A Parksville family is grateful for support from Variety BC - The Children’s Charity after 14-year-old Nathan Cotton suffered two concussions in one day in 2021, leaving him with post-concussion syndrome.
The injury has affected him at home, at school and socially.
Variety has been providing Nathan with counselling sessions to help him cope with his condition, as well as financial support for physiotherapy and other costs, according to his mom Debbie.
“I’m very grateful for Variety’s support. It really is the only support our family received through this difficult time,” Debbie said. “We had a really tough go for a long time of nobody supporting him and helping him.”
Nathan recently suffered a third concussion, which has set back his recovery, his mother said.
Nathan will appear on TV during this year’s Variety Show of Hearts Telethon on Global BC on Sunday, Feb. 26. The telethon will feature stories of hope, courage and resilience from children, who Variety has helped in 2022.
This year’s entertainment line-up will feature Sarah McLachlan, Jim Cuddy, Devin Cuddy and Sam Polley as well as pop-rock singer, Fefe Dobson and Tyler Shaw. Throughout all four days, there will be matching opportunities up to $850,000, according to a news release by Variety.
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“Families across our province are struggling and we continue to see record-breaking numbers of families requesting support and specialized care. The essential programs and resources that Variety donors help to support transform daily realities for children and can change the trajectory of their future,” said Andrea Tang, CEO, Variety BC, in the release. “We have never been more grateful to our supporters and are more determined than ever to see the day when every child can fulfill their hopes and dreams and live life without limits.”
Since the injury, Nathan has struggled with being active and has had to change his activities.
“Before the head injuries, he was a very athletic kid. He was on the basketball team and he wanted to do sports,” Debbie said.
She added Nathan is good with his hands and at fixing things. She believes he would make a great mechanic some day.
He also made the news several years ago, when he, his brother and some friends raised more than $1,600 for BC Children’s Hospital with their lemonade stand.
“Those boys worked the whole summer doing the lemonade stand,” Debbie said. “Their whole summer vacation.”
Debbie said they are grateful to Variety’s assistance paying for Nathan’s treatment.
“There so many unknown costs, like just even paying to get the gas to and from his treatment,” she said. “There’s an enormous amount of supplements, vitamin supplements, that he needs that weren’t covered by anything. The out of pocket expenses when these things happen are huge.”
Variety steps in where health care ends and provides direct help to children and youth province-wide. For over 55 years, Variety has ensured that children have the support to reach their full potential. Since 2010, it has distributed more than $40 million in funding to families and organizations in communities across B.C.
— NEWS Staff
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