurs were detected in both babies, and surgery was needed immediately. Blake and Noah were only together for two weeks before the surgery proved to be too much for Noah, who tragically passed away.
Blake was in for the fight of his life and, after 46 days, his parents were finally able to hold him for the first time. Blake would spend the next 4 months in hospital. Though the odds were stacked against him, this sports-loving, energetic boy has now grown into a thriving 12-year-old.
Blake loves telling his story to ‘be a voice for kids who don’t always have a voice’. Blake’s time in the NICU and the loss of his twin brother taught him the importance of helping others who need it, and the importance of giving back.
