3 Months Old
After seeing far too much of a hospital ward as a newborn, Jon finally went home and came back for another set of procedures and surgery at 3 months old. He was 12lbs at this point. The objective was to patch the hole at the rear of the heart (VSD) and to relieve pressure on the pulmonary artery thru neck surgery. The doctors executed perfectly on this however the pressure on the pulmonary artery would continue to surface as an issue and as a result from the numerous surgeries it would result from a build up in scar tissue.
Research
It is important to remember that in addition to funding things such as daily floor operations and equipment purchases, donations received also provide much needed capital to fund investment in research. Ideally, this investment generates a return in the form of new discovery, treatment, and breakthroughs that translate into longer and higher quality of life. Childhood cardiology is no exception to this. Had Jonathon gone through similar treatment today there is a high probability he would have had a pacemaker/defibulator implanted to ensure his heartbeat stayed regulated as it would in a typical heart such as yours or mine. While I am unsure whether it was unproven, unavailable and/or simply advised against for kids that young it wasn’t considered an option at the time.
Fundraising
I can’t believe we have crossed over the $8000 mark. With the baseball tournament this weekend, I look forward to telling you we have smashed our initial target. This is awesome! Thank you!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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THE CAUSE
Regardless of what brought you to our site, we welcome you. Simply put, Racing for SickKids – Ironman Florida 2008 exists for a sole purpose: to raise as much money as we can to support Cardiac Care at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
The division of Cardiology at SickKids was established over 60 years ago and is now one of the largest and most successful of its kind. Like many of the Hospitals’ departments and programs they are world-class innovators, teachers and caregivers. But the real reason SickKids and the Cardiology group is so important to me among the many, many other causes and charities is what they did for my friend, Jonathan Holiday.
I am using the platform of training for and racing in an Ironman Triathlon to share his story. The physical challenges are quantifiable: I will swim 3.9km, cycle 180km and run 42km – consecutively. I will be racing 226km (140 miles) or approximately the distance from Toronto to Parry Sound in a single day. While daunting, I find the mental obstacles far more intimidating, notably having the discipline to fit 15 to 20+ hours of training a week into “life” while avoiding injuries and too many trips to the buffet table. While there is certainly a degree of physical and emotional pain in all of this, it pales in comparison to what the kids and their families are forced to endure every day at SickKids.
Jon was one of these kids. To me he was friend, student, and partner-in-crime. To others he was son, brother, grandson, nephew, classmate, teammate, boy friend. To most, he was better known as “Lawnboy”. For all, he was a special person who, at only 17 years old, left us far too early.
100% of the money we raise will support the Jonathan Holiday Fund to support Cardiology at SickKids. Please follow the link at the top right of the page or click HERE to make a secure online donation.
The division of Cardiology at SickKids was established over 60 years ago and is now one of the largest and most successful of its kind. Like many of the Hospitals’ departments and programs they are world-class innovators, teachers and caregivers. But the real reason SickKids and the Cardiology group is so important to me among the many, many other causes and charities is what they did for my friend, Jonathan Holiday.
I am using the platform of training for and racing in an Ironman Triathlon to share his story. The physical challenges are quantifiable: I will swim 3.9km, cycle 180km and run 42km – consecutively. I will be racing 226km (140 miles) or approximately the distance from Toronto to Parry Sound in a single day. While daunting, I find the mental obstacles far more intimidating, notably having the discipline to fit 15 to 20+ hours of training a week into “life” while avoiding injuries and too many trips to the buffet table. While there is certainly a degree of physical and emotional pain in all of this, it pales in comparison to what the kids and their families are forced to endure every day at SickKids.
Jon was one of these kids. To me he was friend, student, and partner-in-crime. To others he was son, brother, grandson, nephew, classmate, teammate, boy friend. To most, he was better known as “Lawnboy”. For all, he was a special person who, at only 17 years old, left us far too early.
100% of the money we raise will support the Jonathan Holiday Fund to support Cardiology at SickKids. Please follow the link at the top right of the page or click HERE to make a secure online donation.
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