Spring 2017 Volume 18
CELEBR ATE The Gift of Life
Isla Marshall's Story Isla Marshall and her bravery beans the day before her liver transplant surgery.
WHAT’S INSIDE Message from the CEO . . . . . . . . . .
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Message from the SVP, Fund Development . . . . . . . . . . .
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Message from the Director of Family Relations . . . .
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Providing Support to Families from Coast to Coast . . . . . . . . . . .
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Aird & Berlis LLP Donates 10 Million Aeroplan Miles! . . . . .
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Thanks to Our National Sponsors & Life Legacy Members . . . . . . . .
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Isla Marshall's Story . . . . . . . . . . . . Message from the Chairman . . . . .
Country Grocer Organ Donor Awareness Campaign . . . . . . . . 10 Organ Donor Awareness Facts . . . 11 Save the Date Vancouver . . . . . . . 12 Follow us on:
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sla Marshall was born on November 10, 2015 a healthy seven pounds measuring 21 inches. Evan and Kate Marshall were so proud and in love with their new baby girl. Even though Isla appeared healthy, she had trouble gaining weight and the doctor expressed some concern after two weeks without improvement. During the three-week check-up, the Marshall family expressed concern about Isla’s jaundice. Shortly thereafter, the family went to the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia to meet with a paediatrician and have bloodwork done. After all necessary testing, it was revealed that Isla had a liver disease called Biliary Atresia, which affects only 1 in 10,000 children in Canada. This rare disease affects the liver and bile ducts.
PROFILE Name: Isla Marshall Age: 18 months Transplant: Liver Date: June 30, 2016
Isla was immediately booked for a Kasai Procedure, a procedure that surgically bypasses blocked ducts and prevents liver damage on December 22, 2015, at only 12 days old. After Isla's surgery, the family remained hopeful that this would provide some longevity and quality to her life. The family was well-informed this was likely going to be a short-term solution and a liver transplant would be continued from page 1
Message from the Chairman
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constantly find myself reflecting on the incredible accomplishments our Foundation has had over the past 30 years. As I look to this year, I cannot believe it has been three decades since my mother asked me to go to UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles to visit a little girl waiting for a life-saving liver transplant from my hometown, Victoria, B.C. I went to the hospital thinking I would just stay for a short visit. However, very quickly I found myself so moved by the family’s story and visual stress they were under, I wanted to see what I could do to help. I asked the little girl if there was anything I could do for her, thinking she would say that she wanted to meet Rob Lowe or Wayne Gretzky or go to Disneyland. That was not the case. When I asked her what she really wanted, I was shocked; all she wanted was to see her sister.
organ donation is not one of them. If we had 100% registration for organ donation, we would eradicate our organ donor wait lists and save so many lives. In the past, our focus has been on creating our endowment and legacy fund for the Foundation so that we are here in perpetuity. This year, I feel it is also our responsibility to make a stronger effort to develop our second mandate, which is to provide education and awareness of the need to become a registered organ donor. With your help, we can make this happen. For the month of April, please join me and talk to your loved ones about your wishes on becoming an organ donor. Sincerely,
David Foster, Founder and Chairman
While this little girl waited for a life-saving organ transplant, her sister and the rest of her family were back home in Victoria, B.C. Seeing how difficult the experience was to be away from her family, I knew that I had to purchase an airline ticket and bring her sister down to Los Angeles to see her. Words cannot explain the feeling I had when I saw the two little girls eyes connect and the bond that they shared reconnected. Little did I know that a simple airline ticket would eventually be the start of what today is the David Foster Foundation. Over the past 30 years, we have made tremendous progress in providing financial assistance for all nonmedical expenses to families whose children are waiting for life-saving organ transplants, but it still saddens me that so many children continue to wait far too long for an organ to become available. There are many diseases in this world with no cure; however,
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David Foster with Hannah, heart transplant recipient from 1993.
