When a child is hospitalized, fear and anxiety can overwhelm both kids and parents. Beyond medical care, young patients need emotional support—and that’s where Child Life Specialists step in. Through therapeutic play, education and personalized care, they ease stress, reduce anxiety and bring moments of joy to the hospital experience.

At Children’s Hospital, donor support funds a team of 11 specialists trained in child development and family systems. They prepare kids for surgeries and treatments in age-appropriate ways, help them express emotions safely and create comforting spaces where children can simply be kids. They even bring fun to hospital rooms, giving parents a chance to rest and recharge. 

Each year, Child Life Specialists support more than 12,000 young patients during 20,000 visits, transforming hospital stays into experiences of hope, resilience and family-centered care.

Supporting a child through a serious health issue can be overwhelming—and unexpected expenses make it even harder. Unpaid leave, travel, accommodations and childcare costs add up quickly, especially during long hospital stays. The Family Assistance Program provides donor-funded emergency support so families can focus on what matters most: their child’s recovery. 

Help includes transportation and parking, hotel subsidies, meal vouchers and grocery gift cards and coverage for non-funded medications, therapies and procedures. Requests are assessed individually by social workers and family resource facilitators at the Paediatric Family Resource Centre in Children’s Hospital, LHSC.

The Giraffe OmniBed is a state-of-the-art neonatal care station designed to give the tiniest, most fragile patients the best possible start in life. This innovative system combines an incubator and a radiant warmer into one unit, creating a stable, controlled environment that supports growth and development while reducing stress for critically ill newborns. With features like precise temperature regulation, humidity control and easy access for medical teams, the OmniBed minimizes handling and protects babies during vital procedures.

For families, it means peace of mind—knowing their child is cared for in a safe, nurturing space that promotes healing and bonding. For caregivers, it means efficiency and flexibility without compromising comfort.

Your support helps provide this life-saving technology to our NICU, ensuring every baby has the chance to thrive. Together, we can give fragile newborns the warmth, protection and hope they need from their very first breath.

Imagine being told your child has a rare disease—and then realizing there’s no clear path forward. For thousands of families in Southwestern Ontario, this is reality. Diagnosis can take years, with multiple missteps along the way. In the meantime, parents face mounting stress, financial strain and the heartbreak of watching their child suffer without answers.

The Rare Disease team guides families through the maze of appointments, specialists and treatments—while offering emotional support so they never feel alone. It’s a lifeline for children who deserve timely care and a chance at a brighter future.

With over 240,000 children in our region living with rare diseases, the need is urgent. Your support can bring hope, shorten the diagnostic odyssey and give families the support they desperately need.