Twelve-year-old Addison McArthur was only three weeks old when she became the first baby to receive a heart transplant at BC Children乌鸦传媒檚 Hospital. Coincidentally, this year will be the 12th annual Triple Crown for Heart cycling event 乌鸦传媒� an initiative that Addison and her family are helping raise awareness.
After a heart defect went initially undiagnosed after Addison was born, she was placed in the intensive care unit. Doctors said that her heart was 乌鸦传媒渓iterally about to stop,乌鸦传媒� according to her mother, Elaine Yong, who is the manager of communications and community engagement at the BC Transplant Society.
Doctors conducted many tests and scans over the 24 hours and soon realized that this was not something they could easily fix. They concluded that a heart transplant was the only option for survival, and Addison was placed on the transplant list.
Amazingly, a heart became available within 72 hours, something that almost never happens, according to Emily Tai, a cardiology nurse at BC Children乌鸦传媒檚.
乌鸦传媒淢iraculously, within 72 hours 乌鸦传媒� which does not happen 乌鸦传媒� it乌鸦传媒檚 just very rare for a child heart, an infant heart to be available in such a short time frame,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淪he was one lucky girl and her story is pretty remarkable.乌鸦传媒�
On May 8, 2011, the heart transplant was conducted and Addison乌鸦传媒檚 life was saved.
乌鸦传媒淎udrey is the name of Addison乌鸦传媒檚 heart donor, and she provided the ultimate gift for Addison to have a second chance at life,乌鸦传媒� Yong said. 乌鸦传媒淲ithout the great support and care at BC Children乌鸦传媒檚 Hospital, that gift wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 have been utilized.乌鸦传媒�
Yong is forever grateful to BC Children乌鸦传媒檚 and considers them to be a part of her extended family.
乌鸦传媒淭hey wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 just take care of Addison but they were taking care of all of us and the rest of our family and friends,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淭hey made sure we got rest and took care of ourselves as well.乌鸦传媒�
Addison has been going to BC Children乌鸦传媒檚 regularly to be monitored, as the transplant isn乌鸦传媒檛 a cure, and takes medication twice a day to prevent rejection. However, she is still active, happy and healthy today, having just competed in the World Transplant Games held in Perth, Australia in April and continues to support BC Children乌鸦传媒檚 and the Triple Crown for Heart with her family.
The Triple Crown event was founded in 2010 by cardiac nurse Marie Campbell, and has raised over $240,000 since then. This year乌鸦传媒檚 goal is over $35,000. Funds will go towards causes that make sure children can have constant support while they experience inpatient cardiac care during their stay at BC Children乌鸦传媒檚, as well as the opportunity to experience the outdoors and new social experiences with friends at the children乌鸦传媒檚 and teen乌鸦传媒檚 heart summer camp at Camp Zajac.
When Yong and her husband, Aaron McArthur, found out about the Triple Crown event, they were both really excited because he loves cycling and it supports a cause that is important to them.
McArthur is part of the 乌鸦传媒渕iddle-aged men in spandex,乌鸦传媒� a term his wife used to describe him when he first started cycling a decade ago. Addison even added that his outfit 乌鸦传媒渄oesn乌鸦传媒檛 look very good,乌鸦传媒� but McArthur is happy to risk fashion for a good cause, especially one that hits close to home.
The event also means a lot to Tai, as it raises money for the children乌鸦传媒檚 heart unit which is where she works. Formulas, for example, are not covered by the government and can be super expensive. Families would get assistance from social workers, but even funding for the assistance was hard to come by. With the help of the event and fundraiser, families now have one less thing to worry about.
乌鸦传媒淭his event directly impacts the kids I take care of and their families,乌鸦传媒� Tai said. 乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 even have to worry about telling families about the formulas, as the event raises money to support these families.乌鸦传媒�
Tai was a novice road biker but has slowly worked her way up and will be participating once again in the Triple Crown. She encourages others to donate and participate as well, and not to be intimidated by the three North Vancouver mountains, as it is a 乌鸦传媒渞eally fun event not just for people who are hardcore cyclists.乌鸦传媒�
The Triple Crown consists of riding to the top of all three mountains, Seymour, Grouse and Cypress, and will start at 8 a.m. on Saturday at Ron Andrews Community Centre.
Although Tai doesn乌鸦传媒檛 know Addison directly, she is aware of her story and her continuing efforts to raise awareness.
乌鸦传媒淚 know she helps her mom with the BC Transplant Society,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淪he乌鸦传媒檚 a huge advocate for transplant donations and very involved with being part of that awareness.乌鸦传媒�
The Triple Crown will take place on Saturday, July 15 in North Vancouver.
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