Message from the CEO
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t’s hard to believe that spring is already upon us! The long cold winter days are gradually leaving and turning into longer days with warm sunshine and flowers popping up from the ground. This is one of my favourite times of the year, being able to get outside and enjoy the outdoors with many different fragrances of budding flowers and blossoms. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the David Foster Foundation and we have a very busy year ahead of us as we prepare for our largest Miracle Gala & Concert in Vancouver, B.C., proudly presented by Parq Vancouver & Marriot Hotels. April is a very special month for our Foundation; it is National Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness Month. April 16-22 is the week that Canada raises awareness, educates, and advocates for organ donation throughout the entire country. This April, we have partnered with Country Grocer, a Vancouver Island locally-owned grocery chain and our good friends at WestJet to provide a raffle contest where you could win a trip for two anywhere WestJet flies with all of the proceeds benefiting the David Foster Foundation. Two wonderful partnerships working together to make a difference! If you live on Vancouver Island, make sure to come into any of the seven Country Grocer locations, or if you will be flying the friendly skies, be sure to check out the great fares and even better locations that WestJet offers. Over the past year, it has been such an honour to work with like-minded advocates and organizations to educate and raise awareness for organ donation. One person in particular is my good friend Simon Keith. Not only is Simon a great Canadian athlete, he is a man that is making a difference in so many ways. Simon is also one of the longest living heart transplant recipients in the world having received his heart transplant 30 years ago. He is currently the COO for the Nevada Donor Network and has taken organ donor awareness and procurement
to a new level of success. I am proud to work along side Simon. Together we constantly push each other to find better ways to bring the organ donor message to the forefront. I would also like to recognize Jim Reger, our Past President of the David Foster Foundation. I have been fortunate to know and work with Jim for many years and continue to admire his dedication to our cause. Jim has been working diligently with transplant teams across the country to raise the awareness and education for organ donation. It is through Jim’s dedication that we are building a new David Foster Foundation national organ donor awareness program. I am grateful to both Simon and Jim for all they do to help our Foundation and organ donor education nationwide. In closing, I invite you to join us for our 30th Anniversary Miracle Gala & Concert in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, presented by Parq Vancouver. This will be a night you won’t want to miss and a cause you’ll never forget! Mark your calendar today, October 21, 2017. 2017 is shaping up to be our best year ever, and with your help, we will be able to put smiles on faces and bring more tomorrows to our transplant families and children!
With gratitude and appreciation,
Mike Ravenhill, Chief Executive Officer
Michael Ravenhill, with DFF Past President Jim Reger, Tammy Averill and Adrienne Murdoch from Country Grocer in Victoria, B.C.
David Foster Foundation Newsletter
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Message from the SVP, Fund Development I HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE!
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he David Foster Foundation is introducing a new, easyto-use, illustrative tool on our website for you to learn how powerful your donation can be. It’s called Best Ways to Give and it enables you to immediately see the tax credit available for your donation to the David Foster Foundation. This online program will take you through three options in regards to Give Now, Give Later, and Endowment. These options are located on the top right tabs of the program. In addition to showing you the Tax Credit as a result of a cash donation, we want to show you how you can actually reduce your tax on various assets–stocks, mutual funds, RRSPs/RRIFs and real estate (nonprincipal residence) through your planned donation.
above the graphics at the top right side of the screen, a report of your results is provided and fully explained. Suffice it to say, we would be thrilled and honoured if you decide to make a donation to the David Foster Foundation through an appreciated asset. If you decide to move ahead with an asset donation, please contact me directly in the office at 1-416-865-4646 or jdanson@davidfosterfoundation.com. Please be reminded that it is always good practice to speak to your accountant, financial advisor, or lawyer to validate your decision to make a tax-efficient donation. To learn about other ways to give to the David Foster Foundation, please visit our website davidfosterfundation.com. Sincerely,
You might be surprised to learn that the best ways to give is with appreciated assets. Best Ways to Give shows you how gifts of this type can be structured and personalized.
