‘It takes a village to heal a child:’ Nanaimo family thankful after medical emergency

Autumn was in surgery in Vancouver just hours after she collapsed, before being transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit for five days, then to a recovery ward.

With their daughter still in a coma, the time gave Niki, his wife Katie and their other daughter Hazel, the chance to reflect on their world turning upside down.

Autumn, shown here during her recovery at Sunny Hill Health Centre dealt with fluid build up following emergency surgery in Decemer 2020. (submitted photo/Niki Techen)

“I was high on adrenaline. When we arrived Monday morning, I slept two hours until Friday afternoon, that was it, I was awake the entire time sitting by Autumn’s side. I had a lot of time to reflect and go through everything that had happened.”

A majority of Autumn’s recovery took place at Sunny Hill Health Centre, a wing of the BC Children’s Hospital focused on rehabilitation.

Autumn’s recovery improved over Christmas and through the first few months of 2021. Her rehabilitation schedule consisted of physical, occupational, speech, music, swim, and recreational therapy.

It was a gruelling schedule stretching upwards of six hours a day, five days a week.

The AVM cost Autumn a lot of basic physical function but as she got better, her naturally cheeky personality and determination returned.

She spoke for the first time since the incident on Christmas Day and, as she regained more function, staff at Sunny Hill said they could often hear Autumn laughing well before they got into her room to see her.

“I was the most funny kid. I would laugh a lot at my Dad,” Autumn said.

The family left Sunny Hill a week before Autumn’s 10th birthday in April, with her rehabilitation continuing in the months since.

Autumn’s recovery has seen her regain more movement and independance after she collapsed in December 2020. (submitted photo/Niki Techen)

She can now brush her teeth and put on her socks by herself. She has limited flexibility in her left arm, with her wrist angled at 90 degrees, however both are improving through therapy.

She wears a brace on her left leg for support, but runs, jumps and climbs with little impediment.

Autumn went back to school before summer break for a couple of hours, two days a week. She plans to return full time in September.

“My favourite subjects are math and more math. I like the multiplication. I want to be a math teacher or a veterinarian when I grow up.”

Autumn’s medical costs were largely tackled through a GoFundMe set up by a friend, which raised over $23,000.

Niki added friends and family reached out repeatedly while the family was in Vancouver, with offers to help. Their network provided everything from laundry services to home-cooked meals.

“I didn’t realize how many friends we had and the amount of help we got. I’ve always been a can-do person and I can do most things myself, but this was one of the things I could not do myself and it was humbling getting all of that help from everyone. It takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to heal a child.”

The 2021 BC Children’s Hospital dream lottery launched in July with seven dream homes on offer, including one in Victoria and another in Courtenay.

Funds raised through Dream Lottery support the hospital’s research and helps quicken the pace at which discoveries become life-saving treatments and care.

More information is available on their website.

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alex.rawnsley@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley

by Alex Rawnsley

‘It takes a village to heal a child:’ Nanaimo family thankful after medical emergency

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