My son, Darien, was diagnosed with Sickle Cell disease when he was just a few months old.

My wife, Desrene and I expected a new baby would change our lives, that’s a given, but what we didn’t expect was the emotional rollercoaster of having a sick child.

My name is Charles Matthews. I am a member of Osler Foundation’s Board of Directors, but my most cherished role is that of father.

Not long after Darien’s diagnosis we learned, during a visit to the emergency room at Brampton Civic Hospital, that our baby boy also had Bartter Syndrome, a rare disorder that affects kidney function.

Maybe you can imagine how it felt to hear that our firstborn child would have to cope with not one, but two lifelong medical conditions.

Our lives became a whirlwind of visits to the paediatric sickle cell clinic at Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness, while learning how to give our son the best possible care. Some of the hardest parts were watching our precious baby get poked for blood tests and giving medication three times a day when he had a pain crisis.

There’s no question it has been difficult, but the fact that Darien can access care right here in our own community makes a world of difference. Help is never far away. And whenever Darien has been admitted to hospital, his family, friends and his adoring little sister have been close by.

When Darien’s pain is unbearable or if he has a fever, we count on the caring teams in Osler’s emergency departments at Brampton Civic or Etobicoke General Hospital. We put our trust in them to help our son feel better and get back to the things he loves to do. It’s what we all want for our children.

They say it takes a village, and we are profoundly grateful to have this village, made up of Osler’s doctors, nurses, social workers and volunteers. They have become an extended family to us.

​​The community that Osler serves is disproportionately affected by sickle cell disease. During this season of giving, we need your help to ensure that children like my son get the care they need to survive and thrive.

When you give today, your gift will be generously matched by Steve Robinson, Senior Portfolio Manager and Wealth Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities and Chair of Osler Foundation’s Board of Directors. That means your donation will go twice as far to help people in our community get the critical treatment they need, and help increase capacity with the transformation of Peel Memorial into Brampton’s new hospital.

As both a Board member and a father, I have seen the direct impact of donor support. Your generosity ensures that our dedicated health care workers get the necessary tools to make lives better.

Please join me in supporting Osler during this season of giving.

Charles Matthews

Father, donor and William Osler Health System Foundation Board Member