It started off as just one seizure in December 2014, when Makena was only 15 months old. At that time, doctors assured her parents, Mike and Annalisa Whittle, that febrile seizures like the one their daughter experienced were not uncommon.
Then, one year later, Makena had another seizure. She was prescribed medication.
Then, another one came 10 months later. The seizures started coming with more regularity 鈥� a month apart, a week apart, then every day 鈥� until one day, she had suffered from 100 seizures while at the pediatric intensive care unit at BC Children鈥檚.
By then, it felt like everything had fallen apart.
鈥淗ow did it get to this?鈥� asked Annalisa. 鈥淥ne day, we were watching Makena at dance class. And then 鈥� boom. In a bed. Can鈥檛 breath or talk.鈥�
Makena was one of a small group of kids whose seizures can鈥檛 be controlled by medication. Specialists at the hospital determined that surgery was needed to stop the seizures.
鈥淥n any other day, that would have been the worst news we could have received,鈥� said Mike. 鈥淏ut the hole was so deep at that point that the idea of surgery became a high point for us.鈥�
It took two surgeries and the decision to remove Makena鈥檚 motor strip from the right frontal lobe of her brain to finally stop the seizures 鈥� but it came at a cost. Before going into the second surgery, Annalisa and Mike knew that Makena would come out of it with her left side paralyzed.
It was a decision they were willing to make in order to give their daughter the best chance possible.
And it did just that for her. Much to everyone鈥檚 surprise, about a month after starting rehabilitation at BC Children鈥檚 Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, Makena started to walk again. She also re-gained the ability to use her left hand and the left side of her body.
Annalisa and Mike credit BC Children鈥檚 for saving their daughter.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e handing your child to people you just met, but whom you trust because they鈥檙e the best at what they do,鈥� said Mike. 鈥淎nd you just have to hold onto that as tight as you can.鈥�
Makena and her family spent the seven worst weeks of their life at BC Children鈥檚 during December 2016 and January 2017 鈥� which included the holiday season.
And she鈥檚 not the only one. Each year, kids from across B.C. spend their holidays at BC Children鈥檚. They hold onto hope that one day, they can spend their holidays at home, with their families, perhaps enjoying a snowball fight outside or one of their other favourite activities.
The second annual Snowball Fight for Kids Campaign at BC Children鈥檚 Hospital Foundation is back 鈥� and its goal is to help these kids get back to being kids.
From Nov. 19 through Jan. 6, online donations can be made at to help fund vital equipment, life-saving research, and the highest level of care for kids like Makena across the province.
