2023 One Wish Honour Roll
Annette Neufield, Ontario
Annette’s son Andrew has Autism, CP, ADHD and a heart condition. He was not expected to live to his 18th birthday but, thanks to her constant loving care, he is now a 19-year-old high school graduate and is participating in a special program at the Abilities Centre in Whitby, Ontario where he is learning life skills and employment skills.
Annette and her husband Myke have given Andrew many opportunities to help him grow into the man he is today. Now that they are older caregivers with multiple health issues of their own and limited financial resources, it has become increasingly challenging to cover Andrew’s expenses. Canada Cares’ One Wish Award will pay for Andrew’s life skills and employment programs, extracurricular clubs and transportation to medical appointments and other daily activities.
Roxanne Felix, Ontario
Roxanne’s older sister Rosandra was born weighing only one pound with a pituitary tumor and holes in her heart. Despite multiple corrective surgeries, she was not expected to live past a year. Yet she beat the odds, due in no small part to the love and selfless care of her younger sister Roxanne.
Rosandra, who is now age 34, still suffers from constant seizures and debilitating headaches, is non-verbal and has learning disabilities. A recent brain surgery resulted in a stroke, leaving her partially blind in one eye and in need of constant care.
As a paramedic, Roxanne juggles 12-hour shifts with providing as much daily care for her sister as she can including visiting her in hospitals and rehabilitation centres and accompanying her to medical appointments. It has come to the point where she has to live full-time with her sister to make sure she continues to receive the care she needs. Our One Wish funding will help with Rosandra’s living expenses and personal care supplies as well as caregiver/respite support for Roxanne.
Nonsikelelo Moyo, Ontario
Nonsikelelo is a single mom of three children, two of whom have special needs resulting from developmental disabilities (autism, dyslexia, ADHD). Lesego, the youngest, is non-verbal and is a flight risk who requires 24/7 attention. Nala is in grade 8 but reads at a grade 2 level, has violent outbursts often directed at her mom and still needs considerable help with daily tasks like bathing and dressing.
Nonsikelelo is constantly called to pick one or the other up due to their lack of self-regulation and violent behaviour. As a result, she struggles to keep her jobs and support the family. Yet her son Khanya says she still somehow manages to make ends meet and finds time to volunteer for various community initiatives. Khanya says his mom has hidden superpowers that enable her to keep smiling and put others’ needs ahead of her own, despite the heavy load she carries. This young family will receive Canada Cares’ help with medical expenses, transportation costs and other supports, as needed.
Jennifer Wilson, New Brunswick
Jennifer has been by her husband Jody’s side constantly, supporting him every step of the way during his recovery from a recent spinal cord injury. She not only provides physical assistance but also unwavering emotional support and love.
Jody says Jennifer’s tireless dedication to his wellbeing is evident in every aspect of her caregiving, from helping him with daily tasks to attending medical appointments and administering his medications to ensuring a safe and comfortable environment at home. He says her ability to anticipate his needs and remain patient, compassionate and positive during the most arduous times has been truly remarkable and has made their challenging journey bearable. Jody feels ready to return to work as a classroom teacher but he requires a prosthetic leg that’s not completely covered by his employer’s insurance plan. Canada Cares is pleased to help cover the difference so that the family does not have to incur significant debt.
2023 Family Caregivers Honour Roll
Kim Fraser, Saskatchewan
Kim’s husband Chris was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2008 that required him to undergo multiple surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy and extensive rehabilitation. He is now a wheelchair user, lives with vision loss and speech impairment and was recently diagnosed with radiation-induced SMART syndrome that resulted in a month-long hospital stay.
Chris rarely leaves his house these days, except for doctors’ appointments. As his primary caregiver, Kim looks after his daily personal care needs and does all the housework, yard work and food preparation while continuing to hold down a part-time job and other side jobs to support them. Despite all of these commitments, she has still managed to find time to help raise funds for the Cancer Society and other charitable causes.
Frank Watt, Manitoba
Frank is a full-time caregiver for his wife Elaine who has COPD and is on continuous oxygen. She also has failing vision and severe osteoarthritis that greatly inhibits her ability to walk and keeps her bound to a recliner most of the day and night. A retired nurse who worked in healthcare for over 50 years, Frank has been totally dedicated to Elaine’s care since he retired at age 74.
Because Elaine is unwilling to allow outside help, Frank does it all including personal care, medication dispensing, food preparation, housekeeping and serving as her TV guide reader and note taker. Frank and Elaine’s daughter Shaunna says he’s the best person on earth and calls him a “Star” among us.
Awo Abdi, Ontario
Awo is a college student studying early childhood education. Her sister Asha says she has a passion for taking care of children, including Asha’s son Yahya who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) level 3, is non-verbal and requires constant support and supervision.
Awo steps up to care for her nephew when her sister is at work or has to run errands or just needs a helping hand with outings to the park or shopping. Asha says she’s amazing and incredibly patient with Yahya and she feels grateful to have her sister in her life. When she’s not busy with school or taking care of her nephew, Awo volunteers at her local childcare centre.
