LIVING IN THE MOMENT WITH CANUCK PLACE CHILDREN’S HOSPICE
In addition to providing complex clinical care to children living with life-threatening illnesses, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice also helps their families create special memories with the limited time they have together.
One of these families was Lilee-Jean’s. She passed away at Canuck Place two years after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The entire family made the most of those two years, creating Lilee-Jean’s list, a living list of things they wanted to experience with her in the short time they would have together.
They packed a lifetime of memories into those years. Lilee-Jean went to dance lessons and music class, water slides and the movies. And in her last summer, Santa brought her an early white Christmas.
Despite long hospital stays and frequent treatments, Lilee-Jean remained a vibrant little girl who sang and danced everywhere she went.
When she first came to Canuck Place, she set up house in the Topsy Turvey outdoor playhouse, inviting family in to see the little home that was all her own.
“Canuck Place might be the most important building you will ever enter,” said Andrew. “The staff are the most compassionate and caring people you’ll ever meet.”
A dedicated team of doctors and nurses, cooks and counsellors protected the family and anticipated their every need.
Lilee-Jean and her family spent less than two weeks at Canuck Place. One day in September, she passed away in her mother’s arms while her father strummed his guitar.
“In the sanctuary of Canuck Place, the three of us – two broken hearts and one dying little girl – got to be a family one last time,” said Andrew.
Since that day, Andrew has remained connected with Canuck Place, utilizing grief & loss counselling, which is an integral part of the services offered to families.
“To lose a child is the worst pain a parent could ever experience,” Andrew said. “But this place and the people inside helped give us the opportunity to cherish every minute we could with our child. They’ve continued to provide use with the tools we need to survive.”
With the help a caring community and supporters like BMO Vancouver Marathon and its RUN4HOPE charity program, Canuck Place is able to provide children and families like the Letchers the clinical care program and support they need to continue their journey and celebrate each moment together.
Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
British Columbia’s recognized pediatric palliative care provider since 1995.
As a Canuck Place Children’s Hospice RUN4HOPE charity runner, participants commit to raising funds to support the care for over 670 children living with life-threatening illnesses and the families who love them. Through outreach programs and two provincial locations, Canuck Place provides respite and family support, pain and symptom management, 24-hour phone consultation support and in-house clinical care, art and education, recreation therapy, grief and loss counselling and end-of-life care. Canuck Place Children’s Hospice directly supports our RUN4HOPE charity runners to help make your fundraising a success. RUN4HOPE charity runners will be contacted by Canuck Place with fundraising details soon after registration. Please join us in making a fundamental difference in the lives of children and the families who love them!
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Website: www.canuckplace.org
YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc7dQCdPbZw