Meet Rowan.

Rowan is the adorable only child of our friend, Alicia and her husband, Taidgh. He loves cars, animals, and listening to music.

In May, while the family was preparing to move to Vancouver to pursue a career opportunity, Rowan began experiencing seizures. He was admitted to James Patterson Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon and underwent a battery of testing to determine the cause. These tests revealed Rowan is suffering from a rare genetic mutation in the PolG gene. (https://polgfoundation.org/what-is-polg/). This degenerative disease means Rowan’s life expectancy is uncertain—possibly months, hopefully years, probably not decades.

At the end of June, Rowan was transferred to BC Children’s Hospital where he is now in relatively stable condition, though ongoing seizure activity means his ability to communicate and move his body are currently very limited. Taidgh and Alicia are hoping to take him home in early August. Adjusting to this new normal will be a daunting task, but both parents are looking forward to being together again as a family in their own space.

Caring for Rowan, however, will be a full-time job for at least one person, which means only one parent will be able to work. The cost of Rowan’s medications and the additional medical and social services will soon be more than their single-income household can support.

Please consider donating so this young couple can give Rowan the best life possible in the short time he has left.

Funds will go directly to the family to help pay for these unexpected expenses.