Meet the Armstrong Family — Denise, Hayden, and our brave little girl, Jolene.

Our sweet Jolene was just 11 months old when our world changed overnight. She suddenly became critically ill and was rushed to SickKids Hospital for emergency brain surgery. With dangerously high blood pressure, Jolene spent her very first birthday in the ICU while her parents never left her side, taking turns at her bedside when only one of us was allowed.

Doctors were initially unable to explain what had caused this sudden medical crisis. After surgery, Jolene regressed back to newborn stages — she could no longer sit, hold up her head, or eat. Our little girl had to go through rehabilitation and relearn every single milestone she had already fought so hard to achieve.

After months of uncertainty, genetic testing finally gave us a heartbreaking but important answer: Jolene has GACI, a rare and life-threatening condition caused by a mutation in the ABCC6 gene. We immediately began fighting to get her the medication she desperately needs, but were denied access to the first clinical trial and denied again by Health Canada.

Despite the setbacks, we refused to give up.

After months of advocating, searching, and connecting with the right people, Jolene has now been approved for a clinical trial at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Texas — a chance that could truly save her life and give her hope for a healthier future.

We are creating this GoFundMe to help cover the many expenses this journey brings, including travel, accommodations, medical-related costs, and the unexpected needs that come with caring for a medically fragile child.

Any support — whether through donating or sharing — means more than words can express. Thank you for standing with us and helping us fight for Jolene’s chance at a brighter, healthier future.

With love,

Denise, Hayden & Jolene Armstrong