Donor Stories – Three to Be
As Dana and Jared Florence took the stage at SickKids, joy was evident in their beaming smiles. Their supporters began to applaud as the couple presented a cheque for more than $400,000 to SickKids and to support the research of Dr. Freda Miller. The money had been raised through Three To Be, a foundation co-founded by the couple to support the development of new treatments and therapies for children suffering from cerebral palsy (CP) and other neurological disorders.
The Florence family’s journey began on January 1, 2008, when Dana went into labour with triplets 15 weeks prematurely. Weighing less than two pounds each, the three infants – Taylor, Brody and Cole – were immediately taken to neonatal intensive care. They were each given a 50 per cent chance of survival. Over the next eight months, the triplets spent time on every floor at SickKids. Taylor and Brody both underwent heart-related surgeries, while Cole and Brody both suffered from hearing loss. All three were finally sent home at the end of August 2008.
At the age of 10 months, all three were diagnosed with CP. CP is a neurological disorder that permanently affects body movement and muscle coordination. It can be caused by injuries to the brain and it ranges in severity. There is no known cure.
Hoping to turn their difficult situation into one of hope, Dana and Jared launched Three To Be. Its goal is to fund researchers, such as Dr. Miller, one of the world’s leading stem cell experts, to uncover new treatments for the disease.
Love for triplets creates hope for cerebral palsy.
Three To Be held its first annual Stems of Hope gala at Toronto’s Kool Haus in September 2010. The event was a tremendous success, raising $350,000 in support of stem cell research. Other fundraising efforts brought their total to more than $400,000.
Today, the three-year-old triplets continue to inspire their parents on their journey to find a cure for CP. Although the road ahead will be long, the family feels lucky to be together and is committed to continuing its support of the lifesaving work undertaken by SickKids.
Thank you Florence family!
