You are impacting the future of pediatric cancer care.
right here
and now.
In its third decade, Sarah’s Fund for Cedars has always been a progressive force at the Montreal Children’s Hospital-advocating for and supporting the youngest cancer patients and their families in the area of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. Providing the best patient care improves quality of life for all those on Sarah’s Floor (7B) at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.
As Sarah herself has grown up, so has the fund. Today, Sarah’s Floor is served by 9 doctors, 25 nurses, 10 clinical research professionals, 5 fellows, a number of specialty therapists and a staff that is beyond compare.
With an eye to the future, Sarah’s Fund seeks to advocate for the adolescent/young adult (AYA) patient population as they fall between the dividing line of pediatrics and adults, to meet their specific needs related to cancer care, support and treatment.
Our focus is in three key areas:
Sarah’s Floor:
A Home Away From Home
It began with a pillow-a simple item that brought Sarah tremendous comfort, igniting a journey by Sarah’s Fund For Cedars to continually evolve and improve the hospital environment for young cancer patients and their families. In Sarah’s words, “The simple things mean the world to those on Sarah’s Floor-a moment of happiness, a sense of ease, a spark of joy.”
Today, Sarah’s Floor, an in-patient unit made up of 12 single rooms private-room, is the hub of the MUHC’s Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division and houses a library, a game room and family spaces. The Floor has been designed with careful consideration to every detail in order to provide a home away from home-a healing, colourful and serene atmosphere that makes a real difference in big and small ways.
Whether it is from the fresh fruit always available in the family kitchen. Or from Maya, a favourite poodle providing pet therapy on the Floor. Or from the free access to Wi-Fi and iPads available to each child. And no doubt from the personalized attention provided by incomparable staff, programs and volunteers. Sarah’s Floor is a space of connection, compassion and comfort.
“What we are able to do I think is priceless-providing these families with the support and strength they need. Seeing how this impacts them on a daily basis, it makes it all worthwhile.”
– Norman Cook
Sarah’s Fund Co-Founder
85
New cancer diagnoses
this past year
14
Bone marrow
transplants in 2021
Our Programs: A Broad Range Serving Specific Needs
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Sarah’s Fund For Cedars provides a wide range of programs and support to each patient and their family-tailored to their specific needs. Over time, services have expanded to include financial assistance to families arising from unforeseen expenses. Plus, expanded professional training for nurses and social workers on Sarah’s Floor-enhancing patient care.
This program provides young cancer patients with an opportunity for social and sensory interaction with therapeutic animals in the hospital setting. Pet Therapy made possible by Sarah’s Fund contributes to helping reduce stress, to healing and to improve the quality of life of the young cancer patients on Sarah’s Floor.
These specially-trained, therapeutic Dr. Clowns bring smiles and joy to young cancer patients on Sarah’s Floor. Specifically, Dr. Fifi and Dr. Pédalo help to relieve the stress of hospitalization by transporting the patient into a world of imagination and therapeutic play.
Sarah’s Fund offers music therapists who use elements of music such as rhythm, melody and harmony to promote, maintain and restore physical, emotional and spiritual health. On Sarah’s Floor, the hematology-oncology in-patient unit, this music healthcare environment helps the patients’ healing process.
This program was created to aid the families who are in need of financial assistance due to the stresses that a child’s illness can place on a family. Sarah’s Fund provides the families with essential needs such as meal tickets, parking passes, transportation for medical needs, and accommodations for families living in regions outside Quebec. This humanitarian initiative allows families to focus on the care, well-being and treatments of their child.
Sarah’s Fund allows families to benefit from free access to the Hospital’s Premium Plus package. This package offers unlimited access to the internet, movies, radio/music and Wi-Fi hotspots, and allows families and visitors in the room to use their tablets or phones without exhausting their data plans. Whether staying in touch with family, friends and colleagues, watching a movie or listening to music, this is an essential part of the home away from home experience, made possible by donors like you.
Specifically for hematology-oncology patients on Sarah’s Floor, your funding provides a myriad of fun activities that go a long way to providing distraction, comfort, and happiness to the children on the Floor-and their families. These include:
- Arts and crafts
- Medical play equipment
- Toys
- Bravery Hearts beads
- Playroom programs
- Electronics and gaming
- Birthday gifts
- Special events
- Holidays on the Floor
- Parent coffee hour
- Cooking program
- Other ad hoc programming
Sarah’s Comfort Kit started with a deep desire to help children battling cancer and other life-threatening condition to have something to smile about. Something that will help make their stay a little more comfortable. Something that might give them a little hope to get through another day of treatments. We aim to bring a little sunshine to their cloudy days.
