The Optimist Medical Fund project is used to raise money to help families with children who have medical conditions that many of us cannot even imagine. When their children's' well being should be their only major concern, financial strain creeps in placing an unwelcomed burden and additional stress on them. With the money we make from the gala, we are able to share it among families, who only know too well, what it is to sacrifice everything they have for those they love. Maybe we can never fully understand their situation unless we have a sick child of our own, but the contribution we give to make this gala successful, may relieve a bit of the financial strain, and lets the family know we hear their story and we care.
From 2015-2019, the Fall Gala raised money to help 15 families with children in need, each with their own unique story. Below are the children and some background.
From 2015-2019, the Fall Gala raised money to help 15 families with children in need, each with their own unique story. Below are the children and some background.
Past Recipients of the
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Danika Beer - 2019
Julia Brandoline - 2016 Bentley Broome - 2015 Harley Buzit - 2015 Jonas Clarke - 2015 Keaton Constant - 2018 Tianna Dewhurst - 2017 |
Addison Diehl - 2016
Katie Enequist - 2016 Mason Gariepy - 2017 Aurora Sky Ledoux - 2015 Alice Maxwell - 2017 Tatum Michael McKee - 2018 Zarah Thompson - 2018 Ethan Weberg - 2019 |
2019 - Danika Beer (11 years old). Danika had an intrauterine stroke which caused the frontal left lobe of her brain not to develop and she also has cerebral palsy. Danika’s care is full time and her mother has been able to care for her as a stay at home mom. Danika is in a wheelchair; has learned to use an electric wheelchair, does very well and it gives her mobility independence. There is a lot of lifting and weight bearing for transfers in the home and they also bath, change her and any other of her basic needs that have to be met. Danika can also talk and communicate with her family, hopefully this will help eliminate some of the frustration and behavioral issues that come along with her condition. The family is very active and Danika enjoys the outings and being around people.
2016 Gala - Julia Brandoline is a happy four-year-old girl. She has a very rare chromosome variant that causes kleefstra syndrome. There are only 300 known cases in the world. Most have no known cause or inherited link. It is a condition that includes severe respiratory illnesses, GERD, heart defects, hyptonia and developmental delays, feeding and speech problems. For her complicated medical care the family has had to travel to Edmonton Children’s Hospital, Saskatoon Royal University Hospital, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, USA and Toronto for her heart surgery. She has had many heart surgeries and tests throughout her short four years and more to come in her future. She will need continual specialized care throughout her life.
2015 Gala - Bentley Broome has just recently turned 3 he was born with an imperforate anus, mixed anomalies of the thoracic spine, congenital scoliosis, hemi vertebrae in the lumbar spine, fused ribs and microtia of the right ear. To date Bentley has had 5 surgeries. Along with surgeries his family makes regular trips to Saskatoon for appointments as well as countless MRIs. Unfortunately at Bentleys last MRI his neurologist had some awful news. His spine is attached in a bad spot and is pulling his brain down to the base of his skull. He needs surgery in the next month or two to correct this. Unfortunately the risks are high and the recovery time is long. This family has been through so much with this amazing little boy and it seems as though after every hurdle they jump another bigger scarier one awaits.
2015 Gala - Harley Buzit is a 3 year old from Prince Albert; on December 8th she was diagnosed with acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. On January 15th 2015 her family was told the first block of treatment Harley received did not work, and that she went from regular risk to high risk. Harley’s second block of treatment consists of 4 day per week chemo treatments and blood transfusions when needed. The constant travel for treatment is very costly. Harley will need 3-5 years of treatment for this type of cancer.
2015 Gala - Jonas Clarke is a 7 year old boy from Prince Albert who has diagnosed with a brain tumor in March of 2015. He has had an extremely difficult year, has had brain surgery to remove part of the tumor. He started cancer treatments which involves both chemotherapy and daily radiation treatments. In addition to the cancer diagnosis, Jonas has struggled with a serve form of autism, with which affects him in many ways, most notably observed through his inability to verbalize words. Jonas continues to be supported by his loving family and he makes the very best of each moment day to day.
