CELEBRATE
the Gift of Life
Bec
au s
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the
g if t
of o
rgan
do na
ti on,
Josi a
h is th
riving
& his f
amily’s
future is
filled with
possibility
Josiah's Journey: A New Heart, A New Life SUMMER/FALL 2025 | VOLUME 47 Josiah's Journey: A New Heart, A New Life
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Message from the Chairman
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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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Josiah's Transplant Journey Continued
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An Incredible Summer to Remember— Supporting Transplant Kids at Camp
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Working Together Through Every Step of the Transplant Journey
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More Than a Piano—Donor Spotlight: George Vassallo & Christine Cole
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Volunteer Spotlight: Jamie Pearce
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Thank You to All Our Partners
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Save the Date 2026
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212 HENRY ST., VICTORIA, BC V9A 3H9 OFFICE: 250.475.1223 FAX: 250.475.1193 TOLL FREE: 1.877.777.7675 DAVIDFOSTERFOUNDATION.COM
Josiah is a vibrant 5-year-old boy who has already Josiah endured more than many do in a lifetime. His TRANSPLANT NEEDED: HEART journey began before he was even born when, at my 20-week ultrasound, doctors detected a congenital HOME: Holtville, NB heart defect—a large ventricular septal defect, essentially a hole in his heart. Initially, the plan was to monitor him after birth and potentially place a pulmonary artery band to help stabilize him while waiting for his heart to grow enough for corrective surgery. However, within hours of his birth, it became clear that his little heart was struggling. He showed immediate signs of heart failure and feeding difficulties. It was terrifying to watch our newborn fight so hard. He was quickly airlifted to Halifax for surgery to place the pulmonary artery band. Although the procedure helped, his heart remained too weak, and he required more medications just to sustain basic functions. At only three months old, we received devastating news— his heart could not be repaired. The only option left was a transplant. This was May 2020, a time when the world was grappling with the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. We had no choice but to uproot our lives and move to Toronto to wait for a new heart. My husband, Aaron, and our two-year-old son, Emmett, joined us in August 2020 and remained with us until we returned home in May 2022. It was an incredibly difficult journey, but staying together as a family gave us strength. CONTINUES ON PAGE 4