A mother’s fighting spirit

On May 7, 2014 the following letters appeared in the “Summerland Review”.

Dear Editor,

Our daughter’s letter of thanks:

Three years ago I discovered that I was expecting my first child and was happier than I had ever been.

But within three weeks, my life would be forever changed because of a pancreatic condition.

Although I was very ill, I delivered my son two and a half months early.

He weighed 2.5 pounds.

For the next two months I visited my son at Royal Columbian and Kelowna General Hospitals.

I was able to bring him home after two months.

I had seven days at home with my son, and have spent the last two and a half years in the Kelowna General and Vancouver General Hospitals.

It has been a very difficult time for my entire family.

I would like to thank Dr. A. Buczowski and the surgical team at VGH, the nursing and physiotherapy teams on the eighth floor and Intensive Care Unit, also at VGH.  

A special thanks to Rick Kosolofski at 4 Winds Automotive for free servicing of my car, and to friends who provided rides to Vancouver for family members to visit.

But most of all, a huge thank you to the Shriners Bus Service who provided transportation for family members to bring my son, Johnathon to see me.

With great appreciation,

April Wilsner

It is with great sadness that, after learning that the doctors could do nothing more to help April, our daughter said goodbye on May 2.

It gives us some comfort to know that her doctors at VGH said April taught them more about the strength of the human spirit and the will of a mother to fight to be able to come home to her son, than they had seen before.

We are very proud she was our daughter.

Doreen and Vern Wilsner