"From One Parent To Another"

WHY & WHAT WE'RE DOING

In May of 2021, our family experienced an accident that changed our world instantly. Our son, who was 5 at the time, was rushed by ambulance and then air lifted to SickKids Hospital in Toronto, Ontario where he was taken into surgery.

We, like so many parents, were in a state of shock and unprepared for the unknown. We sat in a waiting room for hours, and then we were moved into a Critical Care Unit where our son was under 24 hour watch. We came with the clothes on our back and thankfully our wallet to be able to buy water and coffee.

In a Critical Care Unit, there are kind and gentle nurses caring for your child during their ups and downs. These rooms are also scary, because there are machines and noises all around you. The lights never go off, so you do not know if it is day or night, but why would you want to know anyway because your world has stopped.

As part of our healing, our family talks a lot about all the moments we remember during that time. One of the things we remembered was how tired we felt in those initial moments. Sleep is scarce, and you go hours without thinking about food. You’ve survived on coffee but can’t remember the last time you brushed your teeth. We remember feeling cold, but aren’t sure if it was the temperature in the room or the state of shock we were in.

We made a promise to our family and friends who helped us and supported us through our experience that we would find a way to give back. In turn, we created From One Parent To Another in honour of each and every person that helped us get through our most difficult days.