The little miraculous Olivia, who died last November after increasing the number of hospitalizations linked to a rare heart defect, leaves a rich legacy at the Laval University Hospital Center (CHUL), where a work of art is now installed in her honor.
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The “little big one” Olivia, who died on November 26 at the age of 8, leaves behind a “great life lesson”, in addition to having contributed to advancing medicine in pediatric cardiology.
More than 20 interventions
This is what the D believesr Frédéric Jacques, pediatric cardiac surgeon who operated on the little girl five times, in addition to having performed 14 other operations before she celebrated her first birthday.
Never, in his practice which now spans eleven years, has he operated on another child so often.
Pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Frédéric Jacques from CHUL claims to have learned “a great life lesson” with little Olivia, who died last November.
Marcel Tremblay / QMI Agency
“Olivia was happy to be there, happy to be alive. She still wished she was alive, but her little body was tired. During the years she lived, she showed us – especially me – that fighting for the patients we treat is important, because despite the difficulties, there is something beautiful, magical, supernatural in life,” mentions the 42-year-old surgeon.
In October 2015, the surgeon also performed a unique operation, never before performed in Canada, by installing a biological valve, made from a bovine jugular.
“I was blessed because I had the opportunity to be trained in Boston, when this strategy was developing,” says the man who admits to having learned a lot from Olivia.
Even when her colleagues didn’t believe in her chances, Olivia proved them wrong, says the specialist. “She has been an encouragement to me on many occasions. Now I often say that as long as there is life, there is hope,” he says.
A work in his honor
A work of art also hangs in the pediatric cardiology department of the CHUL, in his honor.
Created for Olivia by the artist Nikolina Okuka, the painting is intended to be a message of hope and perseverance for children with cardiac pathologies, who will have to cross the walls of this department.
“We are here to fight as long as the flame is not extinguished,” maintains the surgeon.
Created for Olivia by artist Nikolina Okuka, the work of art aims to “celebrate the life of a person as special as Olivia”, who was nicknamed Oliviesque, at CHUL.
Marcel Tremblay / QMI Agency
Suffering from a rare heart defect, Olivia has defied the odds more than once.
“She was not close to a miracle,” mentions the Dr Jacques.
She also suffered from Kat 6B syndrome, causing developmental delay and an inability to eat. She was fed exclusively by tube feeding.