Branden's Story
Baby Branden was born in October 2004. All appeared normal as his parents Denise and Ryan watched him develop. In those first few months, Branden was alert and attentive, smiling, laughing and curious, as he discovered the world around him. Denise and Ryan were thrilled with watching their new healthy baby boy grow, dreaming of all that he would become.
Suddenly, everything changed. At six months old, Branden was not quite the same and would never be the same baby that Denise and Ryan knew.
As weeks passed, Branden’s natural movements gradually declined, his progression milestones had come to a halt. He was changing before his parents eyes. They needed to do something. Branden was admitted to Winnipeg Children’s Hospital because he had deteriorated so severely in such a short time. His parents wanted immediate answers.
A team of medical staff at Children’s Hospital began to work quickly to identify what was wrong.
After several tests, blood work, a CT Scan and MRI, Branden was diagnosed with a terminal genetic disorder. Though challenging to identify because it is so rare, doctors concluded that Branden had Krabbe Disease (Leukodystrophy). Branden’s body could not reproduce one enzyme that affects the “white matter” of the brain, impairing his motor skills, muscle control, tongue and swallowing reflex.
One in a million children born in Canada are affected by Krabbe Disease – Branden was one of those children.
There is no known treatment or cure, and most children do not live to celebrate a second birthday.
Branden has just turned 4 years old and each day is a miracle, a precious gift, appreciated by his parents and their family.
There are so many unanswered questions about Krabbe and other childhood diseases. How are they caused? How should they be treated? How can we reach outcomes that enable all children to reach their full potential? These are the questions that the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba is working so hard to answer, and Branden is just one of the many children who urgently need your help!
Right here in Manitoba, we have outstanding medical teams who are committed to providing the best health care possible to our children. We have researchers working hard at our research division, the Manitoba Institute of Child Health, fighting the race of time to find answers in diseases related to brain development, breathing disorders, diabetes and allergies in the hope of one day soon discovering a cure or treatment.
They cannot continue this work without you.
This year, the Foundation has committed $6 million to support programs in the Children’s Hospital and in research at the Manitoba Institute of Child Health. Your donation makes it possible for the Children’s Hospital to provide specialized programs and medical equipment for children like Branden who need help with communication disorders, physiotherapy and even humour therapy to help feel better while in the Hospital.
With your help more children- each as critically ill as Branden, can enjoy a better quality of life while they manage their illness.
Your gift can make a difference in the lives of the kids we see everyday. As 2008 comes to a close, please help us reach our financial goal so that we can provide hope to families at a time when they feel so helpless . . . because children need us!
Sincerely,
Andrew McPherson
Chair - Board of Directors
Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba Inc.