Miracle Story – Christina

Finding out that your baby has a heart defect can feel like an absolute nightmare. As a newcomer to Canada, the news was even more devastating to mom Olubunmi as she was away from her closest friends and family.  At just three months old, Christina took the first step in her medical journey, flying to Vancouver for two surgeries.  One to repair her diaphragm to help her breathing, and an open heart surgery to repair her heart defect. 

Nine months later, Olubunmi discovered another major health concern in her daughter Christina, noticing that her back had formed into a curve, a sure sign of scoliosis.  Because of her pre-existing heart condition, Christina was not eligible for a back brace, and the curvature in her spine continued to progress.  Her medical team deemed that she would be a good candidate for a halo gravity traction, a device that is surgically placed on children with a more than 80 degree curve in their spine. The treatment assists scoliosis patients by gently pulling at their soft tissue to help straighten the spine. Christina resided as a patient in Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Inpatients Unit for the entirety of treatment.

It would be two months before Christina entered the operating room once again, this time to remove her halo and fuze the vertebrae in her back. Christina entered the recovery room as a whole new child, one with a spine that was almost completely straight.  In the days after her surgery, Christina shocked her entire medical team with the amazing progress she had made. 

Today, Christina is living life to the absolute fullest. Her personality, outlook on life, and positivity has not wavered through her medical journey. Christina has had two major surgeries on two of the most vital areas of the human body, the heart and the spine, but none of who she is today would be possible if it weren’t for the exceptional medical care she has gotten from her team along the way.

Your support during this year’s Radiothon will help kids like Christina receive the best care possible, right here at home! Learn more about the 2022 Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Radiothon presented by CIBC Wood Gundy here.

Christina’s Miracle Story Sponsor:

Want to become a Hometown Hero? Donate $2,500 or more through your organization or on your own in honour of one of nine Miracle Children for Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Radiothon presented by CIBC Wood Gundy. If you wish to be a Hometown Hero, give us a call at 1-888-808-KIDS and let us know who you’d like to donate towards, or make a donation online. Your company logo will appear under that child’s personal fundraising page.

*Note: If you receive an error while making a donation, please make sure you are using Google Chrome as your Browser. If you continue to receive an error, please contact the Foundation office at 306-655-3050 to assist with making a donation.*