The Ava Rose Story
 The Ava Rose Fund was set up to recognize the
support, dedication and innovation that helped Ava to thrive from a success story that
begins with doctors wondering if she will survive. The Fund has allowed Ava to make a
small contribution back to the medical community, with a focus on the teams that have
supported her. The funds raised are used to support research in the Neurosurgery
Department at Sick Kids.
Ava was born a beautiful and healthy 9lb. baby girl.
Within 24 hours after her birth into the world, she developed an intracranial and sub
dural hemorrhage. In layman's terms, her brain hemorrhaged and it caused uncontrollable
seizures, a stroke, and severe pressure on the entire brain with many harmful and life
threatening effects.
Once this precious baby was stabilized, she was rushed to
Sick Kids and underwent emergency surgery where the hemorrhages were excavated and part of
her skull removed to manage swelling. Her parents were given the grim news that IF this
baby survived the next 72 hours, she would not escape a lifetime of problems that included
brain damage, blindness, cerebral palsy, and little, if any use to her left side of her
body.
What makes Ava so amazing is not only did she overcome
all the obstacles that were put in her way during her few days of life, she also survived
ten additional surgeries before she was six months old. When the Doctors replaced back the
removed portion of her skull, her body rejected it. This little child became a living
china doll, cautiously surviving without the right side of her skull for seven years.
Today, Ava has a titanium skull, a shunt, suffers from
epilepsy, migraines and has many scars to remind her of this journey. But if you ask Ava
about all of this she often summarizes it nicely with "ya, I think I am a
miracle" along with a smile demonstrating her beautiful spirit.. During Ava's many
days in Sick Kids, she touched so many other parents and sick children with her
motivation, and positive attitude.
Ava's dream is to help every child in Sick Kids. She
hopes that her fund will give more crafts to the children to save them from boredom, more
comfortable rocking chairs for mom's and dad's to rock their babies in, more research to
give each and every child the opportunity to be all that they were meant to be.
Every one has a story. It is what you do with the words
on the pages that make a difference. Ava recently said, "If today was a book, what
would your title be?". I think the title of Ava's book is "Little Bird with
Strong Wings". Ava (which mean's 'little bird') is an inspiration to many, -yet
in so many ways is like every child you know. She believes that her life has a purpose,
but it is with your support that makes her purpose a reality.
For more information, please visit www.sickkidsfoundation.com. |
