Every now and then I encounter a story that makes me stop in my tracks.
That’s exactly what happened at McDonald’s annual McHappy Day fundraiser on May 4. Serving as a volunteer at the till was Miranda Mezzatesta, a young Summerland mom of a special needs two-year-old boy.
Miranda’s son Grayson Dowling weighed just one pound three ounces when he was born prematurely (at 27 weeks) on Feb. 24, 2014.
Needless to say, he needed a lot of specialized care at the neo-natal intensive care unit of B.C. Women’s Hospital in Vancouver and still does. There also have been several visits to the emergency department at Penticton Regional Hospital.
“It was just terrifying to see a baby that small and all the tubes and wires and machines (attached to him),” Mezzatesta said. “He went through tons and tons of complications and tests and medications — and almost every breathing machine they had.”
Eventually, Mezzatesta was able to reside at the new Ronald McDonald House, located right next to the hospital, after previously staying at a residence much further away. She moved in last August and stayed there for eight months until Grayson was discharged on March 26, 2016.
Mezzatesta’s older son, now seven, joined her after three months, although her fiancé (Grayson’s dad) had to remain at home because of his job.
“Without Ronald McDonald House, I have no idea where I would be — mentally, physically. I don’t know where Grayson would be,” she said.
Meanwhile, life still isn’t easy for Grayson who must breathe through a tracheal tube in his neck and has a feeding tube leading directly into his stomach.
Even though they’re back home, Mezzatesta brings Grayson into the emergency department at PRH whenever urgent complications arise. His pediatrician is also based in Penticton.
Despite all this, Grayson puts up two fingers when asked how old he is and Mezzatesta is obviously a proud, loving mom.
McHappy Day resulted in $9,081 being raised at the three McDonald’s outlets in the South Okanagan. This money will be split between Ronald McDonald House and the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation’s campaign to supply the medical equipment for the new patient care tower at Penticton Regional Hospital.
Our thanks to Maureen Gorman-Knowles, Jim Knowles and the staff at McDonald’s, along with the volunteers and all the donor customers who made the day such a success.
Praise for generosity
Speaking of thanking people, I’d like to add my voice to those praising the incredible generosity of Penticton businessman David Kampe.
As has been well reported in the media, the owner of Peters Bros. Construction and Inland Contracting is donating $3 million for a permanent MRI at PRH.
This will replace the mobile MRI van which is only in Penticton two weeks a month.
The MRI was not part of the PRH expansion project’s original budget, so that means the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation still has a $20-million goal in our campaign.
Almost $7 million (not including David Kampe’s donation) is already in the bank, but we still have a long way to go.
More support
Our campaign received another significant boost this month.
The recently disbanded South Okanagan Croatian Club has donated $20,000 as part of a final distribution of club funds raised through various social activities over the past 18 years.
The club was formed in 1998 and at its peak had about 70 members including an active dance troupe.
“To dance is Croatian,” said club president Mladen Bosnjak. “We don’t like to lose our Croatian heritage.”
The Croatian club welcomed members from other Slavic countries, now living anywhere from Kelowna to Osoyoos. However, with numbers declining in recent years, its members recently decided to disband.
Our thanks for their generous support.
John Moorhouse is the development and communications officer for the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation. Please consider making a donation - call 250-492-9027 or visit sosmedicalfoundation.com.