When four-year-old Brin wasn’t herself—tired, unusually thirsty, and sleeping more than usual—her mother, Shawna Maurer, thought it might just be a lingering effect from a recent bout of COVID. Within days, that uncertainty turned into a race against time.

“By the time we arrived at the emergency department, she could barely stay awake,” Maurer recalled. “The staff took her back right away. Everyone was calm, kind, and focused. The day is a blur. I remember the glucose test, and then Dr. Moore came in and said the words Type 1 diabetes. All I heard after that was ‘lifetime… pump.’ I didn’t even know what that meant.”

The medical team at Blanche River Health (BRH) worked quickly to stabilize Brin. “Her glucose level was over 30 mmol/L,” Maurer explained. “If we had waited another day, she could have slipped into a coma.” Thanks to rapid testing and access to the right diagnostic equipment, her condition was identified early—before it became life-threatening.

Brin was stabilized in the ER, but the reality of the diagnosis quickly set in for her family. Dr. Jordan came in next and was honest, but caring. “He basically told us straight up that it may feel like a tough diagnosis, but with all the technology and resources available, it was manageable,” Maurer said. “He reassured us that we got this.”

Following that conversation, Brin was transferred to Timmins for specialized pediatric care, where her family began the intense first steps in learning how to manage Type 1 diabetes.

Back home, BRH continued to play an important role in Brin’s journey. Physicians like Dr. Kurki provided ongoing support, ensuring that the family had access to follow-up care, monitoring, and guidance.

Nearly four years later, Brin is thriving with the help of modern technology. She wears a continuous glucose monitor that reads her blood sugar every five minutes and communicates with an insulin pump, sending all the information to her mother’s phone—tools that help keep her levels steady and safe.

Maurer said she’s forever grateful for the care her daughter received close to home. “That ER visit saved my child’s life,” she said. “The staff, the technology—they were incredible. I just wish every family going through something like this had the same level of support.”

John Sullivan, Board Chair of the Blanche River Health Foundation, says stories like Brin’s underscore why donor support is essential. “Government funding does not cover all the diagnostic equipment and technology our hospital teams rely on,” he said. “Every donation helps ensure our clinicians have what they need to make fast, accurate, life-saving decisions.”

Dr. Brian McPherson, BRH Chief of Staff, added that patient outcomes are shaped by both teamwork and technology. “Our team, including nurses and physicians, work side-by-side in moments like these,” he said. “It’s the combination of skilled care and reliable equipment that makes all the difference.”

While Brin continues her journey with pediatric specialists and collaborative support with BRH, BRH is also helping hundreds of adults across the region manage diabetes through its partnership with the Timiskaming Diabetes Education Program. The program supports individuals aged 18 and older living with Type 1, Type 2, prediabetes, or gestational diabetes. Its multidisciplinary team of registered nurses and dietitians provides education, nutrition counselling, medication management, and continuous support—empowering patients to take control of their health through one-on-one and group sessions focused on lifestyle, monitoring, and prevention. To learn more about the Timiskaming Diabetes Education Program, call 705-647-8722.

Cassandra James, Executive Director of the Blanche River Health Foundation, said donor support ensures the hospital remains equipped to provide this level of care. “Every monitor, every piece of lab equipment—it all comes from generosity of our communities,” she said. “When you give to the Blanche River Health Foundation, you’re helping save lives like Brin’s.”

To support equipment needs at Blanche River Health, donate at brhfoundation.ca.  

About Blanche River Health Foundation

The Blanche River Health Foundation raises funds for equipment and capital projects at the Blanche River Health hospitals in Englehart and Kirkland Lake. With limited government funding, the hospitals rely on people’s generosity to modernize facilities, improve patient care, and advance its mission to make healthcare work for you. Governed by a volunteer board of directors, the Foundation plays a vital role in ensuring essential improvements are made possible.

To continue supporting BRH, please consider donating to the BRH Foundation via:

• Online: Visit brhfoundation.ca
• Cheque: Blanche River Health Foundation, 145 Government Road East, Kirkland Lake, Ontario P2N 3P4
• Lottery Tickets: Purchase Split the Pot tickets at splitthepot.ca
• Your Estate Planner: Include the Foundation in your will through planned giving: legacy.brhfoundation.ca
• Grateful Hearts Program: Honour a caregiver or staff member who made a difference by donating in their name through grateful.brhfoundation.ca

Visit brhfoundation.ca to learn more or to donate.