Mother shows support for Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan

Watch above: a mom will Walk for Miracles to support a new children’s hospital in Saskatoon

SASKATOON – Elara Johnson has endured far more than most adults in just three years of life.

She was born 10 weeks premature with rare congenital heart defects.

“We were expected to go for open heart surgery within a few days,” said her mother, Tara Johnson.

“She had to get bigger and she had to get stronger.”

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Her condition became more complex. She spent two months on life support with congestive heart failure, septicemia and lung infections.

After several operations and more than 50 blood transfusions, Elara and her mother joined representatives from the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan, Children’s Miracle Network and Walmart Canada to kick off the annual Walk For Miracles.

Proceeds from the cross-country event go toward Children’s Miracle Network hospitals – including the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan leg of the event gets underway on June 8 at Friendship Park.

Johnson strongly praises staff at Royal University Hospital with saving her daughter’s life and helping her get big and strong enough to undergo her first open heart surgery at just two years of age in Edmonton.

With the addition of a children’s hospital in Saskatchewan, Johnson believes it will allow sick children and their families to receive treatment and recover in a more home-like, less intimidating environment.

“The more dollars we receive – which all stay in the province – the more we can do, the more equipment we can purchase during the year,” explained Brynn Boback-Lane, president and CEO of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan.

Last year’s walk and related events raised more than $6.2 million for Children’s Miracle Network member hospitals and drew over 15,000 participants from coast to coast.

Individuals looking to make a contribution, register or fundraise can do so online.

Small rainboots will also be placed at cash registers and an incubator will be located at the front of store locations where donors can drop off cash.

Funds being raised will help provide equipment and technology for the new facility, as well as research, education and patient care.