MONTÉRÉGIE

Mia, 13

Mia is on a mission: to see as much of the world as she can, while she still has her eyesight. At age three, she was diagnosed with a degenerative condition known as retinitis pigmentosa, which will eventually rob her of her vision. Two of her three siblings also have the disease and face the same fate.

In 2022, Mia’s family set off on a trip around the globe to fill their visual memory with as many beautiful things as they could.

This year, Mia is more excited than ever to see the Tree of Lights illuminate the night sky. Thank you for making it shine for her.

ESTRIE

Adam, 6

Adam’s journey began when he was 22 months old. The doctors at his local hospital found an intestinal intussusception, which meant that a section of his bowel had slid into an adjacent part, like a collapsible telescope. His family took him straight to Sainte-Justine, where his doctor detected a congenital anomaly causing the obstruction and proceeded to correct it surgically. It seemed all was well, until earlier this year.

Another obstruction forced Adam to return to Sainte-Justine from his home in the Eastern Townships for a second operation. This was followed by a third after Adam’s bowel became twisted yet again only a month afterward. But the good news is his smile is once again lighting up the room.

For children across Quebec who, like Adam, need the specialized expertise Sainte-Justine can provide, thank you for giving generously to make the Tree of Lights glow with new brilliance this year.

MONTREAL

Liam, 7

Liam is one brave little warrior. On June 16, 2023, he and his family found out he had retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer. He has since gone through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, been administered general anesthesia 26 times, had his blood drawn 40 times, been given 5 MRIs and had 25 sessions with a psychologist at Sainte-Justine. “Sainte-Justine is a second home and a second family for us at this point,” says Nayla, Liam’s mother.

He is doing well now and comes in every month for a follow-up appointment. Seeing the Tree of Lights ablaze with holiday cheer is extra special for Liam. For him and all the other young patients at Sainte-Justine, thank you for sparking hope.

MAURICIE

Gabrielle, 12

Gabrielle is endearingly and uniquely herself, right down to her genetic makeup. She lived with continuous spikes and waves during sleep (CSWS), a rare epileptic syndrome, starting at age three. She and her family have made many the return trip between Trois-Rivières and Sainte-Justine as various neurocognitive and psychiatric symptoms have emerged.

Fortunately, her condition has been stable for the past four years, and her seizures have stopped. Although she is still living with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a type of neurofibromatosis that nobody else in the world seems to have, Gabrielle is hopeful about the bright future that lies ahead — which is made brighter by your support for the Tree of Lights. Thank you for making it shine all the way to Mauricie for her.