Brandi Porteous
How incredible would it be to be able to make a dream come true for a child that could really use an extra boost of hope?
I'm participating in Super Strength for Super Kids to bring dreams to life for children in Manitoba battling life-threatening illnesses, and I need your help to make a dream come true!
On October 3rd, 2021, strongmen and women, and members of our community (including me!) are coming together for a fun-filled competition with one goal in mind: making dreams come true. Every dollar we are able to raise stays right here in Manitoba to help kids in our province.
More specifically, every dollar raised will directly support the dream come true of an incredibly strong child in our community: Wynter. Wynter is currently in Grade 4 and doing amazing in her academics. She has many loves, including video games, crafting, fashion, painting, making slime, animals, music, school, playing with her baby sister, being outdoors, swimming, baking, anime and her family and friends.
She's an incredible kid who has fought a tremendously difficult battle and deserves the magic of a dream come true. But don't take it from me! I've included a letter from Wynter's parent below, as well as a link to her story on The Dream Factory website.
Link: https://www.thedreamfactory.ca/blog/meet-wynter
To be able to give the gift of a dream to a child in need is a truly wonderful thing. I would be so appreciative to have your support so that, together, we can bring Wynter's dream to life right here in our community.
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A Letter from a Dream Parent: Meet Wynter
When Wynter was born she was a healthy beautiful baby girl with thick dark curly hair. She was everything that we dreamed of and more. Her first 6 months were exactly what we expected with her growing, playing and everything you would expect from a newborn baby.
One day, we noticed a change in Wynter. Her skin color was starting to look different and her stomach appeared swollen. At first, doctors though it might have just been gas - but that changed a few months later.
Wynter caught a common cold but was just unable to get better. I noticed she was having difficulty with her breathing, so we took her to the Emergency. After an assessment, the paediatrician shared that they had seen children with symptoms similar to Wynter’s, and before we knew it we were being emergency driven to Winnipeg in an ambulance for further tests.
From here, I lost count of the number of doctors coming in and out of her hospital room, sharing serious looks with one another. Eventually, we were informed that Wynter would need a liver transplant and that without one, she would die.
Just a few days after learning about Wynter’s condition, we were being emergency air lifted to Toronto so that Wynter could be cared for at Sick Kids Hospital. That first hospital stay lasted almost one month — a month full of appointments, doctors, and specialists, all working hard to plan a course of action.
We learned a bit more about liver failure: how to adjust Wynter’s diet, what signs to watch out, and eventually we were able to come home. We also learned that Wynter had Biliary Atresia (a blockage between the liver and the gallbladder). This meant that her liver would not be able to be saved - Wynter would need a transplant.
Due to the rate her liver was deteriorating, Wynter was put on the top of the transplant list, and within two months an anonymous living donor came forward to donate a portion of their liver to Wynter. Her surgery took place on March 22nd, 2012 - the most bittersweet day of my life.⠀
Once in recovery, Wynter started changing before our eyes as each day passed. Her colour changed as her new liver started working, and her eyes gained a sparkle I will never forget. She was given another chance at life.
We were transferred back to Winnipeg where we lived at the Ronald McDonald House for a month. It was here we discovered that Wynter had developed a lymphoma type cancer on her lower intestine, called Post Transplant Lymphproliferative Disease.
From here the whirlwind began again — we were back at Sick Kids in Toronto for 3 months of chemotherapy, and lived away from our home for 11 more months.
It wasn’t until December 14th, 2013 that Wynter was well enough to return home — it was a surreal day for our family.
Today, Wynter has routine bloodwork and is lucky to have an amazing gastrointestinal team at HSC.
Wynter is currently in Grade 4 and doing amazing in her academics. She has many loves, including video games, crafting, fashion, painting, making slime, animals, music, school, playing with her baby sister, being outdoors, swimming, baking, anime and her family and friends.
Above all else, she is intelligent, shy (just at first!), soft spoken, kind, funny, and has such a big heart.
Wynter is currently indecisive with her Dream come true as she is still blown away that she is going to have this opportunity. So far, she has mentioned ideas like swimming in the ocean, visiting Niagara Falls or MarineLand, or seeing animals at the Toronto Zoo. She is excited for new experiences and to be a part of The Dream Factory family.