Meet Cole
Our 2024 Children’s Miracle Network Champion Child
When 4-year-old Cole’s flu symptoms just wouldn’t go away, his parents Rebecca and Richard knew something was wrong. They rushed him to the emergency room.
Bloodwork confirmed their fears. Cole was in kidney failure and was immediately admitted to Children’s Hospital’s Paediatric Critical Care Unit..
Cole was crashing. His family had been called preparing for the worst when a Children’s Hospital general surgeon stepped in suggesting one final attempt to see what was causing Cole’s symptoms and save him.
With the removal of his dying colon and equipping him with a colostomy bag, Cole pulled through. But the cause of his kidney failure was still unclear.
Cole started on dialysis and plasma exchange to help his kidneys while his expert team waited on genetic testing to confirm their suspicion — atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) — a rare blood disorder.
As his Children’s team managed his symptoms in every possible way, Cole continued to face troubling complications. The most devastating was his blood clots. While Cole was hanging on thanks to his dialysis and plasma exchanges, he experienced blood clots that cut off blood flow to his left arm and leg.
His team did everything they could but had to amputate both limbs. The amputations saved his life.
Cole improved so much after his amputations that he was stable enough to move to Children’s inpatient unit for continued monitoring.
Slowly but surely with dialysis four times a week for three and a half years, Cole grew strong enough to have his colostomy reversed, stop his plasma exchange, learn to manoeuvre through life with his prosthesis, and ultimately qualify for a kidney transplant!
In November 2014, Cole received his kidney, which transformed his life! His bloodwork slowed to appointments just every eight weeks, with his infusions done at his home in Exeter ON.
Today, at 17 years old, Cole continues to thrive with his new kidney, thanks to the help of monthly check-ups at Children’s Hospital and his infusions. In 2023, Cole even headed to the Canada Games in Charlottetown to compete with Team Ontario in wheelchair basketball.
As the 2024 Children’s Miracle Network Champion Child, Cole will share his story at Children’s Miracle Network partner locations. Keep an eye out for him at Walmart and The Brick.
Our Children’s Miracle Network partners will be fundraising to help more kids. Every gift at the till, from generous donors like you, helps fund life-saving equipment, education, research, and patient support programs that transform care for kids like Cole.
With Children’s Health Foundation and our Children’s Miracle Network partners, you can help transform our kids’ care at Children’s Hospital.
When 4-year-old Cole’s flu symptoms just wouldn’t go away, his parents Rebecca and Richard knew something was wrong. They rushed him to the emergency room.
Bloodwork confirmed their fears. Cole was in kidney failure and was immediately admitted to Children’s Hospital’s Paediatric Critical Care Unit.
Cole was crashing. His family had been called preparing for the worst when a Children’s Hospital general surgeon stepped in suggesting one final attempt to see what was causing Cole’s symptoms and save him.
With the removal of his dying colon and equipping him with a colostomy bag, Cole pulled through. But the cause of his kidney failure was still unclear.
Cole started on dialysis and plasma exchange to help his kidneys while his expert team waited on genetic testing to confirm their suspicion — atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) — a rare blood disorder.
As his Children’s team managed his symptoms in every possible way, Cole continued to face troubling complications. The most devastating was his blood clots. While Cole was hanging on thanks to his dialysis and plasma exchanges, he experienced blood clots that cut off blood flow to his left arm and leg.
His team did everything they could but had to amputate both limbs. The amputations saved his life.
Cole improved so much after his amputations that he was stable enough to move to Children’s inpatient unit for continued monitoring.
Slowly but surely with dialysis four times a week for three and a half years, Cole grew strong enough to have his colostomy reversed, stop his plasma exchange, learn to manoeuvre through life with his prosthesis, and ultimately qualify for a kidney transplant!
In November 2014, Cole received his kidney, which transformed his life! His bloodwork slowed to appointments just every eight weeks, with his infusions done at his home in Exeter ON.
Today, at 17 years old, Cole continues to thrive with his new kidney, thanks to the help of monthly check-ups at Children’s Hospital and his infusions. In 2023, Cole even headed to the Canada Games in Charlottetown to compete with Team Ontario in wheelchair basketball.
As the 2024 Children’s Miracle Network Champion Child, Cole will share his story at Children’s Miracle Network partner locations. Keep an eye out for him at Walmart and The Brick.
Our Children’s Miracle Network partners will be fundraising to help more kids. Every gift at the till, from generous donors like you, helps fund life-saving equipment, education, research, and patient support programs that transform care for kids like Cole.
With Children’s Health Foundation and our Children’s Miracle Network partners, you can help transform our kids’ care at Children’s Hospital.
