Oakley’s Story

Oakley needed the expert care of multiple Children’s Hospital departments before birth.

His anatomy scan revealed serious, unexpected complications. Some of Oakley’s major organs – like his liver – were growing outside of his body in a sac called an omphalocele, he was missing a leg and hip and had a club foot and scoliosis.

He had just a two percent chance of survival.

Oakley’s family and his Children’s Hospital team prepared for his birth, and he arrived in the world with a team of more than a dozen Children’s professionals by his side.

Swooping him into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for testing, Oakley’s Children’s team did everything they could to help him grow stronger.

Oakley spent four weeks in the NICU within an isolette, and needing intubation and constant tests. As he stabilized, his parents learned how to care for his multiple conditions right at home.

Back and forth often for tests and follow-up care, Children’s Hospital and Oakley’s team quickly became a second home, especially paediatric surgeon Dr. Andreana Butter.

This familiarity was crucial when Oakley needed emergency surgery for his omphalocele. While they’d expected to wait until he turned 10 years old, a complication meant Oakley’s team jumped into action when he needed surgery much earlier – at just a few months old.

Today, Oakley is three years old, smiley, and playful. He loves the outdoors and prefers to spend his time outside watching the neighbourhood cars go by.

Thanks to Children’s Hospital’s dedication to Oakley, his family has more answers – he has a rare genetic disease called codas. With a new diagnosis and his ongoing needs, Children’s continues to guide Oakley and his family through each change.

With our community’s generosity during Dream Lottery, kids like Oakley have expert health care teams that help them grow stronger. You can be a part of providing leading-edge equipment, programs, education, and research at Children’s Hospital, so our kids can experience the best possible care.

In one moment, with one Dream Lottery ticket, you can help to create better childhoods for kids and their families facing life-changing diagnoses.