Blaike's Story

Blaike's story will be featured on the A World of Smiles Telethon on Sunday May 27, 2012. Blaike is a four-limb amputee due to having Meningitis when she was little. When Tony fetched Blaike from Preschool Feb 24, 1994 she complained about not feeling well and having a sore neck. Throughout the night she progressively deteriorated, she became not non-coherent, stumbling, her fever spiked and she developed a rash.The next morning Tony woke the family and they took Blaike to the local hospital and within 20 minutes the resident doctor had diagnosed her with Meningitis. A team from BCCH flew in, inoculated the staff at the local hospital and at 12:30pm airlifted Blaike to BCCH. By the time the Holding family got to BCCH they were informed there daughter had less the 5 -- 12 hours to live. Blaike took 5 hours to stabilize and was kept in isolation due to the diagnosis. After 21 days doctors had to amputate both of her arms below the elbow and both her legs below the knee. She remained in BCCH for 88 days. During Blaike's time in the hospital the Holding family lived in the BCCH parking lot in a motor home and relied on the support of family and friends to get by. Blaike later moved to the Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children for rehabilitation where she had prosthetics fitted as well as a wheel chair. Sunny Hill also helped prepare Blaike for her new life. At 13 years old, Blaike competed in the BC Winter Games and now at 22 years old she is a young independent woman. She lives with a flatmate and drives her own car. Blaike still has occasional check ups and visits the Hospital. The most remarkable detail about our experiences at BCCH is the staff - their patience and understanding with parents/families dealing sad news, uncertainty, and anxiety - you name it. They're a valuable part of a successful support team. They help you deal with the illness or injury socially and psychologically, not just physically. They treat the child and the family not just the illness or injury. The care of the hospital staff and their knowledge was amazing, Blaike has no phantom pains. The Holding family kept in touch with the staff for many years.