Family of child driving champ gives big to new facility
TORONTO, September 29, 2010 – When Devlin De Francesco was born at Sunnybrook, he weighed just enough to rest in the palm of his mother's hand - one pound.
Ten years and 70 pounds later, Devlin and the De Francesco family have made a very generous $2.5 million gift to Sunnybrook's new Women & Babies Program facility. The state-of-the-art facility, featuring the country's most advanced maternity ward, welcomed its first new patients on September 12, 2010.
"We are honoured to have the support of the De Francesco family during this critical time for our Women & Babies Program," says Dr. Barry McLellan, president and CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. "With their support, and with the support of our community, we have built a facility that is not only leading-edge, but also family-centred and nurturing."
Devlin spent the first four months of his life in an incubator. Under the expert care of Sunnybrook staff, including Dr. Elizabeth Asztalos who performed an emergency procedure on his lung, Devlin survived and has grown into a thriving, active child.
"We are deeply grateful for the treatment that Devlin received at Sunnybrook," says Andrew De Francesco. "We are delighted to give back to this group of dedicated staff so that they can continue to help more families who need them."
Today, there is no challenge too big for the boy who came into the world so small. One of the top kart drivers in North America and Europe, Devlin is also the winner of the 2009 Canadian National Karting Championship.
The De Francescos are big believers in miracles; after seeing the new facility, they believe that Sunnybrook will create many more.
"We hope that our gift will give more families the kind of leading-edge care and assurance that we had," she says. "We are especially grateful to Dr. Asztalos - she saved Devlin's life."
Devlin's siblings Lachlan, Ava and Summer were also born at Sunnybrook.
About Sunnybrook's Women & Babies Program
From fertility, pregnancy and birth to mature women's health, Sunnybrook's Women & Babies Program is a world leader in teaching, patient care and scientific discovery. Specializing in high-risk pregnancy and critically premature babies, we deliver one in five babies weighing less than three pounds in Ontario.
