December 24, 2012
Story and photo by Lisa Squires
Last fall, Kimberly Buday decided to celebrate her ninth birthday in an unselfish way – by giving away all her birthday gifts. It was the Medicine Hat girl’s way to pay it forward after she had a stay in hospital earlier in the year.
Shortly before Kimberly’s birthday party on Sept. 20, she and her mom Colleen sent letters to family and friends advising them of Kimberly’s decision to donate her gifts to Medicine Hat Regional Hospital’s pediatric unit.
“After being in hospital for a really long time, I just thought other people could use some toys,” says Kimberly.
Kimberly’s journey began in the spring when she contracted strep throat from one of her younger sisters. After missing a dose of antibiotics, the Buday family was shocked at what happened next.
“I got up a 6 a.m. and she was lying on the couch,” says Colleen. “She had a red rash from head to toe and her tongue was huge and white. Her eyes were red. She looked horrible. Her whole body was in agony.”
Kimberly’s parents brought her to the hospital. After a brief stay, she was discharged, but a couple of days later, she relapsed. Their family doctor suspected Kawasaki disease and recommended a second opinion. After she was admitted to Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, Kawasaki disease was confirmed and Kimberly was given a blood transfusion.
Kawasaki disease is a rare, non-contagious childhood illness affecting the blood vessels. Severe symptoms include a long-lasting fever; red eyes and a body rash; swollen, red, cracked lips and tongue; swollen, red feet and hands; and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Most children will recover without any long-term effects, but there can be a risk of future heart problems.
While in isolation at the hospital, Kimberly wasn’t able to go to the toy room or play with any of the toys. It was then she decided she wanted to help other kids like her.
On Sept. 25, five days after her birthday and the day before she had to return to hospital for surgery to remove her tonsils and adenoids, Kimberly and her mom delivered six bags of toys to the pediatric unit.
Tracy Sailer, a child life convenor on pediatrics, is the person who receives donations and gets to see how much they mean to the children.
“When a child is put on isolation, they don’t get to play in the activity room. They don’t get to leave their room at all. That’s why Kimberly’s donation is so important. We can give them a toy to play with while they’re here that they can keep and take home with them. Who knows better what a child likes to play with than another child?”
These days, Kimberly’s feeling a lot better. She’ll need an echocardiogram in April, just to make sure there’s no damage to her heart.
And it’s from the heart that Kimberly gives.
“I have a lot of toys,” says Kimberly. “I hope the other kids enjoy them so they won’t be bored.”
