Medical-imaging technology is crucial to health care for many pediatric patients, including two-year-old Odette Shackleton.
The Victoria toddler had her first magnetic-resonance imaging scan, or MRI, when she was a day old, and will have one a year for at least the next four years to follow her condition.
Her mother, Sophie Shackleton, calls the scans “our lifeline.”
Odette was born with a form of dwarfism, and was doing well before having to be taken to emergency at eight months old when the size of her head increased suddenly — a possible indication of hydrocephalus, or fluid in the brain.
Her second MRI and an ultrasound followed, leading to a diagnosis of both hydrocephalus and severe spinal-cord compression. Both are common with achondroplasia, the type of dwarfism Odette has.
That testing ultimately saved her life, her mother said.
Odette was airlifted to B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver for a pair of surgeries, and returns to Vancouver for the specialized MRIs she requires.
“MRI has become a very important part of Odette’s life and ours,” said Shackleton, who hopes those medical trips to the mainland become a thing of the past if the Victoria Hospitals Foundation’s newly launched Imaging is Power campaign reaches its $11-million fundraising goal.
One of the goals of the campaign is to fund improvements to three MRI machines being used in the capital region.
Improving those machines so Odette can get her MRIs in Greater Victoria would not only ease the logistical and financial strain of travel, but also help with the emotional toll it can take, Shackleton said.
She and her husband also have two boys, and caring for them involves sharing duties when Odette has to be away, she said. “Having more MRIs running more smoothly, reducing wait times, that makes a huge difference for us and has a profound impact on how we’re able to care for Odette.”
Shackleton reached out to the foundation last December to share her story, and said she is happy to give back to the health-care system by supporting the foundation’s campaign.
“Every time I share Odette’s story it is profound,” she said. “She has gone through so much and has endured so much, but also there has been so many different people and care teams that have helped her to have what is now great health.”
The Imaging is Power campaign aims to raise $11 million to rebuild three MRI machines for $2 million apiece, and to purchase three other much-needed pieces of equipment.
The items targeted by the campaign “are vital to serving patients on Vancouver Island every day,” said foundation chief executive Avery Brohman.
She said the fundraising being done is a response to the “greatest needs” in area hospitals.
Contributions of $1.7 million were already in place when the campaign was launched Oct. 4.
Donations can be made online at victoriahf.ca, by calling the foundation at 250-519-1750, by visiting the foundation offices at Royal Jubilee, or by mailing a cheque to the foundation at Wilson Block, 1952 Bay St., Victoria, B.C. V8R 1J2.
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