Walmart Associate Grateful for SickKids
Lenore’s SickKids story began in June of 2005 when her then eight-month-old daughter, Terri-Anne, was admitted to SickKids after presenting with seizures. The family’s local hospital believed it was epilepsy but couldn’t confirm this unless an MRI was done. Not equipped to do this procedure on a child under two years of age, the family headed to SickKids to find an answer.At nine-months old, Terri-Anne was diagnosed with Focal Seizure Epilepsy. Manageable with medication that had to be adjusted often as Terri-Anne grew, the family made many visits to SickKids. However, this wasn’t a bad thing in the eyes of Lenore. “Working with the team in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit was like seeing old friends. Your whole family felt cared for every time you visited.”
When Terri-Anne was six, the family was presented with the possibility of brain surgery to help reduce or even correct her epilepsy. “This was a difficult decision for us as parents to have to make for her,” said Lenore. “But if she were to have it done, it could open up so many possibilities.”
The family decided to move forward and after two years of testing, assessments, PET’s, MEG’s “and a whole lot of other acronyms,” said Lenore, the family was able to begin the pre-operation phase on April 15, 2013.
In order to determine where the seizures emanated from, Terri-Anne was taken off her medication and a specialized EEG monitoring pad was placed onto the brain surface. Within two days, the neurosurgery team had collected the data they needed and had determined that most of the seizure activity was coming from an area approximately 2 cm behind her right ear. It was accessible for removal, but not without some risk of paralysis on the left side of her body.
After discussion with the entire SickKids team and weighing the pros and cons, the family decided to move ahead with the procedure.
A little over two years later, on May 12, 2015, the family received the incredible news that Terri-Anne’s EEG showed nothing abnormal and that she can begin the process of being taken off the medication she has been taking since she was nine-months-old.
“Having my daughter treated at SickKids, I realized that it is not just a hospital…it is a culture of care and an environment of love,” said Lenore.
This appreciation for SickKids has now translated into Lenore’s career as well. As an Associate for Walmart Canada since 2009, she is now involved in the company’s efforts to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network and SickKids through her store location in Huntsville.
“Our store strives to exceed our goal of donations at the check-outs,” Lenore said. “We also host bake sales, potluck lunches, BBQs and jean days to help raise funds.”
Lenore is proud to share her SickKids story with the customers she meets and with her fellow employees. “Once you start to talk to people about SickKids it is amazing to learn just how many people have actually had some connection to SickKids in their own lives.”
For more than 20 years, Walmart Canada has been a proud supporter of Children’s Miracle Network, which supports local paediatric hospitals across the country, including SickKids. Funds raised through their campaigns support research, education, equipment and family centred care programs at SickKids. This year, Walmart Canada will be achieving an incredible fundraising milestone: $20 million in contributions to SickKids! Throughout the month of May, we encourage you to visit a Walmart location in your community to support their current fundraising campaign and to also say THANK YOU for helping to make a difference in children’s health.
After discussion with the entire SickKids team and weighing the pros and cons, the family decided to move ahead with the procedure.
"I realized that SickKids is not just a hospital … it is a culture of care and an environment of love."
“Having my daughter treated at SickKids, I realized that it is not just a hospital…it is a culture of care and an environment of love,” said Lenore.
This appreciation for SickKids has now translated into Lenore’s career as well. As an Associate for Walmart Canada since 2009, she is now involved in the company’s efforts to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network and SickKids through her store location in Huntsville.
“Our store strives to exceed our goal of donations at the check-outs,” Lenore said. “We also host bake sales, potluck lunches, BBQs and jean days to help raise funds.”
Lenore is proud to share her SickKids story with the customers she meets and with her fellow employees. “Once you start to talk to people about SickKids it is amazing to learn just how many people have actually had some connection to SickKids in their own lives.”
For more than 20 years, Walmart Canada has been a proud supporter of Children’s Miracle Network, which supports local paediatric hospitals across the country, including SickKids. Funds raised through their campaigns support research, education, equipment and family centred care programs at SickKids. This year, Walmart Canada will be achieving an incredible fundraising milestone: $20 million in contributions to SickKids! Throughout the month of May, we encourage you to visit a Walmart location in your community to support their current fundraising campaign and to also say THANK YOU for helping to make a difference in children’s health.
