68 medically-challenged Calgary families treated to shopping spree by Starlight Foundation

On Sunday morning, a group of Calgary families, including children with "complex medical histories," were treated to a special shopping spree at a Toys 'R' Us store.

The event, sponsored by the Starlight Children's Foundation and Toys 'R' Us stores across the country, brought together 750 families across Canada, including 68 in Calgary, for a private shopping spree.

Cheema Dompit, coordinator of the Starlight Children's Foundation, said, "Many of these children are subjected to severe medical treatments and do not have the same lives as other children."

One of these children, Oliver Hamilton, was 17 years old.

"When I was born, I think I had two liters of fluid in my bladder, which caused some problems," Oliver said. They had to evacuate it. I also had a colon, but it wasn't working, so they had to remove that too. Now I have an ostomy."

"My bowels don't work properly, so I'm on IV every night, except for the weekends when I'm off, and that's fine," she added. "I also have a tube in my stomach that helps me get extra nutrients."

Oliver explained that he can still eat for pleasure, but his main source of nutrition is intravenous nutrition.

Oliver said he enjoyed the private shopping event, which featured a number of Star Wars characters, because it gave him and other children like him a chance to forget about their problems.

"This program is primarily for families with complex medical histories and difficult hospital lives," he said.

Oliver's father, Thomas, also praised the event, saying: "It's a great opportunity for the children to have some fun, shopping and forget about the daily worries of medical issues before Christmas. "The best thing Starlight does for these kids is that they can just focus on having fun and not thinking about their stresses and problems."

"The Starlight Foundation is really generous and even includes siblings in the program, which is so wonderful," she added.

Oliver is enjoying this experience with a smile on Sunday morning.

"This app really helps me not think about what's under my clothes," she said. It's a very good opportunity for distraction."

As for what he wanted to buy, Oliver said, “I'm torn between a Lego Technic set and a Nerf gun. But I had a great time coming to the store and looking around."

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