Father's Day - BC Children's Hospital Foundation
Matt Corker and Chad Clark with their son, Sasha.
This Father’s Day, Matt Corker and Chad Clark, dads to 2-year-old Sasha, want to share their story of their son’s open-heart surgery in support of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, and in support of mighty dads everywhere.
As Dads, Matt and Chad share the pressure to show up as tough and strong providers, but know that the moments of compassion, caring and calm are when dads are truly the mightiest.
You can also learn more about their journey on their Instagram here.
Matt, Chad, and Sasha’s story:
Matt and Chad had Sasha through a surrogate in 2020, and at just 4-months-old, Sasha had open heart surgery at BC Children’s Hospital for congenital mitral valve deformity.
“Sasha wasn’t feeling very well for a week leading up to being admitted to BC Children’s Hospital,” said Chad Clark, one of Sasha’s dads. “He stopped eating and we immediately checked him into the hospital. He quickly had a flurry of tests, and it was determined that his heart was not functioning properly and that he promptly needed open heart surgery to fix the problem.”
Matt and Chad stayed with Sasha for eleven days at BC Children’s while Sasha’s faulty heart valve was repaired. It was during Covid-19 when hospital visitors were limited. Matt and Chad took turns spending time with Sasha.
“It was truly the most stressful and overwhelming eleven days of our lives,” said Matt Corker, Sasha’s dad. “There were some really challenging days where we needed to muster strength we didn’t think we had, but nothing compared to how mighty Sasha was through it all. The doctors and staff provided us with so much reassurance and hope during our stay at the hospital with Sasha, and they continue to provide us with tremendous support and comfort during Sasha’s routine check-ups.”
“The days following the surgery were the most critical, and our community was so incredibly supportive by providing us with meals and checking in with us regularly, despite not being able to be with us by Sasha’s bedside. Thankfully the operation was a success. Sasha is now stable. He only needs check-ups every six months, and he takes medication twice a day. His valve will likely not need to be replaced until he’s at least 5 years old,” said Clark. “We want other parents to know across BC that we have some of the best doctors and staff at BC Children’s Hospital. They are exceptional in their care!”
“We also want to share that we understand that dads face a lot of stigma and societal pressure to be tough and strong providers. But in moments like this, we also know that dads can be compassionate, calm, caring and want to step out of the role they are usually placed in to show up for their family in a different way. Those are truly mighty dads in our eyes,” said Corker.
Facts:
● 1 in every 100 children in British Columbia is born with a heart condition.
● The Heart Centre at BC Children’s Hospital cares for approximately 5,000 children and has more than 10,000 patient visits every year.
● Thanks to traveling clinics, another 1,500 kids are cared for by BC Children’s experts in their home communities.
For more information on BC Children’s Hospital and to donate go to bcchf.ca.
About BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
BC Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in the province devoted exclusively to the care of children and youth. It’s one of the few pediatric medical and teaching facilities in Canada with an acute care centre, research institute, mental health facility, and rehabilitation centre all in one place. BC Children’s provides specialized care, innovative therapies, and pediatric expertise for BC’s kids, including the sickest and most seriously injured. At BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, we raise funds to provide kids with excellence in healthcare by continuously driving advancements provincially and globally. The generosity of donors fuels our ability to conquer childhood diseases, prevent illness and injury, and prioritize the unique needs of kids in every aspect of their care. Follow us at @bcchf or visit bcchf.ca for more information.
Media Contact:
Kari Kylo
SOMA Public Relations
kari@somaworks.com
(604) 889-8057