Three Saskatchewan moms who found each other during some of the most difficult moments of their families’ lives are now using those experiences to help others. The women met through a support group for parents of medically complex children while their kids were receiving care at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital. Although their children have different medical conditions and experiences, the moms quickly formed a bond. They now call themselves the Trauma Mammas and have turned that connection into Project Care, an initiative providing care packages to children and families facing unexpected hospital stays. Deanna Woodard says the idea came from her own experience getting through the uncertainty and stress of being in the hospital with her child. “After our hundreds and hundreds of nights in the hospital, we noticed that there was nothing really for parents when they first get admitted,” she told CTV News. Woodard’s four-year-old son, Mark, was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago. For families, an unexpected admission can mean leaving home quickly without the basic items they need. Sarah McCorkell remembers what that was like when her family was admitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were admitted during COVID and I had nothing, and I was using masks as ponytails. And so when she brought this forward, I was like, yep, because I can clearly remember the days where I had nothing,” she said. McCorkell’s son Logan had a kidney transplant two years ago. Another member of the group, Jillian Dunville-Goss, has a son, Hendrix, who has a rare condition and is missing part of his lower jaw, the mandible. He recently returned home from treatment at SickKids in Toronto and may need to return for more surgery. Dunville-Goss says the shared understanding between the moms has been an important part of their friendship. “At the beginning, like you’re so in the thick of it. On medical mom duty. You know what your child needs.” She says the friendship continues even when the families are dealing with different medical challenges. “We still can talk to one another and have the same experiences and, yeah, just be there for each other so you don’t feel so alone.” That same desire to make sure other families don’t feel alone is behind Project Care. The moms create care packages for children and their families when they are first admitted to hospital. Sometimes they’re arriving directly from the emergency room with no personal items or belongings. The packages include practical necessities and items to provide comfort, including toys, toiletries, snacks and even sunglasses to help with bright hospital lights – a detail only those who have experienced this would know. As the moms show what’s inside one of the packages, they explain that every item has a purpose. “It looks so random, but all the things in here have been carefully chosen.” Project Care is supported through donations and community support, allowing the Trauma Mammas to continue putting together packages for families who may suddenly find themselves spending days or weeks in hospital. They started with 20 kits and hope to make many more. Project Care is accepting donations and community support to help provide care packages to more families.
