Skate with Tucker:  Thanks to some 11 year old boys, who had learned of Tucker's refusal onto our local ice, a fundraiser was organized.  Coach Dave Landry along with his family and his Hamilton Pee Wee Cyclone hockey team organized a fantastic day "Skate with Tucker", in conjunction with the Hamilton Bull Dogs.  On Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 between 12:30-1:30pm, anyone could come out and skate with Tucker at COPPS Coliseum in Hamilton (donations accepted).  Then later that evening, arrangements were made for our family along with 8 other family & friends to enjoy the Bull Dogs vs. the Rochester Americans game, while sitting rink side on the Hickory Dickory Deck.  What an experience - Tucker, Avery & Tori were definitely enjoying themselves, as were the rest of us!  Thanks for all of your support - it was a fantastic day.  As a result, the Hamilton Spectator put an article in the paper.

Here is a picture of us with the Hamilton Pee Wee Cyclones:

Tot turned away from rink gets ice time with the Leafs:  I need to share just how overwhelmed we are with the community and media response.  I also need to share that I hadn't called the Spec to complain, but initially Joanna Frketich had called me to ask if I was aware of the announcement of Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky to First Research Chair of the Neuromuscular Disorders Clinic at McMaster Children's Hospital?  I told her that I was aware and that I was attending that evening.  She mentioned that her co-worker was trying to find out who the 'family' guest speaker was and I said, "Oh, that would be me."  Joanna has done articles about Tucker in the past and she knew it was my mission to cram a lifetime of memories into whatever time we have left, so she asked what things we have been doing with Tucker.  Being denied the opportunity to go public skating only three days prior was the first thing to come to my mind.  After I explained the details, Joanna asked if she could right a story about it?  I said that would be great, people need to know that there are many more challenges we face on a daily level that are not seen.  As a result of that phone call, we have had an amazing outpour of generosity.  Thank you!

Letter to the Editor:  I knew we weren't alone in our journey to fight, I just wished it wasn't as common.  However, saying that, many of the public don't realize the 'everyday' barriers we face just walking out the door.  Another mother's letter to the editor.  Thanks for sharing!

McMaster Chair aids for push for Neuromuscular breakthroughs:  On Wednesday, January 20th, 2010, my family was invited to celebrate the announcement of Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky becoming the first Research Chair.  I was also asked to speak at this celebration.  So, Dave, Tucker, Tori, Avery and I got all 'gussied' up and went.  The children sat so well for the hour long ceremony.  It was a beautiful celebration and there was a brief clip on CHCH News about the event and also another article. 

Dying boy in wheelchair barred from public skate:  On Sunday, January 17th, 2010, our family was invited to go with another family to North Wentworth Arena for the public skate from 2-4 pm.  Around noon, I got a funny feeling that I should call first.  Sure enough, after speaking with a male employee, I was told that Tucker wouldn't be allowed on the ice?  I asked him to call his supervisor to clarify the reason.  This employee called me back and said that his boss had said, "No."  I asked for the supervisor's phone number and each time I called the number, I only got voice mail.  I went on the City of Hamilton's Website and found this excerpt on page 20 of the 2009 Annual Accessibility Plan - Ontarians with Disabilities Act Report:

I continued to make numerous phone calls (but it was a Sunday).  I then called another City of Hamilton arena, and without even mentioning that we were denied from bringing Tucker on the ice at North Wentworth arena, I was told it wasn't a problem - we would just need to make sure Tucker's wheels were cleaned.  The problem with us going to that arena was that their public skate was over in 45 minutes and by the time we packed everyone up we still wouldn't get on the ice.  Not to our friends wouldn't be with us either.  I was furious.  I even called a City of Burlington Arena to see what their policy was with wheelchairs on the ice?  The immediate response was, "No problem, the child is required to where a helmet however."  Now Tucker can't where a helmet as he has no muscle strength even to hold up his own head, but I'm sure something could have been worked out?  The point I am making is that we can't travel with Tucker, nor can we really make any plans in advance because we need to take into consideration how he is doing on a daily basis; lastly, it is difficult to find experiences that we can all take part in together and being invited by another family (that have children the same ages as ours) and that everyone was well is extremely rare - everything seemed to fall in place for us on Sunday and it was extremely disappointing to the girls when they were told we couldn't go - it made me very angry.  I did get two phone calls on Monday morning:  one voicemail left by the supervisor of the North Wentworth Arena (which I haven't returned) and the other from the assistant to Manager that is in charge of all City of Hamilton arenas.  I explained to the assistant what had happened & asked her if she was aware of the City of Hamilton Vision, Mission, Values and Goals  and she told me she would get back to me.  She did return the call quickly and told me that the Manager said there wasn't a problem and that Tucker could go on the ice.  Which for us, is a little too late.  Maybe we will get another 'perfect' opportunity and we will get to take the family skating.  The article that Joanne Frketich wrote is well written, thanks Joanne!  Click here to read her article.  **  On Thursday, January 21st, I received my second phone call from a City of Hamilton employee.  Although it was the second phone call - it was the first apology.  Thank you, Maxine.

