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CH.I.L.D. News at a Glance
A $12-million grant from the Province will support the groundbreaking work of the Additional stories can be found on our Press Releases page. A CHILD WITH CROHN'S DISEASE & ULCERATIVE COLITS These children live with pain. They have severe diarrhea which keeps them a prisoner in their homes, unable to go to school, or to have a normal childhood. Everything they eat becomes a problem, so even dining out as a treat is not pleasant. Swollen and inflamed muscles, loss of energy and the passing of large quantities of blood haunt them daily, leaving them tired out and in need of constant medication and frequent hospital stays. These are little children, as young as babies, and the disease follows them throughout childhood. Then, unfortunately, they arrive at adulthood and there is no reprieve. They become adults with the same problems and increased social challenges. Most children and adults who are stricken with these disorders undergo surgeries. Partial removal of the infected intestine is often done and is repeated on the same patient as the years go on and other operations are again necessary. Children as young as five have had to have a colostomy or bowel bag as it is often termed. It is difficult to imagine how the child or the family copes with this situation. Crohn's Disease and its many complications can result in death. Although this is not common, in our group of 70 CH.I.L.D. volunteers, two of our members have lost their child and their husband. Good things really do happen when people work together as witnessed at the celebration of the CH.I.L.D. Foundation, Variety – the Children's Charity and BC Children's Hospital Foundation on June 21, 2004. Dr. Grace McCarthy, President of CH.I.L.D (Children with Intestinal and Liver Disorders), joined Will Webster, Chair of Variety when they presented a cheque in the amount of $2 million to Sue Carruthers, President, BC Children's Hospital Foundation, who contributed $1 million to establish the CH.I.L.D. Foundation Endowment for Pediatric Gastroenterology Research. Wings Over White Rock - Canadian Forces Snowbirds Fly for CH.I.L.D. Snowbirds
meet the children suffering from Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
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About the CH.I.L.D Goal & Vision THE
GOAL We have raised $7 million. In 2002 we established an Endowed Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology Research at the University of British Columbia ($3.5 million). This is the first Endowed Chair of its kind in Canada. Our second Endowed Chair was created in 2003 for $3 million and rests at BC’s Children’s Hospital. The revenue from each endowed chair hires researchers and the principal remains in perpetuity. We have renovated our first laboratory at BC’s Children’s Hospital. This lab is the beginning of a larger laboratory already in the planning stage. THE VISION We are determined to find a cure. Additional stories can be found on our Press Releases page.
Lindsay Gordon, President Grace McCarthy, O.C.,
Chairman of the Board Mary Parsons, Executive
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