BELA is a registered charity and has been working with children and families in Brooks and area since 2012. We are always looking for avenues to contribute to the overall health and wellness of families. As a way to extend further support to families in our area, we will be sharing the proceeds from Festival of Trees with a beneficiary each year that also works with or provides services or supports to children and families.
This years’ co-beneficiary will be the Aarit Hok Pediatric Fund (AHPF) which is a legacy fund under the Brooks & District Health Foundation specified for the needs of pediatrics at the Brooks Health Centre. It prioritizes the needs of the emergency department and also assists all aspects of the hospital in regards to pediatric needs and care. This fund was created by Aarit’s parents in memory of their sweet angel.
Today, Aarit’s Mom, Catherine is sharing some of her thoughts on the loss of her little boy and her hopes for the future of the Aarit Hok Pediatric Fund.
Thank you, Cat. Our BELA Family is sending your family lots of love and we hope that the Festival of Trees can bring a little joy to your hearts this holiday season.
“Aarit was a loving little boy. He loved his parents, grandparents, cousins, aunties, uncles, his dog Jack, his kitty Moe, his chickens, his cows, and his snacks. If you saw Aarit out and about, he would always be smiling. He had an enormous grin filled with big teeth. I think this made him extra cute. He had unique blue eyes that would sparkle when you looked at him, eyes filled with love and innocence. His laugh was one of those giggles that when you heard it, the entire room would burst with laughter and wouldn’t stop until he did because it was so contagious. Justin and I would often have strangers stop us and say, “What a cute kid.” I would have to agree. He is pretty damn adorable.
When asked to describe Aarit, I find it hard. He is a special child, and it’s difficult to put into words. Before Aarit passed away, I would often say, “He is such a cool kid, there is just something so special about him.” Aarit was wise beyond his years. I often forget he passed away just short of 14 months. I could be at home with him all day and could understand everything he was saying, although he spoke only a few words.
Aarit was my little sidekick, and I rarely did anything without him. There was one night that Justin convinced me we needed a night away. I agreed with hesitation. My parents babysat him, and it would be the first time that I didn’t put him to sleep. I can still remember watching the baby monitor on my phone very closely. I did more monitor watching than I did of the concert we were attending.
On August 4th, 2022, our life was changed forever. Aarit passed away suddenly and tragically after contracting a rare and very aggressive strain of E-Coli. Aarit was fine one day and then gone the next. The staff on duty at the hospital were experienced and knowledgeable. They did absolutely everything they could to try and save our baby. However, flaws and absent tools/equipment in the emergency department were apparent to us.
The last year has been filled with questions trying to understand what happened. The day before Aarit passed away, there were the first signs of illness, but nothing to be concerned about. We just thought he had contracted the normal stomach bug. He had a fever, a few upchucks but seemed to be getting better. The next morning just seemed different, not so much in his symptoms but instead my motherly instinct told me something was wrong. We decided it was best to take him into the ER. The medical staff were caring and calm. They informed us all would be well and that he just needed some fluids. By 11:00 am, he had crashed and what was a calm situation quickly turned into a very hectic one. “Your child is going to be taken by ambulance to Medicine Hat,” to very quickly, “STARS is on their way with the PICU team.” I remember being very worried but felt he was in good care, little did we know that at 5:21 pm our baby would be gone.
Being 13 weeks pregnant with Aarit’s little brother Bodie when Aarit transitioned was an eye-opener. You never think that your child is going to need advanced medical care (we never thought ours would), but if they do, you want your hospital to be fully equipped and prepared. Our mission with the AHPF is that the Brooks Health Centre will have all the necessary tools and equipment for proper pediatric care in the case of an emergency.
Ultimately, we started the AHPF to spread Aarit’s love and joy. It is our way of continuing to parent Aarit. Our goal with the fund is that Aarit’s love is spread throughout the entire hospital. Aarit made an impact on this earth, and I want his impact to continue to grow. Aarit is an angel in heaven and a star in our community.
The AHPF has transformed into something that Justin and I never could have imagined. They say, “It takes a community to raise a child.” I agree, and I also think it takes a community when losing one. The AHPF would not be where it is today without the support of our community. Justin and I would like to thank the community from the very bottom of our hearts for the love and support that has been shown. Something so tragic has truly transpired into something very beautiful. Thank you for helping Aarit’s love and joy continue to grow. ” ~ Catherine Hok
To learn more about Festival of Trees and how you can support the AHPF & BELA please visit our event page here : https://belabrooks.ca/festival-of-trees/
