Xavier Kyle is just over one year old and lives in Virden with his parents Bradley and Bree Kyle. In his short life he has had three open heart surgeries in an Edmonton hospital, the first being just ten days after he was born. His diagnosis includes a double outlet right ventricle, dextrocardia, asplenia, pulmonary hypertension and seizures from a stroke. However, when I met him and his mom at the Virden Vet Clinic, he was a bundle of wiggling energy! The visit to the clinic was to present Mrs. Kyle with a cheque for just over $5000 for future medical care. The money was the result of an online Facebook event arranged by Virden Veterinarian, Dr. Carla Loewen.
Once the donated items went online, sales took off. Items were donated from Oak Lake, Elkhorn and Rocanville.
From Elkhorn, Margaret James supplied colorful Valentine’s Day themed face masks, Candace Creations owned by Candace Kreutzer in Oak Lake supplied some great homemade cookies and the owner of Rocanville’s Blueberry Kitchen offered delicious candied apples.
When the Facebook message got on-line, the sales just took off. People all over Westman/East Sask. area wanted to help Xavier and his family with future medical expenses.
Dr. Loewen was very pleased with the support they received, and after the presentation Xavier’s mother Bree said, “A huge thank you goes out to everyone in all the area communities who took the time to help out our family. Xavier has had the best medical team in all of Canada. They have been so kind to us. As we stand now, Xavier is considered stable, but the future prognosis is to be determined.
“In March, Xavier will return to Edmonton for a cath procedure* and we all hope for the best! Time after time in our rural areas, I have seen the great generosity of communities to help out those in need. We truly live in a great country, even during these difficult COVID times, the way I see it!
*In cardiac catheterization (cardiac cath), a very small, flexible, hollow tube (called a catheter) is placed into a blood vessel in the groin, arm, or and threaded through the blood vessel into the aorta and into the heart. Johns Hopkins Medicinewww.hopkinsmedicine.org
