This year, Enfant Soleil is donating nearly $195,000 in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean to improve the care and overall health of children in the area. It supports over a hundred healthcare establishments across the province, in addition to giving vital support to the four major pediatric centres, which provide specialized and superspecialized care to all children who need it.
Discover a project that will make our little sunshines glow with health
To improve access to screening and therapy for children ages 0 to 5, Enfant Soleil is proud to contribute to the development of five therapy rooms in the region.
An initial amount of $15,000, previously donated, helped kick-start the project in Jonquière. To improve proximity in the area and enhance available services, additional support of over $123,000 will be donated this year, targeting five points of service: Jonquière, Domaine-du-Roy, Maria-Chapdelaine*, Lac-Saint-Jean-Est* and Chicoutimi–La Baie. This increase will give more children quick access to therapies, including occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, social work and special education, close to home.
This funding will be used to create new therapy spaces adapted to the needs of young children, and to improve existing rooms. The money will also go toward enhancing specialized equipment, to provide children with a stimulating, comfortable environment that encourages their engagement during sessions. These improvements will give children a positive care experience, boosting their motivation and making exercises more effective and enjoyable.
*These two service points are being improved in collaboration with the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.
Other projects supported in the area
6 vital sign monitors
Wall-mounted in the room, these devices monitor vital signs in real time without cluttering up the space with wires, making care more responsive and appropriate for the child, while further securing their care environment.
2 laryngoscope blades
These child-sized blades will ensure quick and safe intubation when every second counts.
Ultrasound probe for intravenous line placement
By making intravenous line placement quicker and more precise, this device reduces pain and stress for the child, avoiding multiple attempts and contributing to a gentler care process.
Projects financed by the Sport and Sustainable Health Fund (SSHF)
The SSHF aims to promote and support healthy lifestyle habits in children through sports, physical activity and healthy eating while also fostering emotional and mental well-being. This fund will help carry out two projects in the region, for a total of $20,924, at:
- Centres jeunesse du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
- École du Versant (Larouche)
Maeva Thibeault, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean's Enfant Soleil
She and her family help the cause shine in their region.
Mom Isabelle was looking forward to a magical first encounter with her daughter, but as soon as she was born, everything changed. Maeva wasn’t breathing. A code pink was triggered, and the little girl was rushed to the Centre mère-enfant Soleil, where she was diagnosed with a severe congenital heart disease called Tetralogy of Fallot.
She underwent her first open-heart operation at just two weeks old, with critical complications. But she held on against all odds and after a three-month hospital stay, was finally able to go home. A second surgery in 2023 went better, and Maeva quickly regained her energy. Between medical check-ups and constant monitoring, the family welcomed a surprise: little sister Sofia. Maeva will have to undergo more surgeries, but her strength and love of life shine through every day. Her parents savour every moment, keenly aware of the fragility and beauty of life.