Twelve-year-old Alex Quinn needed something positive to think about while recovering from emergency hip surgery last March at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Montreal. What came to mind was organizing a fundraiser to give back to the hospital.
On August 16, his wish came true as the Sunset in the Sunflowers fundraiser he organized, with help from his parents Stephanie Maynard and Phil Quinn, raised over $11,580.
The evening, which featured local food, drinks, live music, and a photoshoot at sunset in the sunflower field at Quinn Farm in Île-Perrot, was a great success.
Just five months earlier, the Quinn family was coping with the sudden news that Alex needed major surgery. He had been dealing with pain in his hip for some time and was waiting to be seen by a specialist at the Shriners hospital when a fall worsened his condition. He was admitted immediately and had surgery the next day to repair a slipped femoral cap.
“It was a lot to process all of a sudden for Alex, and of course, like any medical procedure for a young person, it was scary and unknown,” says Maynard, who admits things didn’t get easier for her son after the surgery. There were issues with pain management keeping him from getting out of bed and moving, which led to concerns about possible complications such as blood clots.
Once things improved, he was discharged with a pair of crutches that would remain by his side for five months. Finally, with a little over two weeks to go before the fundraiser, he was able to start walking on his own.
Maynard says that during his time in the hospital, Alex would often question why this happened to him. “It was helpful to be able to say he was the kind of person who could do something to help others that might also be going through something like this,” she explains. Brainstorming about a future fundraiser helped him stay positive and it became something to look forward to. “I was just very thankful that they were there to help me,” says Alex. “I just want to thank them all.”
Maynard would sometimes post updates on Alex’s recovery on social media, and these brought the community on board. “We just kind of followed along,” says Ormstown resident Nancy Saunders, who participated in the fundraiser. “From my perspective as a parent, I know how difficult it is to trust the medical system and then see them come through it,” she says, noting how she was moved by the family’s positive attitude.
Along with many faces from the Valley, several of the nursing staff from the Shriners who worked with Alex attended the fundraiser. “My heart was warm and very happy after seeing him doing so well,” says nurse Mariane Kieski. “When we start nursing school, we are advised that some patients will touch our hearts in a very deep way for many different reasons. Alex was for sure one of those situations,” she shares.
Other nurses commented that they often see patients on their worst days, and it was nice to see Alex on one of his best days.
Those who were unable to attend the fundraiser, or who would like to contribute, can still do so by donating online at: https://secure.e2rm.com/p2p/fundraising/381923/participant/5429916/en-CA