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A Blizzard of support for Saskatchewan kids

The Hvidston family knows why the province needs a dedicated children’s hospital, but they hope they’re not going to have to use it.
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Emily and Sophia Hvidston serve up Blizzards at Dairy Queen Miracle Treat Day. The sisters were there thanks to the restaurant’s efforts to raise money for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon, which saw net proceeds of all Blizzards sold go to the children’s hospital. Sophia is a cancer survivor, currently in the five year waiting period after treatment for leukemia.

The Hvidston family knows why the province needs a dedicated children’s hospital, but they hope they’re not going to have to use it. Five year-old Sophia Hvidston has been in the hospital enough, and is currently in remission after treatment for Leukemia. Sophia and her sister Emily were serving up Blizzards at Dairy Queen’s Miracle Treat Day.

Sophia was diagnosed with Leukemia on April 7, 2015, but has now finished treatment and is in her five year waiting period. Shanna Hvidston,  Sophia’s mother, says that they want to support the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital to say thanks for the treatment that saved Sophia and also show the kind of person a children’s hospital is going to help.

“It’s definitely going to be better in the long run. The rooms are all going to be private, so there will be no worrying about sharing a room, with our children being immunocompromised and having another child in there. There’s going to be a proper sleeping area for parents so we’re not sleeping on the floor on a thin little mat. It’s just going to be overall a more comfortable atmosphere to have a family in to help support your child.”

The family was proud to help out, because it gave kids a chance to help kids like them.

“It’s unbelievable. I can see the smiles it puts on the kids faces to help out.”

Dairy Queen manager Marie Pawliw says that for them, they’re proud to  support kids like Sophia who go through medical treatment. 

“It’s nice for them to be involved to see where some of the funds come from, and the support going back to them.”

Dairy Queen has been doing Miracle Treat Day for fifteen years. In 2016, Saskatchewan Dairy Queen restaurants raised $258,000 across 41 locations for the Children’s Miracle Network.