Newsroom
January 17, 2019
2019 Saskatchewan Champion Child to Honour Late Twin Brother
12-year-old Blake
Wheeler is making a special tribute after a gripping childhood experience. He
and his fraternal twin brother, Noah, were expected to be born a few weeks
early but nobody could have prepared for their severely premature arrival 14
weeks early.
Moments after their birth, the fragile babies were rushed to the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Heart murmurs were detected in both babies, but
heart surgery proved to be too much for Noah, who tragically passed away. Meanwhile,
Blake was in for the fight of his life. He spent the next four months on
ventilators, feeding tubes and IV lines. After 110 days, Blake was finally healthy
enough to go home.
Though the odds were stacked against him, Blake has grown to be an energetic 12-year-old. This year, Blake will be taking on the important role of 2019 Saskatchewan ambassador for the Children’s Miracle Network Champions Program, which honours remarkable children who have triumphed despite severe medical challenges.
“I love telling my story because I can be a voice for kids who don’t always have a voice,” said Blake. “There are kids in our province who need a children’s hospital and it’s important to support them.”
“Blake’s compelling story is an example of why it’s important to support our province’s smallest patients,” said Sash Broda, manager, development and engagement at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. “We are so proud of him for wanting to honour Noah and we know he will do an amazing job representing the sick and injured kids of Saskatchewan.”
Because of their past adversities, the Wheeler family understands the importance of a children’s hospital. Blake’s dad, Wade, survived a bone marrow transplant at age 15 after being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. As a family, they recognize that Noah is half of Blake’s story. Blake is proud and honoured to serve as Champion to be a voice for other kids in
Blake takes over from ten-year-old Payton Sernick of Estevan, a pediatric cancer patient who has just returned home to Saskatchewan after nearly a year of treatment in Alberta.
