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Meet Christa

At age four I was diagnosed with systemic arthritis which means my immune system "attacks" my joints and tissue. It is an immobilizing condition causing chronic pain, joint inflammation, high fevers, swollen lymph glands, and enlargement of my liver and spleen. I have even experienced chest pains due to the inflammation of my lungs and heart. There currently is no cure for this disease. According to statistics I should be disabled, but thanks to CHEO and The Ottawa Hospital I am living a full and productive life!

Even though my childhood years were spent in pain and frequent hospital visits, my memories of CHEO have always been pleasant. The care was exquisite, positive, and uplifting. They taught me to function with hand and neck braces, how to deal with being in a wheelchair, and how to master the art of walking with crutches. Even though there were many hard days, CHEO staff helped me to enjoy life. I was encouraged to explore my creative side with arts and crafts, board games and puzzles.

By age 11 I was feeling much better and enjoyed five wonderful years. Unfortunately I relapsed at age 16. The same painful symptoms had returned and I spent many nights at CHEO. I was dangerously anaemic and finding the right combination of medication proved to be difficult. A great disappointment at that point in my life was how much school I missed, but thanks to the caring staff at CHEO I was able to graduate. Not only did I graduate from high school but I also graduated from CHEO. The CHEO staff ensured my smooth transition to The Ottawa Hospital and I couldn't be happier with my current rheumatologist, Dr. Susan Humphry Murto.

For the last four years I have been a patient at The Ottawa Hospital, Riverside Campus. Dr. Murto and her excellent team of professionals have always ensured the best care for me. My health has been stabilized through her care and now I can happily say I completed the law clerk program at Algonquin College and am currently enrolled in the Criminal Justice program at Athabasca University. I am living life to the fullest and have great confidence in my caregivers at The Ottawa Hospital. So many lives are touched by both CHEO and The Ottawa Hospital so I encourage you to buy your tickets for this year's lottery. By doing so you ensure that each and every patient receives the outstanding quality health care that I have received. When you consider all of the great prizes to be won, and the number of people that rely on CHEO and The Ottawa Hospital, it's no wonder they say, we all win!

Christa Mayaliwa