Fear Turns Into Gratitude
The fear Kathryn Chayka felt when her daughter had to go to the emergency room in November 2021 was all too familiar. Her then three-year-old daughter Capri had challenges with breathing and allergies since she was born and unfortunately, this was not the first time they had to take her to the ER. “She couldn’t breathe,” explains Kathryn. “Her oxygen levels were really dropping. It was super scary.”
When they got to the ER, Capri was immediately taken to the back to give her lungs some relief, and it was soon decided that Capri needed to be admitted. “It was a struggle for us because we had our younger daughter at home. We had to divide and conquer; one of us would come to stay with her during the nights, and the other would stay during the day.” During her time at the hospital, Capri’s oxygen levels were closely monitored. “One of the things the nurses needed to access often was her IV and, naturally, Capri did not want to get anywhere near that IV,” Kathryn remembers. “But the nurses were just amazing. Every time they would have a new little toy or stuffy for her, so by the end of it, she thought it was cool,” Kathryn laughs. “She’d say: “Oh, I like staying here! I wonder what else they’re going to bring me today.’”
For Kathryn, the team at the Niagara Health Children’s Unit took the fear out of a terrifying situation. “Thanks to them, there was nothing scary about the experience for Capri, which is amazing. Kids don’t like going to the doctor, the dentist – anything like that. It didn’t feel like that when we were there. It felt like – okay, you’re sick, but nothing about this is scary.”
Thanks to them, there was nothing scary about the experience for Capri, which is amazing. – Capri’s mom Kathryn
During their stay at the hospital, the family was introduced to Dr. Al-Darazi, who remains Capri’s pediatrician today. They see him regularly to monitor Capri’s asthma, but thanks to the right mix of medications, they haven’t had to return to the hospital since that visit in 2021. “It has been a huge change,” says Kathryn, who always thought those hospital trips would remain a part of their lives. “She still gets sick, but now we have the tools to deal with it at home, and it doesn’t get to that terrifying point anymore where she just can’t breathe.” The family hopes that Capri will eventually grow out of some of her medical challenges but is just very grateful for now. “Thanks to her puffers and medications, we’re definitely seeing progress. She fights things much quicker and can participate in sports and activities, which she loves!”
Grateful for their care at Niagara Health, the Chayka family has decided to give back wherever they can. “We own some local Wendy’s, and we are proud to sponsor the upcoming Kids Ultimate Challenge, which raises money for the Children’s Health Unit at the St. Catharines Site.” Not only does the Chayka family sponsor the event, but they will also be on-site with some lemonade and Capri, who is almost five now, will be a participant for the first time.
“For us, our experience at Niagara Health was truly life-saving. It provided us with the tools we needed to ensure we won’t end up back in the hospital. I think it’s important that people of all ages have access to great care in Niagara, and we are happy to do our part!”
Fear Turns Into Gratitude
The fear Kathryn Chayka felt when her daughter had to go to the emergency room in November 2021 was all too familiar. Her then three-year-old daughter Capri had challenges with breathing and allergies since she was born and unfortunately, this was not the first time they had to take her to the ER. “She couldn’t breathe,” explains Kathryn. “Her oxygen levels were really dropping. It was super scary.”
When they got to the ER, Capri was immediately taken to the back to give her lungs some relief, and it was soon decided that Capri needed to be admitted. “It was a struggle for us because we had our younger daughter at home. We had to divide and conquer; one of us would come to stay with her during the nights, and the other would stay during the day.” During her time at the hospital, Capri’s oxygen levels were closely monitored. “One of the things the nurses needed to access often was her IV and, naturally, Capri did not want to get anywhere near that IV,” Kathryn remembers. “But the nurses were just amazing. Every time they would have a new little toy or stuffy for her, so by the end of it, she thought it was cool,” Kathryn laughs. “She’d say: “Oh, I like staying here! I wonder what else they’re going to bring me today.’”
For Kathryn, the team at the Niagara Health Children’s Unit took the fear out of a terrifying situation. “Thanks to them, there was nothing scary about the experience for Capri, which is amazing. Kids don’t like going to the doctor, the dentist – anything like that. It didn’t feel like that when we were there. It felt like – okay, you’re sick, but nothing about this is scary.”
Thanks to them, there was nothing scary about the experience for Capri, which is amazing. – Capri’s mom Kathryn
During their stay at the hospital, the family was introduced to Dr. Al-Darazi, who remains Capri’s pediatrician today. They see him regularly to monitor Capri’s asthma, but thanks to the right mix of medications, they haven’t had to return to the hospital since that visit in 2021. “It has been a huge change,” says Kathryn, who always thought those hospital trips would remain a part of their lives. “She still gets sick, but now we have the tools to deal with it at home, and it doesn’t get to that terrifying point anymore where she just can’t breathe.” The family hopes that Capri will eventually grow out of some of her medical challenges but is just very grateful for now. “Thanks to her puffers and medications, we’re definitely seeing progress. She fights things much quicker and can participate in sports and activities, which she loves!”
Grateful for their care at Niagara Health, the Chayka family has decided to give back wherever they can. “We own some local Wendy’s, and we are proud to sponsor the upcoming Kids Ultimate Challenge, which raises money for the Children’s Health Unit at the St. Catharines Site.” Not only does the Chayka family sponsor the event, but they will also be on-site with some lemonade and Capri, who is almost five now, will be a participant for the first time.
“For us, our experience at Niagara Health was truly life-saving. It provided us with the tools we needed to ensure we won’t end up back in the hospital. I think it’s important that people of all ages have access to great care in Niagara, and we are happy to do our part!”
