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The Cavalier family knows first-hand the anxiety and suffering that surgical delays are causing young patients and their families. That’s why they’re happy to see MCH support the Make Kids Count campaign, aimed at encouraging the province to make significant investments in children’s health. From left to right: Amy, Liam, Kaleb and Josh with their dog Sydney.
December 20, 2022

2022 Celebrations: Pediatrics

HHS family shares how surgical delays hurt kids

The Cavalier brothers, Caleb 16, and Liam 13, are lifelong Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) patients, who receive care at HHS McMaster Children’s Hospital (MCH) for their genetic disorder, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Amidst the pandemic, and almost a year of delays, both underwent a life-changing scoliosis spinal surgery performed at MCH, to correct spinal curvatures that were placing increasing pressure on their organs and skeletal systems.

Throughout the province, more than 4,200 surgeries at children’s hospitals were cancelled between March 2020 and May 2021, and more than 209,000 non-surgical appointments and procedures were cancelled over that same period. In May, MCH and our colleagues at the Children’s Health Coalition (CHC) called on leaders and candidates of all political parties to make kids’ health across all sectors a priority by adopting the 100 Day #MakeKidsCount Commitment. The pandemic has negatively impacted children’s health and exacerbated existing pressures in the children’s health care system.

Our Year in Review

This year has been one of the busiest for our children’s hospital. From helping children with pneumonia, autism, mental health, kidney disease, arthritis and much, much more, to all the little moments that brought our community together, there was never a dull moment in 2022. Thank you to the kids and families who shared their stories with us this year. And thank you to the health care teams who continue to provide exceptional care.