The Three Wishes Project at the QEII Health Sciences Centre grants wishes to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients during end of life care. The goal of the Three Wishes Project is to improve the end-of-life experience for patients and their families.
The ICU can be a stressful place for patients, families, and clinicians, especially amid a pandemic. The Three Wishes Project brings peace to the final days of a patient’s life and helps to ease the grieving process for those left behind.
With support from the Three Wishes Project, care teams in the ICU started granting "Bear Wishes" in 2019, where care teams can arrange for their patients' heartbeat to be recorded on a device that gets inserted into a teddy bear for their loved ones
ONE FAMILY'S EXPERIENCE
On April 6, 2021, Joanne and her children were at her husband Darrell’s bedside when he took his very last breath in the ICU.
“We watched his heart stop beating and then within 15 minutes, my children were each handed a teddy bear that had his heartbeat recording. They press on their bear’s paw and he’s there with them. It’s a gift that’s unexplainable,” expresses Joanne.
A SUSTAINABLE WAY FORWARD
Due to limited funding, there have been times when care teams in the ICU would like to offer a bear but aren't able to extend that comfort. The goal of this fundraiser is to provide sustainable funding for the teddy bears, which cost $40 each. With sustainable funding, care teams could purchase the bears in advance and have them on hand, ready for the recording device, which would go a long way to expanding the reach of these special bears to more families.
Please consider supporting this project by making a meaningful donation. Every $40 translates to one teddy bear with a special person's heartbeat sound recording installed, for their loved one to cuddle and be comforted by, after they've passed away.
You may choose to make your gift recurring - knowing that every month, your donation will help to sustain this very special project for patients and their families receiving end of life care at the QEII.
Thank you for your support
$104
Laura Lannon
$52
Anonymous
$249.60
Caitlin Marsh
This donation is in memory of Rob Keith and in honour of his daughter, Avery Keith, who received a teddy bear with her daddy’s heartbeat. We hope this donation gives other children the same beautiful keepsake.
$41.60
Dana Mac Quarrie
Hugs and prayers to you all
$43.26
Janey McCarthy
My beautiful niece Avery, was gifted a bear with my brothers heart beat when he was in ICU this past summer. The bear is a loving and comforting keepsake.
$41.60
Marilyn Ramsay
What a beautiful remembrance and wonderful project. Hugs.
$41.60
Paula Biggar
This is such a wonderful way to comfort and support children whose parent is critically ill. Our granddaughter was gifted with a bear to always have her daddy's heartbeat.
$998.40
The Keith Family - Rob, Tasha & Avery Keith
Thank you for this wonderful program. I will never forget the comfort my daughter received when receiving her Bear Jelly with her Daddy’s heartbeat. We appreciate this opportunity to extend such comfort to another child who is going through a similar experience.
$208
Scott Clements
In loving memory of Dale Little
$83.20
Lisa McKenzie
In memory of our dear friend Dale Little.
In loving memory of Terri-Lynn Aucoin from Craig, Laura, Jo-Ann & Ryan