Helping a little heart: Virden Animal Hospital organizes fundraiser for Xavier Kyle

March 1, 2021, 1:17 pm
Ed James

Shown here is Breene and Xavier Kyle at the Virden Animal Hospital after the donation.

Xavier Kyle is just over one year old and lives in Virden with his parents Bradley and Breene Kyle. In his short life he has had three open heart surgeries in an Edmonton hospital, the first being just ten days after he was born. His diagnosis includes a double outlet right ventricle, dextrocardi, asplenia, pulmonary hypertension and seizures from a stroke. However when I met him and his mom at the Virden Animal Hospital, he was a bundle of wiggling energy!

The visit to the clinic was to present the Kyles with a cheque for just over $5,000 for future medical care. The money was the result of an online Facebook event arranged by Virden Animial Hospital’s Dr. Carla Loewen. Once the donated items went online, sales took off. Items were donated from Oak Lake, Elkhorn and Rocanville. From Elkhorn, Margaret James supplied colorful Valentine’s Day themed face masks, Candace’s Creations in Oak Lake supplied some great homemade sugar cookies and the owner of Rocanville’s Blueberry Kitchen offered delicious candied apples.

From left are Margaret James, Breene and Xavier Kyle and Dr. Carla Loewen at the Virden Animal Hospital in a presentation of funds for future medical support of Xavier. Over $5,000 was raised in a successful online Facebook auction of donated items.

Once the items were posted online, the sales just took off, from people all over southwest Manitoba and southeast Saskatchewan who wanted to help Xavier and his family with future medical expenses.
Loewen was very pleased with the support they received, and after the presentation Breene Kyle said, “A huge thank you goes out to everyone in all the local communities who took the time to help out our family. Xavier has had the best medical team in all of Canada. They have been so kind to us. As we stand now Xavier is considered stable, but the future prognosis is to be determed.”

In March, Xavier will return to Edmonton for a cath procedure and we all hope for the best! Time after time in our rural areas, I have seen the great generosity of communities to help out those in need. We truly live in a great country, even during these difficult Covid-19 times!