Due to the cancellation of The Canadian Liver Foundations fundraising events for most of 2020, because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we require additional funding and support to be able to continue to serve our clients battling liver disease, and specifically, working to keep immunosuppressed individuals safe from COVID-19. 1 in 4 Canadians will be touched by some form of liver disease, so it is vital we continue our work to support, educate and provide research opportunities to find a cure.
We would like to introduce you to Taya.
When Taya was diagnosed as a newborn with biliary atresia, a liver disease that is the leading cause of liver failure in newborns and children, her parents were in absolute shock. At just 11 weeks-old, Taya underwent a five-hour procedure required to prevent further damage and save her liver. The surgery was a success, but one thing was certain; Taya would need a liver transplant in her future.
Despite some ups and downs with liver infections, Taya seemed to endure the first decade of her life quite well. However, due to her aggressive liver disease, Taya soon developed Hepatopulmonary Syndrome, a condition where blood vessels in the lungs become enlarged, causing a shortness of breath and low oxygen levels. Seeing her condition worsen, Taya’s doctors put her on the liver transplant list in August of 2017.
We are asking you to help us to fund research that will bring us one step closer to a world where no child will have to endure the same strenuous path Taya has. Research holds the key to better treatment options, diagnostics and cures, bettering the lives of over 8 million Canadians affected by liver disease as well as future generations.
After numerous tests, it was discovered that Taya’s mother Jennifer was a suitable match and could serve as Taya’s living donor. Taya successfully received a portion of her mom’s liver on December 12th, 2017. They both are currently recovering well in the hospital. But, Taya’s journey is not over yet. She will continue to be carefully monitored, learning to adapt to a new life. She has gone from being a baby with liver disease, to a young recipient of a liver transplant, where she will likely have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of her life.
Through it all, Taya has been an inspiration. She has remained strong and positive, with hopes and dreams for a bigger, brighter future. Her ultimate goal: living in a world where no child will suffer each day with liver disease. Please help us bring liver research to life for children like Taya.
You are invited to call, email, or come in to our office anytime (Monday-Friday 9:00am–4:30pm) to chat about how you can be involved.
Your Regional Office and Contact Information
Suite 309, 1010 – 1 Avenue NE
Calgary, AB T2E 7W7
Tel: (403) 276-3390
Fax: (403) 276-3423
Toll Free: 1 (888) 557-5516
Debralee Fernets
Regional Manager
[email protected]
Tyler Wiebe
Development Coordinator
[email protected]
In 1969 the Canadian Liver Foundation was born out of the passion and concern of a committed group of business leaders and doctors who believed that liver disease needed a champion. With the help of volunteers, patients and families, researchers, doctors, donors and corporate supporters who share our vision of a world without liver disease, we are bringing liver research to life.
In the lab:
Investing in life-saving research.
Funding for liver research is crucial. Every development today will have a tremendous and exponential impact on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cures for liver disease in the future. In order to attract new talent, help researchers get established and support new advances and breakthroughs, the CLF funds the research of both senior and emerging investigators, as well as medical students.
In the community:
In addition to funding the search for answers, bringing liver research to life means sharing what we learn to improve the lives of liver disease patients and those who are at risk for liver disease.
Patient support:
We assist people coping with liver disease online, in person and via our National Help Line at 1 (800) 563-5483. We answer their questions after diagnosis, help them understand their disease, and provide them with the resources they need. Through our Peer Support Network, we connect them with others who have gone through the same experience.
Education:
We help Canadians protect their liver health and prevent liver disease by teaching them about the liver’s vital functions and how to make liver-healthy lifestyle decisions every day.
We encourage early diagnosis and treatment by working closely with the medical community and offering tools and resources on screening and patient care.
Advocacy:
We strive to improve prevention and the quality of life of those living with liver disease by advocating for better screening, access to treatment, and patient care. We do this by working with federal, provincial and municipal governments, community organizations, health care providers and individuals to raise awareness of liver-related health issues and to push for policy changes.
People look for liver health information in different ways and the CLF strives to provide the facts in the places and in the formats that are the most convenient and accessible. Our website is open for business 24/7 and in 2016, we welcomed more than 2.2 million visitors to liver.ca. With over 300 pages of content, we are constantly striving to make our information easy to navigate. This year as part of our efforts to consolidate information on certain liver diseases and complications, we launched two new online resource centres; one for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and one for hepatic encephalopathy (HE).
Community agencies, clinics, hospitals and doctors’ offices offer the opportunity for both health care professionals and individuals to pick up brochures and flyers on liver diseases, testing, prevention and healthy living. In 2016, we distributed 30,000 printed pieces in English, French and Traditional Chinese. We updated the format and content for four brochures on hepatitis B, hepatitis C, fatty liver disease, and liver disease in infants and children and produced two new brochures on hepatic encephalopathy and lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL–D).
Those that attend health fairs and employee wellness events are interested in improving their health but may not understand the vital role the liver plays. In 2016 with the help of our volunteers, CLF participated in numerous workplace health fairs, community presentations and other events across the country to connect with new audiences and share important facts about risk factors and liver disease prevention.
The Canadian Liver Foundation relies on support from caring individuals, community-minded corporations, and foundations to continue funding life-saving liver research as well as patient support, education and advocacy programs for all Canadians.
We are the only non-government organization funding all forms of liver disease research in Canada; and while we fund an extensive number of projects annually, 80% of qualified research grant applications annually still go unfunded. Can you imagine if any of those unfunded projects had the answers to early diagnosis, treatment or the cure we are looking for?
1 in 4 Canadians may be affected by liver disease; the time to act is now! We are confident that with even greater support, we can clear the way to a brighter future for Canadians of all ages living with liver disease. Explore the many ways your unique contribution can make a difference in the lives of all Canadians affected by liver disease.
Click on the links below to learn about all the ways you can help.
Donate
Fundraise
Advocate
Participate
Volunteer
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