4/28/2009 9:05:20 AM
When it comes to a sick child and life and death situations, no one knows the struggles that accompany such a predicament better than Janet Burry.
Almost nine years ago Janet went into labour 24-weeks into her 40-week pregnancy and was rushed to St. John’s by air ambulance.
When she arrived at the hospital in St. John's, the doctors broke the news that there was only a 10 per cent chance that the baby would survive and even if the baby did survive, there was only a five per cent chance the baby would be healthy.
The Burrys were looking at a long stay in St. John's. There was a hostel close to the hospital where people in just such a situation can stay.
"When we went to check into the hostel, the guy behind the desk asked us how we would be paying for the stay," recalls Janet. "We told him we would be paying ourselves, and he said “'You're from the Bay St. George area? You don't have to worry about it there is a foundation that helps people from your area in this situation.’”
The man who was working at the hostel then called a gentleman by the name of Jack Cook, then treasurer of the Bay St. George Sick Children's Foundation (BSGSCF).
The BSGSCF paid for the Burrys to stay in the hostel and also offered to pay for groceries and the expense of getting home when the ordeal was finally over.
The Burry family gladly accepted assistance with the cost of the hostel, but decided that was all they could take – they would find a way to make the rest of the money come together. They didn't want to take advantage, knowing at that time there were four other families in St. John's who were being helped by the Foundation.
Janet and her husband Lyndon met up with friends from the Bay St. George area who were in St. John's for a similar reason, and they discussed how they were all being helped by the BSGSCF.
“We spoke about the organization and talked about how in times like this, when someone you love is struggling for their life, how much it helps to have an organization such as the BSGSCF to assist you in your time of great financial need,” says Janet. “This is especially true when all you care about or want to focus on, is your sick child and your desire to help support them and be with them.”
"It's amazing to have a foundation that takes care of working people when special circumstances arise and they need help," adds Lyndon. "I cannot praise them up enough – there just aren't words to describe what they did for us."
On June 21, 2000 a one-pound-six-ounce baby girl was born to Janet and Lyndon Burry. They named her Jalyn, a combination of both of their names.
Even though she was less than a pound-and-a-half when she was born, Jalyn lost weight… and although she had a rocky start, Jalyn persevered and somehow survived.
Unlike most premature babies, Jalyn was not released on the day she was originally due as she was still suffering complications of coming into the world 16 weeks early. The Burry's stay in St. John’s lasted for five months, all of which was paid for by BSGSCF.
“It was a very stressful situation already and we were very fortunate not to have to worry about the expense to our family," says Lyndon. "I could never repay them for the kindness they have shown to us."
And against all odds, Jalyn has turned out just fine.
"She is such a blessing to our lives," says Janet. "She just amazes me."
Today, Jalyn is living in Qatar and is enrolled in Grade 3 at the Qatar Canadian School.
“Jalyn will be returning back home to Stephenville, Canada in July and is today living a very healthy and active life. Jalyn has come a long way from needles, tubes and high-tech fancy machines to stay alive. We are greatly indebted to this magnificent foundation and their support to allow us what we needed most to help our daughter survive to be here with us today.”
There are many families such as the Burrys who have been helped by the BSGSCF.
“An all too common occurrence in rural areas of Newfoundland and Labrador is the emergency fundraising activities that take place when a young child is seriously ill and must travel considerable distances to assess health care facilities,” says Bill Dunne, president of the BSGSCF.
“Needless to say, as those of us who are parents are well aware, these illnesses are very traumatic experiences not to mention very expensive. In April of 1996, a group of concerned individuals with the backing of local service clubs, businesses and the community at large decided to form an organization which would address these very issues.”
A major concern was that families finding themselves in these situations might not be getting sufficient financial assistance through the good-hearted efforts of family or friends who undertake these haphazard events.
“Of fundamental importance was the desire to help relieve the stress on parents, in such a way that permitted them to focus 100 per cent on the health need of their child. Thus, the Bay St. George Sick Children's Foundation came into existence.”
He says since its inception College of the North Atlantic (CNA) has played a role in this worthy endeavour.
“It’s been tremendous from the get go,” continues Dunne. “The first telethons were held at the Bay St. George campus of the college and we really can’t believe the support we’ve gotten from these people. We wouldn’t be able to do it without the college – they have been the backbone of the telethon. They do the set up, camera work and recording.”
He says most recently, CNA has started holding webcasts of the telethon for those who don’t have local cable.
“People in Toronto and Fort McMurray watch it and phone in their pledges. The amount of work, support and time that we’ve gotten from the college is just tremendous.”
In fact, CNA’s webcast received 509 hits during the 14th annual telethon on March 15.
“Recording Arts students handled the sound for the event while journalism students operated the video cameras,” says Dunne. “This year we brought in approximately $50,000, which is a great deal of money."
He says that since 1996, the organization has raised approximately to $500,000.
“That’s a lot of money for a non-profit organization, made up of volunteers. This money has allowed us to help approximately 300 families travel to health care facilities in London, Guelph, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax and of course the facilities in St. John's. On numerous occasions, the length of time required for treatment has exceeded many months and often span a period of years.”
He says the Foundation is a 100 per cent volunteer organization.
“There are no paid employees and administrative expenses have been maintained at less than three per cent for each year of its existence. Financial resources are allocated to get maximum benefit for the children of the Bay St. George area.”
People can make donations anytime during the year, however Dunne says the annual telethon is the biggest fundraiser they hold.
The organization provides financial assistance to patients and family members towards the cost of travel, accommodations, meals, and other related necessities.
For more information about the BSGSCF, please log on to their website at www.bsgsickchildren.ca.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Information taken from the Bay St. George Sick Children’s Foundation website.
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For more information please contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Assistant
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca