A dose of happiness for kids in hospital this holiday season

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Thejas was two years old in December 2020 when he was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a rare type of liver cancer.

He began bi-weekly chemotherapy at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, but ultimately, he required a total liver transplant.

Fortunately, Thejas’ father, Arvind, was a match and became a living donor. Thejas received his transplant on April 1, 2021. However, the post-transplant period was as his mom Pushkala recalls, “rough.”

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“That year was pretty much a write-off for our family,” says Pushkala.

“Thejas was also diagnosed during COVID, so it was dreadful. It almost broke me. My husband had to recover all on his own while I was at SickKids with my son. We weren’t allowed any visitors, and we were apart.”

But there was one spark of joy for Thejas during his time in the hospital.

“I remember the Campfire Circle staff would come in wearing their signature braids and tell us, ‘When you see these braids, we’re not here for medical interventions,’” says Pushkala. “We really craved those non-medical interactions. They came to play with my son, sing songs, and bring him stickers. They were just there to bring a smile to my child’s face.”

The holidays can be especially hard for families in hospital, but Campfire Circle staff work tirelessly to bring elements of seasonal magic right to kids’ bedsides.

“The Campfire Circle staff came and played Frosty the Snowman for him and he got to sit in his bed and play his little ukulele,” Pushkala recalls.

“That’s one memory from the hospital that really stood out to me.”

For 41 years, Campfire Circle has provided play-based programming for kids with cancer or serious illness and their families. They offer programs in paediatric hospitals across Ontario, along with programs in local communities and at two medically supported overnight camps. As the play partner in paediatric hospitals across the province, Campfire Circle brings joy to children and families at SickKids, McMaster Children’s Hospital, the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa.

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Give joy to kids in hospital. Donate today at campfirecircle.org/happiness to help us reach more kids with cancer or serious illness like Thejas.

“Cancer is not what kids signed up for,” says Pushkala. “It’s hard for them to understand why they’re stuck in a hospital bed unable to go to the playroom or see friends. Campfire Circle brings a sense of normalcy when they need it most.”

Campfire Circle is a longstanding partner of SickKids, supporting paediatric oncology and haematology patients and, more recently, kids with multi-organ transplants, complex medical conditions, and the cardiology unit.

“We often meet kids and families on the day of their diagnosis,” says Alex Robertson, CEO of Campfire Circle.

“While many people know us for our medically supported overnight camps, fewer realize we also offer year-round programming in Ontario’s leading children’s hospitals. As we’ve met more families with complex needs, we’ve expanded to support not only children with cancer, but also children impacted by other serious illnesses. We’ve heard again and again from our health-care partners and families that there’s a need for us to do more.”

Today, Thejas is a lively five-year-old who loves swimming and making new friends. His family continued their journey with Campfire Circle by attending a family tent camping experience, followed by a week at Rainbow Lake, Campfire Circle’s overnight camp in Waterford.

“We’ve never experienced anything like it. It was truly incredible. Music, the playground, canoeing, high ropes, the talent show – he took it all in, and he never wanted to leave. As a nurse, I was so impressed by the attention to safety and care. It felt like pure camp, not a medical setting.”

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“For parents like myself, who feel the pain of having a child with cancer, it doesn’t always leave you. And when you see your child light up for those moments of joy, it’s a reminder of what cancer hasn’t taken away. I always tell myself that during the whole journey, when we’re at camp and we’re doing all these fun activities, this is what cancer cannot take away from us.”

Campfire Circle provides healing through happiness for kids with cancer or serious illness. Offered at no cost to families, its programs help children build friendships, develop self-confidence, and improve overall well-being.

You can help bring joy and laughter to more kids with cancer or serious illness by donating at campfirecircle.org/happiness. All donations made on or before Dec. 31, 2024, will be triple matched by Volkswagen Canada.

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