Oliver Hilder-Titarniuk Fund

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Oliver Anthony Hilder-Titarniuk
May 18, 2014 - April 8, 2016
Oliver was a small wonder from birth; he filled us all with so much joy. Oliver was an only child and a much anticipated first grandchild. His health was fragile from the start, but he always seemed to surprise his doctors, because he was unique in every way. As a family; every step forward was a celebration. One of his favorite things was listening to his Auntie Sarah sing, we would play music clips for him during hospital visits, and he would get so excited he would flap his little wings and bounce up and down in perfect rhythm. He loved music so much that if his favorite song came on the radio while asleep in the car, he would pop open his eyes and start dancing. On those long, exhausting days, nothing was better than a good old Oliver belly laugh to make the day brighter.  Nothing gave Oliver more comfort than running his fingers through his daddy's long beard and rubbing his mommies cheek. Olivers health did not allow him to have much contact with other children, but he was always very happy to make faces at his friend in the mirror.

Samantha was a director of an early childhood education center when Oliver was born. But because  Oliver would be at risk from the germs, she returned to school.  As the fight for home care ensued, just how much he was loved was evident by the number of people that stepped up to support the family, watch numerous episodes of Paw Patrol and care for Oliver. Our wee Oliver touched the lives of hundreds of people; he brought awareness, determination, bravery, and perseverance. 

 
Oliver was admitted to Children's Hospital PICU on April 2, 2016, to monitor his oxygen as he had been battling pneumonia. That evening Oliver went into respiratory distress, as his panicked parents tried desperately to get him help. They were met with angry medical staff threatening them with security if they did not stop yelling down the hallway. The Resident refused to give Oliver anything to help him breath easier, even as the parents asked for him to be given  Ventolin as this had worked in a prior situation, the resident refused,  saying that he was comfortable with how he looked. They all stood watching Oliver struggle for every single breath and did nothing. Two hours later when the doctor finally arrived, within ten minutes, Oliver's  little fragile heart gave out.  As they performed CPR to try and get his little heart restarted the doctor had to yell at the medical team several times to locate the EPI pack that is supposed to be in every room. After rifling through drawers, they finally located one. It took 5 minutes to restart his heart and three hours of hand ventilation until he was finally strong enough to be intubated. Our flickers of hope that our Oliver was still inside, this swollen little body soon began to fade as the week pressed on, our worst fears were realized with a CT of his brain, they had killed our beautiful boy. The only thing we could recognize as Oliver was his amazing little head of red hair.  Oliver was taken off life support and at 7:30 am Friday, April 8th, 2016 and took his last breath in his parents, loving and devastated arms. Oliver did not have an easy life, but he had a life full of love and devotion.

Olivers life was consumed with doctors appointments, medicine, hospital visits and a daily struggle to grow. But through it all he never once lost his soul-warming smile and his love of music. Oliver may have lived a short life, but he inspired a nation. His parents Samantha Hilder & Steven Titarniuk fought every day to keep their son alive, Mom spent hours researching and studying trying to find things that might make a difference in his life. She was determined to do what the doctors could not! Make him better. Every glimmer of hope was soon shattered by something new and unique to Oliver. Oliver was one of a kind medically and spiritually. The last almost two years have been an immensely stressful and an emotional roller coaster for our family but one we would not trade for anything.

 Oliver was to turn two years old on May 18th,  and instead, of celebrating his birthday,  We are having a celebration of his life.  With everyone whose hearts, he has touched. A party to celebrate our tiny hero with the infectious smile. So at this time, we ask that in lieu of flowers to make a donation to the Oliver Hilder-Titarniuk Memorial Fund