Meet Jordan: SickKids Lottery ambassador
Jordan was only four months old when her parents, Tammy and Stephen, noticed unusual bruising on their daughter’s stomach. When Jordan went for her regular check-up, her physician was concerned enough to send them to see a paediatrician in the Emergency Department of their local hospital the following day. Things then moved very quickly. Blood work was done and by early that afternoon Tammy and Stephen first heard the word cancer. An IV was started and that visit to the local hospital turned into an emergency trip to SickKids by ambulance the very same day.
At SickKids, Jordan was diagnosed with Infantile Leukemia. While paediatric leukemia is one of the most common childhood cancers, infantile leukemia is extremely rare. Jordan was immediately admitted to the in-patient cancer unit at SickKids and over the next several months, Jordan underwent multiple rounds of intensive chemotherapy.
SickKids Ambassador: Meet Jordan
"This isn’t possible,” said Tammy. “We never knew that babies could get cancer. Babies shouldn’t get cancer.”
"We never knew that babies could get cancer. Babies shouldn’t get cancer."
Tammy mostly stayed in Toronto with Jordan, while Stephen travelled back and forth from their home to SickKids, 90 minutes away from where Jordan’s twin three-year-old brothers remained, trying as best as he could to balance his job, daycare and family responsibilities. Stephen and the twins came to Toronto on the weekends to be with Jordan and mom, and to give each other support in these trying times.
It was difficult to process all the details of Jordan’s condition and treatment plan at first. But luckily, Tammy and Stephen had the nurses and doctors at SickKids, which houses the largest oncology training program and trains nearly 80 per cent of all practicing paediatric oncology specialists in Canada, to patiently answer their many questions. When Tammy felt lonely, the nurses would talk to her, and when Jordan’s brothers visited, they would explain Jordan’s procedures to them as well so they would understand.
“It’s those little things that make the bigger picture, that make them the world-renowned hospital that they are,” says Tammy.
After many months of treatment at SickKids, Jordan was able to receive treatment closer to home, and the family was able to live under one roof again. Unfortunately, in March 2016, only three weeks after Jordan’s final chemotherapy treatment, her leukemia returned. She is back in treatment at SickKids, where doctors have developed a new treatment plan for her. Her parents are heartbroken but very hopeful. They know they have a long and hard road ahead of them, but with SickKids by their side, they are not done fighting.
You can make a difference for children like Jordan by supporting our newest SickKids Lottery. Help fund the care and research that will make a real and lasting difference in the lives of more than 100,000 children who rely on SickKids each year.
Our newest lottery is filled with exciting chances to win great prizes.
- Five grand prizes including $1 million.
- 1 in 3 odds* to win with SickKids Lottery.
- Also, play the SickKids 50/50 Draw, which has a minimum payout of $500,000, when you order a SickKids Lottery ticket.
- Have the chance to win great prizes throughout November with our Cash & Trip Calendar Lottery (order by midnight September 30).
- There are also cars, vacations and more to be won!
Do you have friends, family or co-workers who want to take part in the SickKids Lottery? Consider taking part in the Group Purchase Program, which allows people to get together to order more tickets for less. Each person you invite can pay for her/his tickets individually, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of collecting money from your group members. No matter how small or large your group is, you’ll be making a huge difference in the lives of sick children.
Visit the SickKids Lottery website for more details and to order your tickets today.
*See rules and regulations at www.sickkidslottery.ca SKLL#7963 50/50LL#7967 CalendarLL#7966
