Born at just 27 weeks and 6 days, weighing only 1105g, Charlotte Marie entered the world with a fight ahead of her. Diagnosed with a Grade 3 brain bleed at birth, she faced a brain injury, epilepsy, and the possibility of cerebral palsy. Her first home was the NICU at McMaster Children’s Hospital, where she spent 152 days before finally going home.
While Charlotte was in hospital, her parents balanced countless trips back and forth, trying to balance caring for Charlotte’s older sibling. The emotional and physical toll was immense, and the added financial pressures only made the journey harder.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to provide critical assistance when the family needed it most. We helped with bills and transportation, and funded essential medical equipment including a special wedge and crib that allowed Charlotte to come home safely and comfortably.
Her mom shared: “Your help made it possible for us to focus on caring for our daughter instead of worrying about how we’d make ends meet. Today, Charlotte is a bright and energetic one year old who has already moved mountains.
Charlotte’s story is a powerful reminder of the difference your support makes. Together, we are helping children with complex medical needs come home, thrive, and shine.
June 6, 2024 began like any other day for Patrick and his family—a routine school morning and workday. But in the blink of an eye, their normal day turned into a nightmare. While riding his bicycle, Patrick was struck by a car, leaving him critically injured and fighting for his life. The paramedics arrived swiftly, rushing him to Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, where he was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.
To save his life, doctors placed Patrick in a medically induced coma for over a week, his body connected to a breathing tube, a neck brace, a catheter, and multiple IVs. For nine long and agonizing days, Patrick’s parents sat by his bedside, waiting for any sign of hope. That sign came when, after nearly a week and a half, Patrick slowly opened his eyes. It was a small yet significant moment—a glimpse of hope that he might just make it.
Patrick’s parents, who balanced full-time jobs while raising their family of four boys, never anticipated the mounting costs of having a child with such severe injuries. The family’s household income dropped dramatically as Patrick’s hospitalization stretched on and mom had to take unpaid leave from work to support Patrick bedside. A social worker at the hospital helped Patrick’s parents apply to Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity. JenAsh’s support helped bridge the gap, covering meal expenses, rent, and utilities until Patrick’s mom could return to her job. Patrick’s parents were able to focus on caring for their son and supporting their three other children without the added stress of financial uncertainty.
After five weeks in the hospital, Patrick was finally discharged, he learned how to eat, drink, and walk again and he’s been able to return to school part-time.
His mom shared her feelings of gratitude and pride: “I’m so proud of all his success! He is such a strong, kind-hearted boy. I’m so thankful for the team at the Children’s Hospital.” She also expressed how our charity had made a crucial difference in their lives: “Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity was there for us when we needed it most. There’s not a lot of help out there these days, and it’s so hard when you don’t have the money. We were scared, nervous, not knowing if we could pay rent, or what the future held for Patrick. We’re so thankful this charity
was there to support us. Thank you.”
When Nolan was diagnosed with cancer, his parents’ world came crashing down. They are an average family: working parents, managing a busy household of three kids, and navigating the ups and downs of everyday life. Testing, hospital admission, and treatment became their new everyday routine. This new routine meant time away from work and a dramatic loss of income at a time when their focus needed to be Nolan’s well-being. They quickly became overwhelmed by mounting household and daily living expenses. Additional costs for travel to and from the hospital, meals and other incidental expenses quickly added up with Nolan’s hospitalization. JenAsh was able to provide financial relief to Nolan’s family in the early days of his illness – so his parents could focus more on him and his care, and less on the stress of their finances.
Born prematurely at just 29 weeks in Timmins, these twin boys, Lincoln and Arthur, faced an urgent and uncertain beginning. Within hours, they were airlifted separately by Orange over the course of 15 hours, each on a different flight, before they were finally reunited in Ottawa. Once there, both boys remained on CPAP oxygen support and were treated for jaundice and high red blood cell counts.
“The first time Steph (their mother) saw the boys was actually through the isolation transport with Orange,” their dad shared. “But her real first meeting came in Ottawa, when she could finally be with them.”
Amid the medical challenges, they faced a frightening setback. The stress of the situation triggered severe memory loss episodes for Steph, leaving her with sudden and complete lapses. After numerous MRIs, cultures, and bloodwork, doctors were able to identify the cause, and are now working toward long-term family solutions. Thankfully, everyone is doing much better now.
“The financial assistance from the Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity has lifted such a heavy weight off our shoulders,” their dad said. “Your support has given us space to focus on our boys and each other.”
This family’s journey is a testament to resilience, love, and the power of community support to make a lasting difference.
Welcoming a first child should be exciting, but AriGold’s parents unexpectedly faced complications that led to a difficult decision. To save AriGold’s life, doctors at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Toronto needed to induce labor when he was just 24 weeks and 5 days gestation, nearly four months before his expected due date. Upon his arrival, AriGold was immediately transferred to the Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where he would begin his battle for survival with life-sustaining therapies, including respiratory support.
For the next 108 days, AriGold’s mom stayed by his side, never leaving the hospital. Meanwhile, AriGold’s dad was over 2 hours away completing his master’s program, knowing that his education was vital for the family’s future. Juggling the demands of school and the emotional strain of being separated from his family, he struggled to balance his responsibilities. With a drastically reduced income, the family faced financial hardship, and the added costs of hospital meals, accommodation and other daily expenses began to add up.
Luckily, a social worker at the hospital connected the family to our charity, encouraging them to apply for financial support. Thanks to the generosity of donors, Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity helped relieve the financial strain, allowing AriGold’s mom to stay bedside with her son for the entirety of his 108-day hospital stay.
On September 23, 2024, nearly two weeks after celebrating his first birthday, AriGold had his final follow-up appointment at Mt. Sinai, where he was officially discharged from their program. Today, AriGold is a lively toddler, full of energy and curiosity. He’s walking, playing, and enjoying being home with his family.
Born with a left club foot, leg discrepancy, and three toes, Ashviha has been doing exceptionally well after her leg discrepancy lengthening surgery. Her recovery and healing process has been remarkable, and she’s showing great strength and determination as she regains her mobility. She is currently able to walk little steps with the support of her walker, is motivated and doing absolutely amazing. We are incredibly proud of Ashviha’s resilience and progress.
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