A twelve year old Coldstream boy with Crohn香蕉视频直播檚 disease has started an annual fundraiser to give back to B.C. Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital (BCCH), the place he said saved his life.
Spencer Sawatzky was flown by air ambulance to BCCH the Christmas of 2015 when an x-ray revealed a perforated bowel. Within an hour of arriving he was on the operating table to remove the left half of his colon due to ulcerative colitis.
香蕉视频直播淚t was pretty scary, I didn香蕉视频直播檛 know what to think,香蕉视频直播� said Sawatzky.
On Jan. 16, 2016 Spencer had severe bleeding from his incision. After being checked by a doctor they made the call to take him back for a second emergency surgery.
香蕉视频直播淭his time they had to remove the rest of his colon,香蕉视频直播� said Spencer香蕉视频直播檚 mother Krista Sawatzky.
Spencer stayed in intensive care for three days this time as he had lost a lot of blood and needed a couple of blood transfusions. 香蕉视频直播淗e spent the next four weeks recovering in the hospital from his two emergency surgeries,香蕉视频直播� said Spencer香蕉视频直播檚 father Neil Sawatzky.
READ MORE: Richmond teen to represent BC Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital for Jeans Day
It has been a strenuous four years for Spencer in and out of Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital.
香蕉视频直播淪ince February 2016 Spencer has undergone a J-pouch surgery, flown to B.C. Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital early March, spending two weeks treating an abscess, home for 30 hours, flown back for a second abscess and had surgery to put in a PICC line and drain, a reconnection surgery July 2017,香蕉视频直播� said Krista.
It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 until October 2017 when a scope revealed Crohn香蕉视频直播檚 disease, after Spencer was admitted to the hospital on multiple occasions for severe dehydration, below normal sodium and potassium
香蕉视频直播淚n November 2018 we were flown once again to Children香蕉视频直播檚 for a bowel obstruction, after two weeks of trying all measures he had surgery, we went home the end of November,香蕉视频直播� said Neil.
Spencer continues his treatment every four weeks in the medical day unit at BCCH and he gives back, he has started fundraising for the hospital in part of Jeans Day.
香蕉视频直播淚 want to thank the doctors and nurses for all they do for me while I香蕉视频直播檓 at the hospital and fundraing is a way to do it,香蕉视频直播� said Spencer.
READ MORE:
For the last four years, Spencer and his family have been fundraising and have made close to $8,000 for Jeans Day Foundation.
香蕉视频直播淲e set up at Silver Star and school to sell badges and raise funds to help the hospital continue to run the facility and save lives, like they did for Spencer,香蕉视频直播� said the Sawatzkys.
Jeans Day is one of B.C. Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital Foundation香蕉视频直播檚 most popular province-wide fundraisers, where families and community members raise money year round for the special celebration day which falls this year on Thursday.
香蕉视频直播淛eans Day will support B.C. Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital in its quest to transform health care for the one million-plus kids who count on the hospital,香蕉视频直播� said Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital vice-president of philanthropy Maria Faccio. 香蕉视频直播淔unds raised through Jeans Day will help advance innovative research, purchase advanced equipment, and create spaces and practices that prioritize the unique needs of kids and their families in every aspect of their care,香蕉视频直播�
READ MORE: Local family supports Jeans Day
She said more than 200,000 British Columbians, including individuals, families, businesses and students, will wear their purchased Jeans Day lapel pins and don their head-to-toe denim attire in support of BC香蕉视频直播檚 kids.
Jeans Day pins are available for $20 at participating retailers, including: Save-On-Foods, Overwaitea Foods, London Drugs, Thrifty Foods and Country Grocer. Learn more and donate online at
Faccio said the foundation has been running for close to 29 years and last year it raised $1 million and they hope to raise that again this year.
laryn.gilmour@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on .
