Kayla Baker lost her long battle with pulmonary fibrosis six months ago.
The Cambridge teen was diagnosed with cancer as a toddler. The chemotherapy used to treat the cancer caused her to develop pulmonary fibrosis, which causes swelling and scarring of the alveoli (air sacs) and tissues of the lungs.
Kayla waited two years for a lung transplant. While she waited, she made it her mission to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.
Last year the ‘Run aLung Race’ helped raise money for the Hospital for Sick Children. Kayla, who had hoped to run herself, instead rolled her wheelchair through the hospital’s halls.
“We had hopes last year that Kayla would have been here,” said her father Frank Baker. “Unfortunately due to complications we were in the hospital.”
Money raised at the event was used to buy new equipment for the rehabilitation clinic, where Kayla spent a lot of her time.
On Saturday nearly 300 people participated in the second ‘Run aLung Race’, in memory of Kayla Baker.
“I feel like it’s something we have to do as a family to move on,” said Kayla’s sister Kennedy. “It distracts us.”
Her mother Susan Tremblett said she's honoured by the community’s continued support. “Kayla is here in spirit. Not physically here but she is here with us today. And we will continue to come each and every year.”
Some of the nurses who cared for Kayla at SickKids also participated in the run. They said it was difficult to watch as Kayla struggled with pulmonary fibrosis.
“Working with her in the past year at the hospital and seeing the suffering that she went through, I felt that I needed to honour her by being here,” said Tammy Leger.
Nurse Jenny Woods said Kayla’s attitude was an inspiration to her. “She woke up every day and it didn’t matter what she was going through, she was always trying to make someone else smile.”
Money raised at this year's run will be used to make the intensive care unit at SickKids more comfortable for the families staying there.
Kayla’s organ donation advocacy will also continue through a new award announced at Saturday’s event.
The Ontario Lung Association says the Kayla Baker Research Award will fund research to improve care and help improve the quality of life for people affected by lung disease.
“We know with the growing burden of lung disease we need more money invested in research and Kayla was a wonderful lung health ambassador,” said George Habib, the President and CEO of the Ontario Lung Association.
They’re hoping to raise $10 million for lung cancer research in Kayla’s name.
