Children Suffering From Daycare E. Coli Outbreak
Donation protected
As a mom of two kids, I can’t imagine sending my kids to daycare, only to hear the hospital doctors talk about “organ damages” and "long-term kidney issues" a few days later. It's every parent's worst nightmare, and it's happening right now in Calgary, Canada.
There has been an E. Coli outbreak in daycares across the city. 310 have been diagnosed with E. Coli, and 21 of which have been hospitalized. All 21 hospitalization are children under the age of 5, who are susceptible to more severe outcomes of the toxin-producing E. Coli. 20 of these children have developed a severe illness hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). My son goes to the same daycare as the ones impacted by E. Coli.
These kids and toddlers are facing daily bloodwork, blood transfusion, and dialysis at such a young age. Their parents are forced to hold them down during tests, while remaining unable to work and unable to make income.
We are hoping to raise money to support the families that are currently going through this unimaginable ordeal.
HOW WILL WE SUPPORT THE IMPACTED FAMILIES?
The focus of our support changes based on feedback from parents and nurses. Mealtime and well-being are what we're focusing on right now.
Quite a few of the parents mentioned that mealtime is the most difficult time for them. It’s hard for parents to leave their kids’ sides when they’re this young. We purchase meals and drop it off at the Alberta Children Hospital during lunch time for the families who can not leave their children's sides.
Due to the isolation nature of their hospital stay, we also provide various care packages for these families.
HOW DID WE SUPPORT THE IMPACTED FAMILIES?
- Mon, Oct 30: We coordinated local daycares to draw get well cards and pictures for the last family in the hospital. The last family was discharged today and get well cards were dropped off at their home.
- Mon, Oct 9: We dropped off thanksgiving dinner for the remaining 3 families in the hospital.
- Wed, Oct 4: We dropped off activities care package for the parents and children.
- Wed, Sept 27: We dropped off 3 care packages with Skip the Dishes gift card for the families who are still in the hospital.
- Sun, Sept 24: We dropped of 6 bouquets of flowers to all of the families in the hospital.
- Thurs, Sept 21: As some of the children's appetite begin to return, we dropped off non-perishable snacks for the children.
- Mon, Sept 18: Today we dropped off 15 x care packages for the parents who are still by their kid’s bedsides to the Alberta Children Hospital.
- Fri, Sept 15: We dropped off 50 x $50 grocery and gas gift cards, totalling to $2,500, to the Alberta Children Hospital's Foundation Office.
- Thurs, Sept 14: We dropped off 27 x care packages for the hospitalized children. Each care package includes a colouring book, crayons/markers, pop-up story book, etch a sketch, sticker book, play doh, stuffed animal, squishy toy, and bubble wand.
- Thurs, Sept 14: The families were greeted with hot breakfast and coffee from Tim Hortons first thing in the morning.
- Wed, Sept 13: We dropped off non-perishable food at the hospital for the parents to snack on through out the day and night.
- Tues, Sept 12: Subway platter and cookies were dropped off at the hospital during lunch time for the parents who could not leave their children's sides.
- Mon, Sept 11: We purchased and dropped off 20 x $50 Uber Eats gift cards, totalling of $1,000, to the Alberta Children Hospital’s Foundation Office.
HOW DO WE ENSURE EVERY PENNY OF YOUR DONATION GOES TO THE IMPACTED FAMILIES?
We understand that every donated dollar is hard-earned money for the donors. We disclose all of our financial information in our weekly updates. All of the receipts can be found in the link here.
WHO ARE WE?
This fundraiser is ran by a group of volunteers, and all of our volunteers are parents of the impacted daycares.
Organizer
Cathy Wang
Organizer
Calgary, AB