2018 - Keaton Constant (male 3 years old) was born via C-section, as the doctors did not want him going through the stress of a natural birth. Keaton was born with a hole between the two lower chambers of his heart as well as a missing conduit. Keaton had his first heart surgery in 2014. His 2nd heart surgery was a short 6 months later. He was born with under-developed femurs or thighbones which are almost non-existent while his “knees” are in his hips. Keaton was born with numerous skeletal anomalies. He recently had surgery on both feet. He will require a minimum of two additional heart surgeries in Edmonton. Keaton attends regular appointments with occupational, speech and physiotherapy in Prince Albert, with regular follow-up appointments every 6 months in Saskatoon.
2017 Gala - Tianna Dewhurst is a 17 year old girl who at the age of 16 was diagnosed with neuro borrellia and other anthropoid related infections. She became ill at the tender age of 8 and having been misdiagnosed for so many years the bacteria has had the opportunity to wreck havoc on her body. She has lost the ability to read, write, and walk. She is completely dependent on her family to care for her. She has multiple severe symptoms that she suffers through daily but still manages to offer a smile through it all. At one point her body shut down while her mind remained awake aware of the happenings around her but she was unable to move or communicate other than tapping her fingers yes or no. Her family went to great lengths to try and get help for her greatly misunderstood disease by traveling everywhere from Kansas to BC, Alberta and finally settling back in Saskatchewan. It was here that their prayers were finally answered with a new physician whom offered a new treatment plan that her body is slowly responding to. Having been completely bedbound for a few years Tianna is slowly reintroducing herself to the world around her. She finds beauty in the simple things that we often take for granted everyday. She is still in serious condition but she is now able to sit up, talk and eat without a feeding tube. Hope has been restored to a young girl who has fought so hard for so many years. Even though she suffers so much every single day with multiple severe symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, unbearable pain, electrical jolts, breathing problems, legs that are unable to walk, she is still so thankful for the positive she sees in her life. Her kind and loving nature truly make her an inspiration to be around.
2016 Gala - Addison Diehl was born at 27 weeks with a rare disability called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, causing joints to be stiff and crooked at birth. There are only three cases in Saskatchewan and 87 in Canada. Addison was born with clubfeet, contractures in her knees, and an a-symmetrical head. Many trips were made to Edmonton where she was fitted with a helmet worn for five months to reshape her head followed by surgery to try correct her clubfeet. At five-years-old, Addison had further surgery in Saskatoon. The family was told by her doctors that there was nothing more they could do for her except get her a nice wheel chair. Not giving up, the family located a world-renowned doctor in Philadelphia specializing in her disability. Addison is currently in Philadelphia undergoing complex surgery and treatment requiring knee reconstruction and external fixators, pins and casting through her legs, knees and feet to straighten her legs.
For three months, tension will need to be applied four times a day. Addison’s family will remain in Philadelphia making weekly trips to the hospital as Addison’s progress is monitored. At eight years old, there is hope that Addison will no longer have to walk on her knees and without the assistance of crutches.
For three months, tension will need to be applied four times a day. Addison’s family will remain in Philadelphia making weekly trips to the hospital as Addison’s progress is monitored. At eight years old, there is hope that Addison will no longer have to walk on her knees and without the assistance of crutches.
2016 Gala - Katie Enequist is a thirteen-year-old girl whose health continues to deteriorate. Medical specialists are recommending surgery as the only option to save Katie’s life. Due to the rare nature of her condition and the critical nature of surgeries, there is a chance that she could end up paralyzed or brain-dead. Without surgery she will continue to slowly die. None of Katie’s doctors have been able to diagnose her specific disorder; she is the first known child to be born with all of the rare conditions that specialists continue to treat. Her specialized doctors call her condition: “An Anomaly”. Along with serious medical conditions, Katie’s physical appearance is also affected. At thirteen years old, Katie’s weight has never exceeded forty pounds. She has a deteriorating spinal malformation and an unnamed condition that affects the left side of her body, giving her “cauliflower ear”, inverted thumb, smaller left eye, shorter left leg, webbed toes and a smaller left hand. Katie has traveled all across North America for surgery and related treatment.
