Blog

Llama Llama Blue Pajamas

Last week was Kindness Week (February 17 to 21) — a time to show appreciation and add to the happiness of people around you. While little acts of kindness were happening all over the world, one very big act of kindness was happening on CHEO's oncology unit — our community banded together to support Ollie and search for his beloved stuffed animal, Llama Llama Blue Pajamas.

Here’s a touching message from Ollie’s mom, Dawn, as she reflected on how much these little acts of kindness meant to her family:

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Head to Toe

Pictured: Dr. Sinthuja Suntharalingam, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Emily Smith, Registered Nurse

The new Head to Toe at CHEO Program (named by a parent) aims to identify youth who are starting to have suicidal thoughts and quickly get them the help they need. “Since starting this program, I think we have saved more than one life,” says Emily Smith, Mental Health Nurse.

Patients admitted to CHEO for mental health problems have always been asked about suicidal thoughts. This new program extends...

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Connor visits CHEO's blood lab

Connor likes football, playing with Lego, and lives for summers spent at his family’s trailer. Like many kids his age — and adults too! — one thing he doesn’t enjoy nearly as much is having his blood taken.

When Connor’s doctors said he needed some important blood work done, they asked for support from his therapists in CHEO’s autism program. Everyone agreed that Connor was up for the challenge. They saw an amazing opportunity to build Connor’s confidence and show him what he is capable of.

After...

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'What you do every day really is lifesaving'

Danielle, a CHEO grad from the Eating Disorders program, sent this message to Drs. Norris and Roscoe through our website. It is reproduced here with her permission. Thank you for sharing this happy news with us, Danielle.

Hi guys,

I wanted to send you guys some good news to reaffirm that what you do every day really is lifesaving.

Unfortunately, I did not go down the nursing path. I did love working with dementia patients, but I also got attached to them and found myself bringing my...

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James and Griffin

When twins James and Griffin were born at 31 weeks, they weighed a combined five pounds. From day one, CHEO has played a big role in helping both boys live their best lives — first by monitoring their progress through the neonatal unit and most recently through CHEO’s autism program.

Griffin and James were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at age three, a diagnosis their mom credits to the keen oversight of CHEO’s neonatal unit.  

“We were so busy with raising twins that there were...

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