Meet the 2019 MacKids Walk & Wheel Ambassadors. These patients of McMaster Children’s Hospital and/or Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre have agreed to share their remarkable stories in support of Walk & Wheel and McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation.

MacKid Cash

Tracy was 29 weeks into her pregnancy when she encountered her first complication.

“The doctor discovered a lack of blood flow from the placenta to the baby, so he was not receiving sufficient nutrients,” explains Tracy, who was visiting McMaster Children’s Hospital. Tracy underwent an emergency C-section and her son Cash was born 11 weeks early.

The team in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) helped Cash through numerous health complications. He underwent three blood transfusions and a platelet transfusion, he required extensive support from a ventilator and he underwent surgery to repair a hernia.

“He’s seven years old now and he’s an active boy who loves to play the drums and practice karate. This is all possible thanks to the expertise of his care team.”

MacKid Chase

It all began with a persistent fever and weight loss. On the recommendation of his pediatrician, nine-year-old Chase from Cambridge was taken to McMaster Children’s Hospital. Testing led to a diagnosis of leukemia, and Chase began a regimen of intense chemotherapy to control the growth of cancer cells.

“One of the most difficult things for Chase is being sidelined from the sports he loves,” says his mother, Jaymie. “He’s had to miss a lot of baseball and soccer because of the cancer.”

Chase’s prognosis is very positive and he is doing well in his treatment. As he continues to regain strength, Chase looks forward to spending more time playing sports. He is grateful for the outstanding care he received at McMaster Children’s Hospital, which has become like a second home to him.

MacKid DoraLee

DoraLee was born prematurely at McMaster Children’s Hospital and spent some time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit after suffering from brain bleeds that caused significant damage.

She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP), which resulted in extreme muscle stiffness and the loss of motor control. In the Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation Program (DPRP), she received occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech therapy.

Now a teenager, DoraLee continues to receive occupational and physiotherapy at Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre to enhance her mobility.

“DoraLee will reach her full potential thanks to Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre,” says her mother, Tara. “The Centre makes our lives easier and it’s comforting that they’re just a phone call away.”