A grateful and indebted past patient

I was inspired to support SickKids because I was a patient there myself. My first visit, when I was five, I have very little personal recollection of. I became suddenly became paralyzed and spent a month in SickKids recovering. I was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and for me, it impacted my joints and made me completely paralyzed and unable to move. 3 years later, I had another episode but this time I vividly remember waking up in the middle of the night, trying to stand up and falling out of bed, once again completely unable to move my legs. I called for my parents and my dad rushed me immediately to SickKids, by passing all of the hospitals closer to our house. Again, I was in for a month stay with rheumatic fever. I remember the comfort of the hospital and I can even picture the nurse that looked after me with such compassionate care. After that, I continued to have annual checks at SickKids and they continued to see me into my early twenties. I recall laughing at myself as I was a giant twenty year old sitting in the waiting rooms with a bunch of young children. But just like when I was hospitalized, the care and compassion by all the staff made my annual visits a comfortable experience. I am so indebted and I am so grateful for the care I received here and feel that it is important to support the hospital for children today and tomorrow.