John Danson, Senior Vice President, Fund Development
To learn more about Best Ways to Give, go to davidfosterfoundation.com and click on Ways to Give located on the home page or click HERE. Note: Once you input the required information, only a few steps, the results will be immediately provided in a graphic format and if you click on Report, easily found
How to make a donation to the Foundation: 1. Mail your cheques to David Foster Foundation, 212 Henry Street, Victoria BC V9A 3H9 2. Credit card–call our Victoria office using our toll free number @ 1-877-777-7675 3. Online at www.davidfosterfoundation.com John Danson emceeing a private event in Muskoka, ON summer 2016.
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www.davidfosterfoundation.com
Message from the Director of Family Relations
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t is hard to believe that the 30th anniversary is already upon us. When I came on board to join the team almost five years ago, it seemed so far off in the distance. Each year has rolled into the next and new family applications for support continue to be submitted to the Foundation office. Each year, new families are added to our family at the Foundation. We continue to meet new faces of organ failure and families desperately waiting for the call that will save their child’s life. At the same time, we have the privilege of getting to watch many of the children return home to their families after transplant with the opportunity to start a new healthier chapter in their life. We have been able to share in the celebration of transplant anniversaries, milestones, and simple things in life like attending public school again, swimming, biking, or even being able to play with friends or siblings.
“We have the privilege of getting to watch many of the children return home to their family after transplant with the opportunity to start a new healthier chapter in their lives.”
With so much to celebrate and over 1,000 families across Canada assisted by the David Foster Foundation, we still have a long road ahead of us to get to a place where people do not have to wait in a long line for lifesaving organ transplants. We are extremely grateful to all our transplant families that have been brave enough to share their stories in the hopes that even one person
is inspired to take the time to register to be an organ donor and tell their family their end-of-life wishes. We will continue to persevere and work with the transplant awareness communities to support the cause and help end the wait. We are looking to reconnect with transplant families that have been assisted by the David Foster Foundation over the past 30 years to celebrate and share some of the milestones in each of their lives. If you or your family have been helped by the Foundation, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us to share your story at mystory@davidfosterfoundation.com.
Sincerely,
Lara Knudsen, Director of Family Relations
30 Years
OF KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER – WHERE ARE YOU NOW? If you were one of the over 1,000 Canadian families that received assistance from the David Foster Foundation over the past 30 years, we would like to hear from you. If you are interested in sharing your story please contact: mystory@davidfosterfoundation.com
Michael Ravenhill and Lara Knudsen with McKenzie donor family and Fitzpatrick recipient family in Calgary, AB.
David Foster Foundation Newsletter
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Providing Much-needed Financial Support
Kelowna, BC Austin, 17 yrs lung transplant
Prince Albert, SK Keaton, 7 yrs heart transplant
Winnipeg, MB Jayden, 8 yrs heart transplant
Kugluktuk, NU Mandy, 2 yrs liver transplant
YUKON
Kugluktuk NORTHWEST TERRITORY
Cowichan Valley, BC Naomi, 2 yrs liver transplant
FACT: 75% of Canadians on the transplant wait list are waiting for a kidney. Source: The Kidney Foundation of Canada
Surrey, BC Ryker, 2.5 yrs kidney transplant Spring 2017
NUNAVUT
BRITISH COLUMBIA
ALBERTA SASKATCHEWAN
Cowichan Valley Surrey
Kelowna
Calgary
Prince Albert Regina
Calgary, AB Shukrana, 2.5 yrs liver transplant
Calgary, AB Jazmin, 4 yrs liver transplant
www.davidfosterfoundation.com
MANITOBA
Winnipeg
Regina, SK Isabelle, 4 yrs liver transplant
to Families from Coast to Coast
Mississauga, ON Victor, 2.5 yrs liver transplant
Woodstock, ON Jack, 12 yrs 2 liver transplants
Kingston, ON Theo, 2 yrs heart transplant
Paradise, NL Liam, 1 yr lung transplant
FACT: In 2014, more than 4,500 Canadians were waiting for a transplant and 2,356 were transplanted.
