A seven–year-old Calgary girl who nearly lost her leg in a 2014 boating mishap in Ontario spent her Thanksgiving Day at the Canadian Blood Services clinic thanking those who will make a difference in the lives of others.
Last summer, August Toews’ leg was 90 per severed after she was thrown from a boat during a day on the water in Ontario’s Muskoka region. Her parents wrapped her leg in a makeshift tourniquet and rushed her to shore for medical attention.
Augusta was airlifted to Toronto’s SickKids Hospital where her blood supply was replenished and she underwent reconstructive surgery to her bones, muscles, arteries and veins.
In hospital, Augusta required a significant amount of blood, roughly the amount collected during 100 blood donations at Canadian Blood Services.
The surgeries were successful and the active seven-year-old has resumed dancing and rock climbing.
While Augusta will never know the identities of those who donated the blood she received, she spent time Monday thanking those who were giving blood at the clinic.
Leslie Baker, Augusta’s mother, says the Thanksgiving Day experience was rewarding for both her daughter and the donors.
“I think it's really touching as a donor to see Augusta who went through three and a half times her blood volume,” said Leslie. “To see that they're making a huge difference in her life, in anyone who has had an accident, to know it's making a huge difference.”
“They are truly heroes when they are giving blood.”
Kate Baker, Augusta’s aunt who works as a nurse, was at Canadian Blood Services on Monday donating for the tenth time in her life.
“It’s the least you can do,” said Kate. “You can get out there and donate and you leave feeling like you’ve contributed.”
“It’s a very rewarding feeling.”
For information on donating blood, visit Canadian Blood Services.
