As hope grows, our children grow.

I’ve seen first-hand the furrowed brows of worried parents, the wide-eyed innocence of young children and the sleeves-rolled-up determination of healthcare professionals, all at Sainte-Justine. On a personal level, this is where I brought not one, but two lives into the world last year. I could not be more grateful.

Spark hope at Sainte-Justine. Help us make the Tree of Lights shine brighter than ever.

The way I see it, there’s nothing more powerful than youth helping youth. Young people who give back to the community are a source of hope for the future. They realize that they can be the change and make the change they want to see in the world.

For a long time, I avoided telling other people my story, probably because I was scared of being judged and treated differently. Now, it is a source of pride.

This is a simple yet touching story of two people with a heart of gold. Roxane and Tony decided as a couple to leave a planned gift to the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation through a life insurance policy. They are doing it out of their love for family and their commitment to giving back to the community.

Every operation Mathis undergoes is another step forward toward his freedom. And he will make it to the finish line, with courage and perseverance.

Victor was only four years old when he was diagnosed with epilepsy. At its peak, he would experience more than 200 seizures each and every day, and nothing seemed to make him better.

As a father, you often feel like you have to “be strong” for your family. But if there’s one thing this ordeal has taught me, it’s that we can — and should — be vulnerable, too. The real strength is knowing how to make it through the tough times and celebrate the victories as they come.