2017 Gala - Mason Gariepy is a 6 year old boy who was diagnosed with leukemia on August 4, 2016 at age five. He was transferred to RUH in Saskatoon where he stayed for 8 months. After several rounds of chemo Mason received the news that he will need to be transferred to Calgary for a bone marrow transplant. Mason’s mom, dad and two older brothers were tested to see if they were a bone marrow match but unfortunately they were not a match. Thankfully, two other donors were found. During preparations for the trip to Calgary, Mason’s MRI showed swelling in his brain along with a build up of fluid. The doctors placed a shunt to drain the fluid which eased Mason’s headaches. After the shunt was clamped Mason’s headaches returned and a CT scan showed swelling and a new fluid build up. The first shunt was replaced and a second shunt was installed in a different spot. The shunts were removed at the beginning of March. Mason made the journey to Calgary on March 22. His transplant date is set for May 19. During this entire journey Mason’s mom quit her job so she could be with Mason every step of the way. Mason’s dad has remained working in Prince Albert and is caring for their twins boys.
2015 Gala - Aurora Sky, Ledoux is a little girl born three months premature, weighing slightly more than two pounds suffered a head injury during the car wreck while still inside her mother's womb. She spent five months in Saskatoon's Royal University Hospital, where doctors eventually placed a shunt in her head to drain fluid off her tiny brain. At home, tubes still run from her nose to an oxygen tank, while her grandmother gives her daily medication and is on constant watch for seizures. Doctors say she will likely have some form of disability for the rest of her life.
2017 Gala - Alice Maxwell born December 12, 2016, almost two months before her expected delivery date. Due to complications with the mother’s health, the doctors felt Alice would have a greater chance of survival on the outside she was just three pounds, four ounces. Due to her prematurity Alice spent the first three weeks of her life in an incubator, under the warmth of a UV light. There were many tubes attached to her to assist her with breathing and eating. Alice showed great strength and resilience in her early weeks but she was having difficulty feeding due to her inability to breathe through her nose. The doctors decided the best course of action would be to fly Alice to Edmonton for a special operation, which could only be done at the Stollery Hospital. Alice was flown by Air Ambulance to Edmonton on January 1st , and she would receive her first dilation the next day. She receive a second, more invasive procedure about a week and a half later, which involved removing the actual tissue causing the blockage. Alice was flown back to Saskatoon the following week and remained at RUH until February 21. On March 27, Alice travelled back to Edmonton for a follow up appointment. The doctor in charge decided it best Alice undergo a third procedure. As of this time there are no further surgeries expected. On her four month birthday, she weighed just over seven pounds. Alice continues to have regular appointments in Saskatoon and Prince Albert. She also has another appointment in Edmonton on June 19. Alice is very alert and strong, she is expected to be about two months behind in development compared to babies who are born at full-term. She still struggles with weight gain and has some reflux issues. The constant travel does weigh heavy on expenses. At present time her father is not working and is raising Alice on his own.
2018 - Tatum Michael McKee (male 6 months old) has Biliary Atresia, a rare liver disease that occurs in infants. Bile flowing from the liver to the gallbladder is blocked. This causes bile to be trapped inside the liver, quickly causing damage and scarring of the liver cells, and eventually leads to liver failure. A Kasai Procedure has been done, and without this procedure Tatum would die. Unfortunately, if the procedure fails a liver transplant is required. This is not a cure for Biliary Atresia, but it does allow for the majority of infants to grow and have fairly good health for several years before needing a liver transplant. Tatum was diagnosed with suspected cholangitis, one of the many common complications after the surgery he had. Tatum is on daily doses of numerous expensive medications.
2018 - Zarah Thompson (female) was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome (RS), a neurological disorder. RS is caused by a gene mutation or deletion which causes a lack of production of an important brain protein. RS causes regression of acquired skills. It takes away the ability to speak and function typically by interrupting the gross motor function of the body. Although she cannot speak with her mouth, she tells us so much with her eyes. Zarah has just received her Tobii Dynavox communication system and is just beginning to learn how to manipulate the computer with just her eyes. People with RS are at risk for seizures, developing dystonia, constipation, breath holding, hyperventilation, swallowing coordination issues, behavior problems, anxiety, and many other manifestations affecting the body systems. Zarah sees numerous specialists every 2-3 months and has semi-monthly visits with physio, occupational, speech and language therapists.
2019 - Ethan Weberg (6 years old) Ethan has inherited a condition called Tuberous Sclerosis Complex which are benign tumors that can grow anywhere in the body. He currently has tumors on his brain, heart and kidneys. Ethan has autism, developmental delay and epilepsy and his family is waiting for a service dog for him.
