The Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital has named their new Champion Child for 2020.
Torrie Schaffer from Balcarres has a rare blood disease four years ago that causes her to bruise and bleed internally easily. The only way to treat her disease is by using special equipment purchased by the Children’s Hospital Foundation six months before her diagnosis.
Schaffer said after visiting the children’s hospital, she really likes the facility.
“To me, it doesn’t seem like it was meant to be a hospital,” Schaffer said. “It seems like it was meant to be a children’s play place.”
Schaffer described the time she first found out about her diagnosis.
“I was scared because I didn’t know what was happening at the time,” Schaffer said. “Then the second year, I somewhat knew what would happen and how everything was going to work out.”
Torrie Schaffer sharing her story with those in attendance.
Torrie’s mom Darci Skjerven said Torrie has persevered through so much.
“She has been a true fighter and she hasn’t let it get her down actually,” Skjerven said. “She just keeps on fighting through everything.”
Schaffer takes over for 13 year-old Blake Wheeler from Saskatoon, who had spent 110 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The announcement also fell on Schaffer’s 13th birthday.
