CELEBRATE
the Gift of Life
Nat
ha n
iel w
it h h
is liv
in g d
onor , Aun t Bec
ky, his
m om,
Tessa, a n
d dad , H e
rman.
FALL 2022 | VOLUME 38 Nathaniel's Transplant Journey
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Message from the Chairman
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Message from the CEO
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Nathaniel’s Transplant Journey Tessa and Herman’s son Nathaniel was born
Nathaniel
a month premature weighing only 4.3lbs.
TRANSPLANT NEEDED: LIVER
Message from the SVP, Fund Development
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Message from the Director of Family Relations
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Nathaniel's Transplant Journey Continued
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WestJet Cares for Kids 15th Anniversary
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Summer of Smiles Recap
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thought a simple procedure or surgery would resolve all issues, but
Living Donor Circle of Excellence
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it was much bigger than that. In October 2019, we found out that he
Due to his tiny size and suspected medical
HOME: BURNABY, BC
needs, he had to stay in the hospital for forty-two days. Every single day his mother,
Tessa would drive to visit him and stay at home only to sleep. Little did the family know that this was just the beginning of his medical journey. This is their family’s transplant experience in their own words: Initially, we knew there was a medical complexity with Nathaniel and
Introducing Cam Tait
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Partner Spotlight: Joan and Paul Waechter
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Thank You to All Our Partners
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Did You Know?
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had a genetic disorder and was diagnosed with Alagille Syndrome, a rare genetic mutation that affected his heart, kidney, spine, eyes, and severely impacted his liver. During his first year of life, Nathaniel barely grew and was said to be experiencing failure to thrive by his medical team. He was extremely jaundiced, unable to absorb any fat, was experiencing severe pruritus (itchy skin), and his liver was just not functioning anymore.
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Nathaniel
had
to
take
multiple
medications;
at
least
one
DAVIDFOSTERFOUNDATION.COM
started eating solids and was doing great until nine months old.
medication every two hours and was given special formula that tasted and smelled terrible. At the age of six months, Nathaniel
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