“It’s more than just a fundraiser with paper hearts,” says Boston Pizza’s Virden franchisee, Jillian Irving. This month red hearts in the store are a reminder of Valentine’s Day and the Paper Hearts Initiative that has meant so much to so many.
Just recently several local children have benefited from heart saving medicine and Irving is excited that the Virden store is supporting Winnipeg’s Travis Price Children’s Heart Centre.
Last year, some $80,000 was raised for the charity through the Winnipeg BP restaurants. Virden will add strength to this with the 30th year of the Paper Hearts Initiative.
The Paper Hearts Initiative started years ago when Kyle, son of Boston Pizza franchise owners David and Lisa MacPherson, was born with the life-threatening hypoplastic right heart syndrome.
The staff at the MacPhersons’ restaurant wanted to help Kyle and began to cut out paper hearts and sell them to raise awareness and funds for heart research. The fundraiser was a success and by the next year, paper hearts were being sold in BP restaurants across the country. Kyle received life-saving surgery and the Paper Hearts Initiative continues as a charity campaign.
Virden’s BP is spotlighting the journeys of local children who have benefited from the Children’s Heart Centre in Winnipeg. Irving says, “I am really hoping this campaign will help bring local awareness to the Heart Centre and celebrate all these brave local children and their families.”
Parents explain the journey
Kynley, 9, is a Gr. 4 student in Virden. She’s no stranger to the Travis Price Children’s Heart Center, formerly known as the Variety Children’s Heart Center. Kynley's first visit there was before she was even born, where she was diagnosed with a Congenital Heart defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, meaning the left side of her heart didn’t form properly.
Her first open heart surgery was when she was one month old and only weighed five pounds. She would go on to have four more open heart surgeries, 13 heart catheterizations, and at least eight other related surgeries.
She needed a heart transplant. After a 3.5-year wait with Kynley requiring oxygen, she received her gift of a new heart in April of 2021.
Kynley’s first year post transplant had bumps along the way, however, her heart is thriving and has shown no signs of rejection to date. She enjoys activities including gymnastics, swimming, biking, skating, and camping to name a few.
Donations to this wonderful place support the one in 100 children that are born with congenital heart defects every year.
Poppy’s story
Poppy was born in July 2022, and was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect about a month before she was born. Born in Winnipeg, she spent two weeks plus two days in the NICU. Her heart condition involved a valve being partially closed and a valve flap not closing all the way when the heart pumps blood. Thankfully, it improved after she was born and she did not require surgery.
Poppy’s heart condition was a result of a gene mutation that also resulted in a very rare bone marrow disorder called severe congenital neutropenia. This is a rare disorder that is characterized by low levels of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell necessary for fighting infections. Poppy needs special medicine to keep these levels up.
With regular blood draws, and trips to Winnipeg it has been a busy first six months for Poppy. We are so thankful for the staff at the Heart Center who diagnosed her condition before she was born, and took such good care of her.
Xavier awaits surgery
In 2019 Xavier was born and his battle with a congenital heart defect began. Xavier's heart is turned to the right of his chest and only half of his heart grew properly resulting in other issues as well; things like small arteries, small veins, his lungs not developing properly, and no spleen at birth.
At just 10 days, after being told we would be going home before having our first of three open heart surgeries to fix the issue, his heart failed. Off to Edmonton we went for open heart surgery and two months in hospital. We spent the first two years of Xavier’s life bouncing in and out of hospitals and at medical appointments.
Now, Xavier is in preschool making new friends and waiting for a fourth open heart surgery.
We are forever grateful for our community here in Manitoba that has done so much for our family when we were hurting the most!
You can support the campaign by purchasing a paper heart in person or online at bostonpizza.com or ordering a chocolate explosion desert. The Paper Heart Initiative for the Travis Price Children’s Heart Centre ends on Feb. 20.
On Valentine’s Day, treat yourself to a heart-shaped pizza, or any pizza. A dollar from pizza sales will be donated by Virden’s Boston Pizza.