Alma, QC Charlie, 4 yrs heart transplant
London, ON Emily, 2 yrs liver transplant
NEWFOUNDLAND Paradise
Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information
QUEBEC
PEI London, ON Owen, 2.5 yrs kidney transplant
Alma
ONTARIO Kingston Mississauga Woodstock London
Kentville NEW BRUNSWICK
NOVA SCOTIA
St-Denisde-Brompton
Kentville, NS Isla, 18 mos liver transplant
St-Denis-de-Brompton, QC Elissa, 6 yrs heart transplant David Foster Foundation Newsletter
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continued from page 1
“Without the financial assistance of the David Foster Foundation, we would have struggled to make the assessment trip happen, which could have negatively impacted the health of our little miss, a burden no parent ever wants to be impacted by.” – Kate Marshall required before Isla’s first birthday. For the first month, Isla’s health did improve and this gave the Marshall family a lot of hope for their new family. In January 2016, Isla came down with a fever which continued to worsen. She became more and more yellow, her belly swelled with fluid, and she slowly lost her sparkle. Keeping a close eye on their baby, the family returned home. In May 2016, Isla was readmitted to hospital as a result of a swollen belly, which caused her to have difficulty breathing and sleeping at night. During this visit, the healthcare team advised that a transplant was in the very near future. This news was not surprising to the Marshalls. Later that same week, the family met with Isla’s primary physician and it was clear that an assessment by the transplant team at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto was imminent. The Marshalls were being assisted by a social worker who had them apply to the David Foster Foundation and the Ronald MacDonald House Toronto for assistance, both of which took away the burden of coordinating and planning the transplant assessment trip. The Marshall family flew to Toronto with the David Foster Foundation’s National Partner, WestJet, and arrived for the week-long stay of testing and appointments for Isla. The week quickly turned into two due to Kate undergoing testing to be Isla's living donor. On May 31, at approximately 2:00 PM the Marshalls received the call that they were waiting for; Kate was a match for Isla. The surgery would be scheduled for June 30. The David Foster Foundation was able to step in again to assist with the non-medical expenses
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Isla and Kate showing off their scars.
associated with a child going through a transplant. Both Evan and Kate were on leave from work at this time, and the financial stress was very real. Without the support they were provided, the family would have been unable to take the time they needed to be with their daughter. The trip they were waiting for had finally arrived, and the family was excited, scared, and anxious. At this point, Isla was incredibly ill; her belly was bloated again, she had stopped gaining weight, and her bones had deteriorated due to a severe vitamin deficiency. The surgery was successful; however, the postoperative period was rough. Isla was on mechanical ventilation for a number of days. Slowly as the weeks went on, both Isla and Kate recovered. Kate was discharged from hospital on day five, and Isla was taken off the ventilator by day six. Throughout this journey, the Marshalls were humbled by the tremendous support around them. Their home was looked after by friends and neighbours, and financially by the David Foster Foundation. By August, Isla and Kate were doing well and had been cleared by the doctors to come back home to Nova Scotia. Isla has been thriving since the transplant. She's growing, moving and talking like a normal 16-monthold. Kate notes, as a mother she is tremendously proud of her contribution to her health. Kate’s scar is looked at as a badge of honour and each day she is thankful for the gift she was able to give her daughter.
www.davidfosterfoundation.com
Donates Ten Million Aeroplan Miles!
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ird & Berlis LLP is a proud supporter of the David Foster Foundation. Since its founding 30 years ago, the Foundation has helped countless families and children facing an organ transplant. Over the past number of years, A&B has donated 5,000,000 Aeroplan miles to ease the travel burden facing these families. Even as we celebrate this milestone, I am proud to announce on behalf of the entire firm that we will donate an additional 5,000,000 Aeroplan miles over the next five years, bringing our total donation to 10,000,000 Aeroplan miles. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the David Foster Foundation in this life-changing work.”
This act of kindness is particularly important as it allows our families that require travel assistance who are living in a remote and under-serviced area to travel to major transplant hospitals while their children wait for life-saving organ transplants. We are honoured and thankful to have Aird & Berlis LLP as a National Partner.” – David Foster, Chairman & Founder David Foster Foundation
– Steven Zakem, Managing Partner of Aird & Berlis LLP “On behalf of the David Foster Foundation families and children from across Canada, I would personally like to thank the lawyers and staff of Aird & Berlis LLP for donating an incredible 5,000,000 Aeroplan miles over the last five years! Their commitment of 5,000,000 more Aeroplan miles, bringing their total to an incredible contribution of 10,000,000 Aeroplan miles, is an amazing contribution to the families and children that we serve. In addition to this generous donation, I would also like to thank them for providing office space and administration support for the David Foster Foundation Toronto office.
