This Will Be An Experience We Hope He’ll Remember Forever

Earlier this week, Wyatt Land was sitting quietly in the Ronald McDonald House, surely with lots on his mind.

At just six-years-old, he was back in Edmonton, three hours away from his home in Airdrie at the Stollery Children’s Hospital awaiting his third open heart surgery.

All of a sudden, Buzz, the Edmonton Stingers mascot came walking in and the mild-mannered shy kid wearing his green ninja turtle shirt and green dinasour pajama pants had a big smile on his face.

Moments later, Stingers forward Zac Overwater walked in and said hello to Wyatt and the rest of the kids at RMH.

Overwater stands at six-foot-eight and Wyatt’s eyes grew big with curiosity and a little bit of shock. It didn’t take long for Wyatt to give Overwater a big high-five and a big smile and start to shoot hoops with Overwater.

Wyatt’s parents, Warren and Robyn Land couldn’t believe Wyatt’s interaction with the Stingers players and Buzz during the visit.

"We’ve seen in situations he’s not comfortable in he will retreat, but he just loved this. It was so cool when we were sitting at dinner and he told us. ‘Hey Mom, Dad, I’m done dinner. I’m going to hang out with the guys’.” smiled his mom Robyn.

“It was nice to watch him play and not have to worry about his surgery. Not have the anxiety running through our heads. Tonight, we were able to watch him thrive and have fun and do all the things a kid is supposed to do.

“This will be an experience we hope he’ll remember forever.”

The Stingers are committed to being a part of the community, and on Tuesday, several got together to visit the children at the house, play games in the backyard and the players cooked dinner for the kids and their families.

The Stingers partnered with Belmont Sobey’s, who generously donated the food for dinner, and William Huff Advertising who donated 90 tickets to Kids Up Front for the remaining Stingers home games for the families.

“Those are the strongest kids and families that I’ve ever met,” said Overwater.

“I can’t imagine the strength and courage they have and I’m glad we were able to spend an evening with them and be a part of the family.

“Basketball is a small part of life. Everyone has family and people they care about and love and it puts things into perspective and it gives us time to reflect on how lucky we are and how we need to give back.”

Wyatt was born with Hypoplastic left heart syndrome. It occurs when parts of the left side of the heart don’t develop completely.
There is no cure, but Wyatt and his family, are doing everything they can to stay strong through this journey. Wyatt’s first heart surgery was at just five days old. His second was at six months old.

“When he was born, we sat with the doctors and specialists and were told that 70% of kids who are born with this live to age 10,” recalled Robyn.

“What I can say with Wyatt is he’s done exceptionally well with what he has. He’s an anomaly."

"Normally this surgery is done at age 2 or age 4, but the only reason why we’ve been able to delay this last surgery is because he’s been doing so well.”

This third surgery will increase Wyatt’s oxygen levels to a point that are considered normal.

“His oxygen levels are at 75%, but after this surgery, he will be up to 92% and higher,” said Robyn.

“It will be a whole new world for him. He will be able to exercise and run around and be a kid.

“The long-term prognosis, we don’t know. There may be some speed bumps along the way, but we expect him to be OK.”

RMHCA supports families seeking vital medical treatment for their seriously ill or injured child. The house provides a home-away-from-home for families who need to travel for medical reasons.

When those families are experiencing one of the most difficult times of their lives, the house provides comfort for the family to stay together.
“It’s a huge relief. It’s one less thing on a mountain of worries we have right now,” said Robyn.

“We can’t control his surgery, but there are families here we can talk and interact with. The Stingers made this such a special experience for our family.”