This annual toy drive honours a boy's final holiday wish
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An annual toy drive to honour a little boy’s holiday wish is returning this year.
The eighth annual Keian’s Holiday Wish Toy Drive will be taking place until December 13.
In 2012, five-year-old Keian Grainger Blundell was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute
Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He responded well to treatment, and by August 2012 he was in remission. But a few months later in December, doctors informed Keian’s family that his Leukemia had returned.
Keian’s Holiday Wish Toy Drive
Keian’s greatest chance of a cure required an intensive cranial and total body radiation. He also needed a bone marrow transplant.
In April 2013, Keian’s 10-month-old baby brother, Joren, underwent surgery to donate his bone marrow. Keian was in hospital isolation for two months.
After the operation, things appeared to get back to normal until July, when Keian returned to the hospital for a follow-up procedure. It was then his family was given the devastating news that his Leukemia had returned for the second time in over 90% of his marrow.
In October, Keian was transferred to Canuck Place Hospice for end-of-life care.
Leading up to the Christmas holiday, all Keian wanted was to spend time with his loved ones. On Christmas morning, he woke up to his entire family next to him in Canuck Place.
“On the days leading up to his last Christmas, his decline was undeniable and it was soon after that we felt we could no longer care for his complex care needs on our own,” said Keian’s family in a release.
Keian passed away on January 1, 2014, in the loving arms of his family.
The little boy was remembered as being able to find “the silver lining in every cloud.”
“He faced his challenges with bravery and encompassed wisdom far beyond his years. He rarely complained; whether pain, hair loss or the many adversities children with a cancer diagnosis face. Despite his own battle, he was passionate about helping children and their families living with a childhood cancer diagnosis,” said Keian’s family.
Keian’s Holiday Wish Toy Drive started in 2012 when he delivered gifts in a wagon to kids in BC Children’s Hospital. His main wish was that all children with a life-threatening illness felt love and joy during the holiday season.
“We will always remember his own words that first Christmas he was diagnosed; ‘This is the best Christmas, EVER!!!’ This is what Keian wanted everyone to experience; especially so these children with life-threatening illnesses. This is Keian’s Wish,” said his family.
In the eight years since Keian’s wish began, over 11,000 toys have been delivered to kids suffering from life-threatening illnesses.
His family will be collecting toys for BC Children’s Hospital and Canuck Place Children’s Hospice until Friday, December 13.
If you’d like to contribute, donations can be dropped off at the following locations:
- Langley — Kids at the Grove at West Langley Elementary, 9403 212 Street (left side of the school)
- Surrey
- Garaventa Lift, 18920 36 Avenue
- Surrey RCMP, all detachments
- Burnaby — Burnaby RCMP 6355 Deer Lake Avenue and all Burnaby Community Police Offices
- Coquitlam — Princess Auto, 15 King Edward Street
Team Keian is also accepting gift cards and monetary donations, and a bottle drive to help families affected by childhood cancer will take place on Saturday, November 16 from 9 am to 2 pm at the Real Canadian Superstore Parking Lot at 19851 Willowbrook Drive in Langley.
Team Keian
Bottles can also be dropped off at the Langley Bottle Depot located at 201137 Industrial Avenue (apply to account Team Keian).
For more information about how to help support Team Keian and their amazing cause, contact [email protected].
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