John Danson received cheque for five million Aeroplan Miles from Steven Zakem, Aird & Berlis LLP Managing Partner. To date, Aird & Berlis LLP has donated and pledged ten million Aeroplan Miles!
THANKS TO OUR NATIONAL PARTNERS
THANKS TO OUR LIFE LEGACY MEMBERS TELUS | Slaight Family Foundation Newton Glassman Charitable Foundation in Partnership with Catalyst Capital Group Tan Sri Dr. Francis Yeoh | Jim & Sandi Treliving David Foster Foundation Newsletter
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Country Grocer Organ Donor Awareness Campaign
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he David Foster Foundation is excited to partner with the Vancouver Island-based grocery chain, Country Grocer, to educate and raise awareness of organ donation for the entire month of April. If you live on Vancouver Island, make sure to check out one of their seven locations!
Chef Michael Williams with two-time heart transplant recipient Evanne & kidney recipient Coen.
Two-time heart transplant recipient Evanne and kidney transplant recipient Coen joined Chef Michael Williams to film a segment on Shaw TV's Island Chef. Children who have had transplants have compromised immune systems and Chef Michael will walk viewers through how to prepare a snack filled with antioxidants and enriched fruit. The David Foster Foundation has also teamed up with National Partner, WestJet, which has kindly donated one round trip flight for two anywhere WestJet flies!* Raffle tickets will be available for five dollars at all Country Grocer locations. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity! We hope to encourage positive conversations about organ donation this April throughout Vancouver Island! For more information about organ donor registration in British Columbia, please visit www.transplant.bc.ca. Thank you to our major sponsors:
Thank you to our product sponsors: Hardy Buoys McSweeney’s Grimm’s Paradise Island Cheese Island Famhouse Poultry Maple Lodge Farms Flamingo Johnsonville DFF CEO, Michael Ravenhill with Bauer, kidney transplant recipient Coen, and two-time heart transplant recipient Evanne.
(*No cash value. Blackout dates and restrictions may apply.)
To donate to the David Foster Foundation and support children and their families receiving life-saving organ transplants, please visit www.davidfosterfoundation.com or mail in your donation directly to:
David Foster Foundation, 212 Henry Street, Victoria, BC V9A 3H9 CANADA
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www.davidfosterfoundation.com
Organ Donor Awareness Facts About Organ Donation Did you know… • One organ donor can save eight lives. • A single organ donor can improve the quality of life for up to 75 people. • The Government of Canada states that there are currently 4,500 Canadians waiting on the transplant wait list and 1,600 people are added each year. • The oldest organ donor on record was over 90 years old! • More than 90% of Canadians support organ donation, however only 14% are registered organ donors. • April is Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month. • Talk to your family and loved ones about your wishes to become an organ donor. Even if you are registered, they will make your end-of-life decision.
About Organ Donation Provincially Did you know… • In 2016, Manitoba saw a 30% increase in new registered organ donors from 2015. • In 2016, Alberta saw a 62% increase in registered organ donors from 2015. • There are only seven major transplant hospitals in Canada. Make a difference today and become a registered organ donor! For more information, please visit: www.davidfosterfoundation.com Liver transplant recipient, Nazdana.
David Foster Foundation Newsletter
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P R O U D LY P R E S E N T E D B Y
DAVID FOSTER BRINGS HIS BIGGEST SHOW EVER TO VANCOUVER!
FALL 2017 – MORE DETAILS COMING SOON! BE A PART OF HISTORY…
30 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES Previous Artists Include…
30 years of the BIGGEST STARS, 30 years of INCREDIBLE GIVING & 30 years of HEARTFELT MOMENTS. To learn more visit: davidfosterfoundation.com