Hi my name is Arya. I am a 13 year old student and a former SickKids patient. I was born healthy; however, this changed at 30 days, when I was diagnosed with a parotid gland tumor, fortunately non-cancerous. The proatic gland is a bilateral salivary gland located in the face, near the ears. If this tumor was left untreated, it would have affected my quality of life and appearance. Thankfully, I was able to receive intense treatment at SickKids for the first 9 months of my life. Unfortunately during my first Christmas I contracted viral pneumonia, which was a result of a compromised immune system. I am told it was touch and go if I would make it. However thanks to a very specialized team of doctors and staff at SickKids, I fortunately recovered. With only 9 months under my belt, my parents always called me a survivor. Fast forward 7 years, my appointments at SickKids became less frequent, and I was finally given a clean bill of health. I will forever be grateful for the team at SickKids.
In May of 2020, I founded Nam-jai, with a vision of supporting the local and extended community. This year, we have donated over 500 dollars worth of product to the local women’s shelter, 20 boxes of food to the Markham food bank, and 20 boxes of children's books to the Children’s Book Bank of Toronto.
This holiday season, I am looking for your generous donations in my support towards SickKids. Your donation will be directed towards Christmas gifts for the children spending their holiday at SickKids and the dermatology clinic, where I was treated.
Thank you for your support!
You might never see it, but this is why we fight.