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Canuck Place Light a Life Campaign

Light a Life with Canuck Place – Gift Matching On Now

by Rebecca Bollwitt

Canuck Place helps families carry an infinite light of love

From now until December 31, every gift received this holiday season will be matched.

Diana Lee loved to make things—bracelets threaded with careful hands, tie-dyed shirts in vibrant colours, and cheesecakes for the people she loved. She was funny, creative, and endlessly generous. “Diana was the kind of girl that would help a child in her school that was crying on the playground, even if she didn’t know who that child was,” her dad, Delmar, shares.

Light a Life Canuck Place - Lee Family
Lee Family

When she was nine, Diana was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called Alexander’s disease, which made simple, everyday tasks such as swallowing food and speaking difficult. The world shifted for the Lee family. Their friends didn’t know what to say or do. They felt isolated and longed for a community that understood them.  

The Lees found that community at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.

Canuck Place is the only pediatric palliative care provider in B.C. and the Yukon. They provide specialized medical care for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, including pain and symptom management, medical respite, end-of-life care, and grief and bereavement support—delivered in hospice, at home, and in the community, at no cost to families.

“The day we arrived at the hospice, we realized we were not alone,” says Delmar. “There were others who understood, who had walked through pain like ours.” From their first medical respite stay, the family felt a steadying presence; nurses and doctors who listened, social workers and counsellors who made space for grief and hope, and a recreation therapy team that helped Diana continue to explore her creativity.

Recreation therapist Laura became a constant in Diana’s life. Outings to Michael’s and Granville Island to buy beads, string, and fabric were little adventures that brought big happiness. Back in the family suite at Canuck Place, Diana would spend hours crafting gifts—bracelets for staff and families and, tie-dye shirts she knew would make someone smile. For her parents, respite stays at the Vancouver hospice offered a chance to rest and gather strength, knowing their daughter was safe, comfortable, and seen for who she was, not just for her illness.

One of Diana’s most treasured bonds was with Gaia, the PADS Accredited Facilities dog who offers emotional support to children, families, staff, and volunteers at Canuck Place. “Every day with Gaia was exciting for Diana. Like a younger sibling, Gaia was always waiting on her bed,” says her mom, Sung Eun.

The comfort of Gaia’s soft paw resting on her hand and the quiet companionship through long afternoons created moments of ordinary tenderness. After Diana died, her parents found a small, wrapped package addressed to Gaia, a gift their daughter prepared, intending to give it on her next visit. Even in her final days, Diana was still thinking of others.

In August 2022, just ten days before her 13th birthday, Diana passed away at Canuck Place. In those first few difficult hours, the care team held the Lee family close. Laura helped them create molds as they held Diana’s hand and special necklaces with a lock of her hair. A nurse sat with them, offering words that still echo today, “Every child here is special, and your Diana was exceptional.”

Canuck Place care did not end at goodbye. They supported the Lees through funeral arrangements, welcomed them into bereavement groups, and invited them to memory-making gatherings like scrapbooking. These provided comfort and a reminder that Diana would not be forgotten. “It means everything to know people remember our child lived, had purpose, and mattered,” Sung Eun shares.

At home, the family honours Diana in ways both simple and profound. They’ve kept her room just as she left it, filled with her crafts and drawings. They treasure the last puzzle she worked on, left unfinished. The final piece kept safe, a reminder that her story is not over. And every August on the day Diana died, her family gives a gift to Canuck Place in her honour, helping other families find the same compassionate community that steadied them.

Sung Eun and Delmar say proudly that Diana was their greatest teacher. She showed them how to find the small speck of hope inside a tough day. And that love is not measured by years, but by closeness and care.

“In her short lifetime, she touched more hearts than I have in my 46 years,” Delmar reflects.

Sung Eun carries Diana’s compassionate spirit, giving love and care to those who need it.  “Because of Diana, I see the world in a warmer way. We can’t live life alone. We give help and receive it and treat others as preciously as ourselves.”

For the Lee family, Diana’s infinite light shines on in every bead her family threads and in every act of kindness or support that helps another child be held in love.

Your generosity can make room for more bracelets and keepsakes, for one more cuddle with Gaia, and one more tender moment. Most of all, it will make room for families going through difficult moments feel less alone.

From now until December 31, every gift received this holiday season will be matched, dollar for dollar, thanks to our generous partners, John and Claire Nicola and Helen Edwards. Visit canuckplace.org and help spread love and joy, just like Diana.

For 30 years, Canuck Place has been providing exceptional complex medical care, while helping children and families embrace living fully with the time they have left together. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram for more information.

Miss604 is a proud supporter of Canuck Place campaigns in 2025.

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