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Our Kids - Meet Cameron and Thomas
Thomas, 10, Valerie and Cameron, 16, share a moment together.
Dr. Scherer in his lab at SickKids.
Raising a family of three boys can present a mother with a number of daily challenges: homework, after-school activities and family dinners. Any of these can easily become a handful. But when two of those children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), those challenges can quickly become overwhelming.
When Valerie's second son, Cameron, was diagnosed with ASD, the team at SickKids quickly established a plan to help him reach his full potential. A few years later, her third son, Thomas, was also diagnosed with the condition. SickKids has since become a lifeline for the whole family.
“SickKids changed our lives,” says Valerie, who credits the Hospital for their family-centred approach. “It is the best place in the world for Cameron and Thomas and I hope to see them continue their world-renowned research to help other families the way they helped us.”
SickKids is a world leader in autism research thanks in part to the groundbreaking work of Dr. Stephen Scherer. Dr. Scherer is the co-leader of an international research initiative, the Autism Genome Project, which has identified a genetic cause of autism in 15 per cent of cases. He was also part of an international team, along with Dr. Russell Schachar from SickKids, who this summer announced a link between autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Dr. Scherer was recently named Director of SickKids new Centre for Genetics.
Valerie and her sons continue to work closely with SickKids. Thomas is part of ongoing study monitoring siblings of children with ASD and the family has donated DNA for the research. For Valerie, it is a way to give back to the Hospital and she knows that the outcomes of the research may uncover the mysteries of ASD for future generations.
See Valerie talk about what SickKids means to her family.
Watch Dr. Stephen Scherer discuss his past research.
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