Regardless of whether or not you have children or have friends or family who have children, you will undoubtedly be familiar with or have heard of the Hospital for Sick Children (also known as SickKids).
Disclaimer – This post was written in partnership with TELUS as part of their #TELUS_partner program. All thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.
Perhaps you have never had to step foot in the Hospital for Sick Children, but a great number of families have had to experience taking their children to SickKids.
We are one of those families.
Back in 2008, when Little One canon-balled her way into this world at 28 weeks gestation and 980 grams, her early days in the NICU at Mount Sinai were a roller coaster ride for my husband and for me.
In those early days, she has had to be seen at the Hospital for Sick Children for a few tests and procedures that some premature babies require.
I recall the times Little One had to be transported through the underground tunnel that connects Mount Sinai to SickKids. Actually, the tunnel connects SickKids to not only Mount Sinai, but also to Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto Rehab, and Toronto General Hospital. The tunnel is used to quickly move organ transplants and patients between hospitals when necessary.
For the first year of Little One’s life, after we brought her home to Manitoulin Island, Little One had to go to Sick Kids Hospital for regular (weekly and then monthly) follow-ups. We would pack up our tiny baby and make the six hour drive to Toronto so she could be seen for follow ups on her vision, hearing, respiratory issues, and cognitive development.
I am really excited to hear about TELUS’ partnership with SickKids.
TELUS & SickKids
As part of its journey to improve the lives of Canadians through the power of technology, TELUS is partnering with The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) to help build a new SickKids that will translate research and the benefits of new technology into new cures and treatments for children.
To make this happen, SickKids needs to raise $1.3 billion, a campaign goal that makes this the largest fundraising efforts ever undertaken in Canadian healthcare history. To help reach this goal, TELUS will give $1 million over the next five years through donations and marketing campaigns.
Since 2000, TELUS team members and retirees have contributed more than $1.6 million to SickKids, including $317,000 given in 2018 alone through cause marketing campaigns and fundraising activities.
To keep the momentum going, TELUS will give $25 to SickKids for every new TELUS smartphone activated in Ontario, to a maximum donation of $50,000. In addition, TELUS crafted a new digital storybook, Bunny Goes to the Hospital, as a way of helping kids and their families feel more comfortable going to the hospital. For every download of the digital storybook, TELUS will also give $25 to SickKids, to a maximum donation of $50,000.
Helping today’s youth is an integral part of TELUS’ overall commitment to giving back to the communities TELUS employees and retirees live and work in. Last Fall, TELUS launched the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, an independent charitable organization, which provides grants to grassroots charities and gives kids a brighter future.
When Little One needed the care and medical services at SickKids as a preemie, the hospital was the best place for her. This said, with the TELUS and SickKids partnership, sick children will be able to benefit from a new, state-of-the-art facility in Toronto. What’s more is that this new facility will ensure that SickKids remains a world leader in Paediatric health. With new technology for research, new cures and treatments for sick children can be made.
This is something very close to my heart, and I am in awe of all the great partnerships TELUS is involved with. It is quite apparent that community, and giving back to the community is at the forefront of TELUS’ beliefs. They really are driven by their Give Where We Live philosophy.
Don’t forget! You can help make a difference in the lives of sick children. From now until March 31, TELUS will give $25 to SickKids for every download of the TELUS’ digital storybook, Bunny Goes to the Hospital, and $25 to SickKids for every new smartphone activation at TELUS in Ontario, each to a maximum donation of $50,000.
Downloaded the digital story book. This is a great initiative.