Emily Harshaw, Ontario
Emily was an outstanding caregiver for many years for her father Bill who had Parkinson’s and her mother Esther who had MS. About 15 years ago, their diseases had progressed to the point that they had to be moved to separate nursing homes. Wanting to ensure the best quality of life for her parents, Emily visited both of them every day until her father passed away in 2019. She literally dedicated her life to them – dressing, feeding and reading to them, escorting them on “dates” to galleries and concerts and, most days, pushed a wheelchair many blocks from one residence to the other just so they could be together for a couple of hours.
After her father’s death, Emily continued to visit and help care for her mother until she passed away last year. She now volunteers three days a week at her mother’s nursing home where all the staff agree that they have never met a more caring and loving daughter.
Marla Anonymous, Ontario
Marla’s son Zackery, who has autism, says his mom has been his primary caregiver his whole life. He says she has sacrificed everything to help him learn, develop and function to the best of his ability every day.
Marla cares for Zackery as a single parent with no outside help. He says she’s not only his teacher, mom and advocate but also his best friend and that he wouldn’t be who he is without her.
Josephine Simone, Ontario
Josephine’s widowed mother Gina began showing signs of dementia about six years ago. As she insisted on staying in her own home, Josephine made daily visits to bring her food, administer her medication, take her to medical appointments, clean her home, do her laundry, feed her cat, manage her finances and respond to middle-of-the-night phone calls. And she did all this on top of a full-time job and helping to care for her sister, until she could no longer manage it all.
Fortunately, her mom was admitted to a long-term care home in 2022, relieving much of the pressure. Nevertheless, Josephine still visits her daily, escorts her to scheduled appointments and takes her to lunch and to visits with family. Her sister says she never complains and is adored by everyone who knows her for her kind heart and her willingness to go above and beyond for those in need.
Richard Sparrow, New Brunswick
Richard volunteers three nights a week and weekends mentoring boys and young men with intellectual or physical disabilities, typically three or four at any given time. He has been working with Alex, who was born with cerebral palsy, since he was seven years old. Richard helped see Alex through a tumultuous childhood, moving from one parent to the other and ultimately to long-term foster care.
After finishing high school, Alex moved into his own apartment and recently graduated from community college where he studied cyber security. During all this time, Richard stood by Alex, helping him learn how to clean and maintain his apartment, manage his finances and get his driver’s license. He still communicates with Alex daily and takes him out for lunch, groceries or to the movies on a regular basis. Thanks to Richard’s constant support and his own determination and willpower, Alex is thriving and recently accepted his first job.
2023 Professional Caregivers Honour Roll
Neda Mohammadi, Ontario
Nurse Neda was a beacon of comfort and support for Daryan when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age three. Daryan’s mom Tam says she consistently went above and beyond to address his unique challenges resulting from chemotherapy, immunology and other harsh medications and always came up with creative solutions to make the experience less frightening for him.
With the shortage of home nursing staff, Neda often works double shifts and weekends, to ensure her patients receive the care they need. Tam says Neda’s unwavering support and dedication have made a positive difference in the lives of many families facing adversity. She feels that her kindness, professionalism and tireless efforts are a true testament to her profession.
Lisa Bellaire, Ontario
As a part-time home care worker for the Victorian Order of Nurses, Lisa is a beloved caregiver of many in her community, including three of her own family members. In addition to working as a professional caregiver, she has been primary caregiver for her daughter Alicia who has a brain tumor and is blind, her son Nathan who has autism and her aunt Theresa who has dementia. All rely on Lisa as their sole caregiver to help them with daily living including meals, shopping, taking them to appointments and financial assistance.
Given her professional and family caregiving responsibilities, Lisa hasn’t had a moment to herself for over 25 years. But she soldiers on to help care for those who are unable to care for themselves.
Adam Alexander-Brant, Ontario
Adam began his professional caregiver journey as a personal support worker. However, after witnessing that patients’ final days were often frightening and not as respectful as they could
be, he knew he had to follow his true calling to become an indigenous death doula.
Adam has spent countless hours learning cultural practices so he can make sure patients facing death are well taken care of – physically and spiritually. Being in close proximity to death on a daily basis can take its toll on one’s mental and spiritual health, but Adam is dedicated to the cause and to teaching others in his community about traditional indigenous practices.
Nita Sparkes, Newfoundland & Labrador
Nita has spent many years caring for members of her large family, including several siblings, her parents, and her sister-inlaw’s parents, while working full-time as a housekeeper and aid at her local hospital. When she retired after 35 years of service, she soon realized she missed helping others and decided to become a home care worker specializing in end-of-life care. She continues to work at age 70 taking care of elderly clients in their homes.
Nita’s nominator says she’s the best she’s ever seen when it comes to nursing sick people back to health or making it easier for people to die through her kindness and loving care.
