As hope grows, our children grow.

Camille took her first steps between two chairs in a waiting room. Her first words were uttered pointing at the animals on the wall of a clinic hallway. As her mom who accompanied her to Sainte-Justine until she turned 18, I know that when illness strikes, it takes a village to heal a child.

I had a pretty modest upbringing, but I grew up with a solid set of values. Charity became part of my life at a very young age. When you’re living in the country, helping others is essential. I have wonderful memories of collecting money for the Guignolée with my father and weaving blankets for families in need with my mother.

As her family left Brazil for Quebec, Julia was surprised to learn she was expecting another child. After years of stress and worry, she feared this tiny miracle might not come to be. Sure enough, only five months into her pregnancy, things started to go wrong, once again, when her water broke.

Cherley’s road to motherhood was not an easy one, but she wouldn’t have changed it for anything in the world, because that is how she crossed paths with Sainte-Justine. And everything she has gone through has made her a wonderful mother, celebrating her very first Mother’s Day.

I was born in Morocco to a Moroccan mother and a Syrian father. I later went to study in France and spent a few months in Spain and the U.S. But it’s here in Quebec where I have built my life over the past 20 years. And one day, I’ll be leaving a legacy to the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation.

In 2014, the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation became the first healthcare organization in Quebec to earn the Imagine Canada trustmark, a prominent symbol of excellence and leadership in the charitable sector. This accomplishment and our ongoing partnership with Imagine Canada continue to fill us with pride. Join us as we take a closer look at the confidence and credibility associated with this program, whose mission is to ensure donations are used effectively and responsibly.

Losing a child is a parent’s worst nightmare. The grief is indescribable. How do you go on? One of the angels along my path told me, “It’s about finding meaning in the midst of meaninglessness.”

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.