Every newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patient on Sarah’s Floor at the Montreal Children’s Hospital receives a Sarah’s Comfort Kit. We are thankful to Jellifish Kids and The Bell Fund for their generosity and for graciously supporting this Sarah’s Fund initiative.
Sarah’s Comfort Kit contains:- Rollie bag
- Lunch bag
- Laundry bag
- Super soft robe
- Soft cozy blanket donated by The Bell Fund
C.A.R.E. refers to the different psychological themes that will be discussed and taught during group interventions. C refers to learning how to COPE with, process and manage difficult thoughts and emotions; A refers to ACCEPTANCE of the situation and aspects that cannot be changed; R refers to RELAXATION and mindfulness strategies that help patients manage and identify their emotions; and E refers to the EVOLVING nature of the illnesses and how to continue to manage and function during all stages of the illness (from diagnosis to treatment and beyond).
Sarah’s Fund for Cedars has made a 3-year commitment totaling $348,000 to increase resources in order to address the unique psychological needs of patients and their families on Sarah’s Floor and ensure timely intervention.
Pavillon Kat Demes is a new facility that will house parents of sick children facing long stays at The Montreal Children’s Hospital. Pavillon Kat Demes will offer all of the comforts of home, just steps away from the Glen site, at no additional cost. Crucially, it will enable parents to rest and stay close to their sick child. This is a dream that is about to come true—and Sarah’s Fund is proud to sponsor this important initiative.
“Music therapy improves the quality of life for children in the hospital. Your support helps hundreds of patients by creating a healing environment that provides relief and lowers pain and anxiety. Thank you for this invaluable gift!”
– Pascal Comeau
Music Therapist
Research and Innovation:
An Investment in Leading Care
Sarah’s Fund is committed to funding cutting-edge research and technology to improve patients’ lives and outcomes. Over time, your dollars have pushed the limits of what is possible in pediatric hematology-oncology. We continue to remain on the forefront of discovery-thanks to you!
Serving the needs of patients on Sarah’s Floor and beyond, the addition of this intraoperative MRI suite at the Montreal Children’s Hospital was made possible in part due to donations to Sarah’s Fund. This technology gives surgeons at The Montreal Children’s Hospital unprecedented views before and during surgery thus improving the accuracy of procedures and recovery time.
Sarah’s Fund for Cedars has made a commitment of $1 million over five years to the Montreal Children’s Hospital Terry Fox Precision Oncology for Young People (PROFYLE). Leading Montreal Children’s Hospital researcher, Dr. Nada Jabado, is taking part in this major national research program that aims to transform the care of children and young adult patients who are currently living with a refractory, relapsed, or metastatic cancer. PROFYLE will enhance treatment options by using next-generation molecular tools and cancer model systems to identify disease and patient specific biomarkers that are tractable targets for therapy.
C17 provides regulatory oversight for academic clinical trials and supports and encourages increased collaboration across Canada. This allows all staff to share best practices leading to enhanced research and efficiencies, as well as assuring that research operates in the most ethical and safe manner. In short, your support results in better outcomes for children in Montreal, Quebec and nationwide. C17 also provides research grant opportunities as well as accelerates clinical trial treatment options for children with cancer and blood disorders.
Education:
Providing vital professional learning opportunities
Professional Education for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals
Nurses and healthcare paraprofessionals are at the heart of every hospital. Investing in their education allows the dedicated hematology-oncology nursing team and related healthcare professionals to be at the forefront of their profession by staying abreast of best practices and to offer the highest possible standard of care to the young cancer patients.
Whittemore Visiting Professorship
Dr. Whittemore is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at McGill University, former Director of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Director of Clinical Hematology Laboratories at The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) site.
Support
the heroes
on Sarah’s
Floor!
By making a gift today you are doing more than supporting our mission. You are bringing smiles to our young patients facing the battle of their lives. You are standing with cancer patients and their families at their time of greatest need. You are making dreaming for the future possible.