Time to Shine:  Well, Dave and I have been together for over 8 years and he has not once put up Christmas lights.  Last year, my co-workers from Peel Regional Police did, but they didn't have a ladder tall enough to do the second floor.  So, I told Dave he had to do it this year.  Well, I am happy to report he borrowed a ladder and did it! Then we went to plug the lights in, DUH.  Dave had the female end to plug into the female socket - so we gave up that day and planned to do it soon as we'd been out for a couple of hours already.  Well, we weren't able to borrow the same ladder we had originally used, but Dave got one that was four feet shorter - which didn't quite do the trick.  Dave was doing things right from the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  He had put the shorter ladder inside our trailer and used spare tires to hold the ladder in place - you should have seen the angle it was on, maybe 75-80 degree.  I saw that and nearly lost it.  I told him he better have his cell phone to call for help when he falls.  Needless to say, he wasn't able to complete the second floor peak over the garage, but all of the rest was completed.  It didn't matter, I wanted it done right.  I even made the call to Rona to rent the ladder.  Dave didn't want to rent it as we didn't have a way to bring it home.  So, I asked him to ask some of his friends in the area if they had a 30' ladder.  The last I heard, was that Doug had said to leave it to him.  On November 26th, I had gone to Walmart to get some presents, stocking stuffers, etc.  When I arrived home, the ladder truck was blocking the driveway and Brent was putting up the lights on the peak.  Ted was assisting and Doug was supervising.  We had no idea, but I had a good laugh, "You'll see, someone will complain about tax payer's money".  A few minutes later, Catherine O'Hara from the Flamborough Review showed up and told us that a resident had attended the Review to make a complaint, "What a waste of our tax payers money".  We explained what was going on and that the volunteers had volunteered there time and permission had been given for the use of the truck.  The only expense was gas and we are less than 1 km each way from the station.  Click here to read the article.

Tucker's story made the front page of the Hamilton Spectator:  Last Friday, Joanna Frketich, of the Hamilton Spectator came into our home to interview Dave and I with Tucker to learn more about Leigh's Syndrome, Mitochondrial Diseases and the Valentine's Dinner & Dance Fundraiser (Friday, February 6th, 2009).  I've been waiting patiently to read the story she'd written and see the photo that was chosen - as many had been taken.  I was completely blown away to learn that we were just not 'in' the Hamilton Spectator, but we were on the front page!  The story than continued onto page A4.  It was fabulous!  Feel free to read the article here - Squeezing a childhood into a few months.  I hope this will raise more awareness by reaching more people.  Thank you Joanna!

Patterson family taking it one day at a time:  To promote Tucker's Time Valentine Dinner & Dance Fundraiser, and continue to raise awareness for Mitochondrial Diseases, Diane Cornish of the Flamborough Review conducted a phone interview with me as Tucker had been in the hospital again.  The article was printed in the Friday, January 30th, 2009 issue of the Flamborough Review - Patterson family taking it one day at a time.

The Toronto Sun's article:  On Tuesday, January 20th, 2009, Toronto Sun reporter - Jason Buckland, and photographer Dave Ritchie attended our residence to promote the upcoming Tuckers Time Valentine's Dinner & Dance Fundraiser on February 6, 2009.  If you read the online version of the Toronto Sun article:  A smiling tot, a deadly disease, you can actually view some of the video footage of the interview.

Tucker's first T.V. appearance:  On October 18th, 2008, while at the "Oil Change Fundraiser" put on by the owners and staff of Ladies Choice Autocare, Lisa Hepfner of CHCH News along with camera man Dwayne dropped by to do a 2 and a half minute story about Tucker, his illness and what Ladies Choice Autocare has done to help out our family.  View the news clip that ran on the CHCH 6 o'clock news on Saturday, October 18th, 2008.

Tara's Choice is to help out... :  Business gives back!  Not only is Tara Debruin a friend of mine, but she co-owns one of the nicest garages I've ever been in.  It's clean, the mechanics are knowledgeable and don't take your wallet for a ride.  On October 18th, Tara, her husband along with their staffed volunteered to close their garage to regular business in order to do an Oil Change Fundraiser & Car Inspections with all proceeds and staff wages being donated to Tucker and our family.  Please read the following article published in the Hamilton Spectator.

Media Release:  This Media Release was sent to local and surrounding newspapers and television stations to raise awareness of Leigh's Syndrome and what Ladies Choice Autocare plans to do in order to help out.

Local fundraiser revs up to boost Patterson family:  The volunteers from Station 24 of the Hamilton Emergency Services have announced that they'll be doing a car wash fundraiser on Saturday, October 25th, 2008 (rain date of November 1st, 2008)to support Tucker and our family.  Diane Cornish and a photographer from the Flamborough Review came out to Station 24 in Waterdown, to take photos and information about the event.  The article was printed in the Flamborough Review on Friday, October 17th, 2008, you can read the article here.

Holiday Magic :  October 1st, 2008, Santa Claus and members of the Flamborough Santa Claus Parade Committee, along with President Mary Lamb, stopped by our home, to surprise Tucker with a donation of $500.00.  The photo was published in the Flamborough Review on Friday, October 10th, 2008 issue.  You can see the photo here.

Letter to the Editor :  September 19th, a "Letter to the Editor" written by a friend was printed in the Flamborough Review.  You can read the letter by downloading it here.

First Media Release :  Monday, September 8th, 2008, Diane Cornish was kind enough to assist us in spreading information about Tucker's Mitochondrial Disease, "Complex IV Leigh's Disease Surf-1 Mutation".  Brenda Jeffries helped by taking her time in getting the perfect photos of Tucker and the family to accompany the article.  This interview was published in the September 12th issue of the community newspaper, "The Flamborough Review".  You can read the article by downloading it here.

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