Help Support Fisher & Family While at Sick Kids

Fisher Bineshii Stevens is our 5 year old son who is the silliest, most kind hearted wild child, as well as Sioux Lookout’s ‘Bait & Tackle’ fishing expert— (just kidding, but he’d like to think so).

Fisher was born 2 months prematurely at Mount Sinai in Toronto, Ontario (about 20 hours from home) on March 15th, 2018 alongside his twin sister. Born at 5:30 in the evening, we would not hear about or see him until 10:00 that same night. While I lay waiting in recovery, I received a phone call from a faceless voice telling me my son would need an extensive surgery the following morning and was being brought to the Hospital for Sick Children (also known as Sick Kids). The next morning, in Fisher’s first 24 hours of life earth-side, he underwent his first of several surgeries. As Fisher’s time at Sick Kids went on (5 months total), more issues were discovered and we were eventually given a diagnosis of what is known as VACTERL association.

“VACTERL is a nonrandom association of birth defects that affects multiple anatomical structures. It’s an acronym, with each of the letters representing the first letter of one of the more common findings in affected children.”

V = vertebral abnormalities

A = anal atresia

C = cardiac (heart) defects

TE = tracheal esophageal abnormalities

R = renal (kidney) abnormalities

L = limb abnormalities

Fisher has been affected by 4 out of these 7. (V, C, TE, and R). Because of these issues, he has undergone 5 surgeries in 5 years; a tracheal esophageal fistula repair surgery, a double aortic arch repair surgery, a feeding tube placement surgery, a diaphragmatic hernia repair surgery, and a proper closure of the feeding tube hole.

Now, being 5 and a half years old, Fisher has reached the age where they can now complete the surgery on his spine to correct his scoliosis. A date of Friday, December 8th, 2023 was finally given to us. This will be Fisher’s biggest surgery to date, and also his first surgery being at an age where he understands and is aware of what will be happening and the pain of recovery.

One thing Fisher loves more than anything is his family, and we would like to be able to surround him with both sets of his parents and his 2 sisters, to help give him the most comforting recovery as we can. Although myself and Fisher’s father, Justin, are covered to be there with our son— Fisher’s step mom and step dad and sisters, who also play significant roles in his life, are not. This has left us with needing to cover the costs of accommodations, meals, taxi’s and flights at such an already financially sensitive time of year — Christmas. As of right now, we are still unsure if we will be there until/after Christmas or not. We will be updating Fisher’s scoliosis repair journey as it approaches and as he conquers his recovery.

We appreciate anything that anyone is able to donate, even as much as a ‘Share’ on Facebook, or keeping our Fisherman in your prayers, means the absolute world to us. Thank you on behalf of Fisher, and his parents, Hunter, Justin, Kayla and Bryan.