As hope grows, our children grow.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I would like to send a message to all who are interested in a career in research: Believe in yourself. You belong here, and we need you. Follow your passion and pursue a career you love.

I love being an aunt, and I shower my affection on Emma. Even if she's not "mine," through her I know what it must feel like to be a parent. And what if one day, that child got sick? For some people, it's not a hypothetical worst-case scenario. It's all too real.

They may all have their own stories about how Sainte-Justine has affected their lives, but what they share is a commitment to making a difference in the future of this treasured Quebec institution. Together, these 20 families have pledged to raise $20,000 each, in just one month, in support of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation.

Since 2007, more than 306,900 tubes of Clarins "Rose Câlins" Lip Perfector have been sold through Jean Coutu stores across Quebec, raising $4.5 million for the Foundation and making life better for thousands of young patients.

I consider myself to be very fortunate. So I give back, and always have. But I often do it haphazardly. And sometimes, I just plain forget.

Become a monthly donor by March 6, 2021, and your gift will be doubled, dollar for dollar, for the next 12 months. Pierre Thabet, a generous donor, will match all new monthly donations for the next year, up to $50,000.

Three years ago, in January 2018, when I came home with two “healthy” newborns, there was no sign whatsoever that Marius’s days were numbered. Both boys appeared to be the picture of health, and life was good. Mind you, Marius was a bit slow to put on weight.

Sick children needed Sainte-Justine as much as ever in 2020, and you were there for them, giving generously in so many ways. Thank you!