The following article was posted in the Richmond Hill Liberal on February 18th, 2012. The special section called "The Heartbeat of Our Community" was centred around York Central Hospital Foundation. I wanted to share this, as it really captured the essence behind Zack's Dream Room and how much it means to us.
Community rallies to fund
rooms in memory of local boy
Born with a genetic disorder, Zack Hamilton was a regular
visitor to York Central Hospital. When he and his twin Jayden arrived on Sept.
21, 2007, doctors immediately diagnosed Zack with a congenital heart defect.
He spent the first few months of his life at Sick Kids
Hospital in Toronto, where doctors repaired his heart and discovered the rare
genetic disorder, that is still unnamed and undiagnosed in any other child on
record.
The disorder caused a host of physical ailments and
developmental delays, including hearing and feeding issues and chronic
pneumonia.
The latter meant frequent stays at York Central Hospital
during the past three winters, says mom Heather Hamilton.
The nurses and doctors there got to know the ins and outs of
Zack’s complex medical condition, but also connected with the boy and his
family on a more personal level, she says.
The nurses sang his favourite songs, brought toys their
children had outgrown, accommodated family dinner nights and relieved Mrs.
Hamilton so she could take time to shower.
“The women on the floor took care of me,” she recalls, “and they
took wonderful care of Zack.”
“He was a happy child,” says Mrs. Hamilton. “For all his
obstacles, he was determined to get the most out of life.” She describes his
learning to climb stairs, his playfulness with his two brothers and a visit to
Lionel’s Farm in Stouffville, when Zack, who couldn’t walk, steadied himself
against the fence to feed and pet the animals.
Within days of Zack’s death in March 2011, Mrs. Hamilton
received a call from York Central. The nurses who had cared for Zack knew the
hospital was in the process of renovating children’s rooms and wanted to see
one with a plaque bearing his name.
Immediately, Mrs. Hamilton agreed to lead the fundraising
effort, but admits to feeling a little intimidated by the $25,000 price tag.
But a plan was soon in place to make Zack’s Dream Room
happen.
With content provided by the family, the hospital foundation
created a stand-alone website, linked to York Central’s website, for the
fundraising effort. It tells Zack’s story and features a video and many photos.
Mrs. Hamilton, who connects with hundreds of moms through
Twitter and Facebook, began forwarding the link to her contacts, many of whom
did the same. Social media exposure led to stories in traditional media such as
CBC and the Liberal.
The donations began pouring in $25, $50 and $100 at a time. An
event, hosted by Lionel’s Farm in June, brought in another $8,000. Soon, the
fundraising team realized it could fund not one, but two rooms.
Tammy Bucci, major gifts officer at the foundation, says the
site worked so well because people connected with the story and were able to quickly
and easily contribute to the cause and receive a donation receipt.
“Zack’s is a very emotional, very inspirational story,” she
says. “It touched people on a personal level and their response was outstanding.
.”
“I’m amazed because it took a lot of people donating
whatever they could to get to that goal,” Mrs. Hamilton says, “A lot of families
wanted to support Zack and our family.”
An Elmo doll, actually bought as a Christmas gift for his
brother, was Zack’s constant companion and a comfort during frequent medical
procedures and hospital stays.
“Elmo and Zack were always together,” Mrs. Hamilton says,
“that doll became like a sixth member of our family.”
Zack’s Dream Room will be decorated with his favourite
character. Construction has begun and the room is expected to be complete by
March.
To learn more about the fundraising effort, visit
zacksdreamroom.ychfoundation.ca
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