In Memory of our Amazing Zackie

September 21, 2007 - March 10, 2011 Live Well, Laugh Much, Love Often Early in the morning on March 10, 2011, we lost a hero and our special little guy Zackie Hamilton, who died in the arms of his mommy and daddy, Heather and Paul Hamilton at Sick Kids Hospital. Zack was born in September 2007 with a congenital heart defect known as Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage (TAPVD). At two and a half weeks old, Zack underwent a procedure at Sick Kids to repair his heart. Zack’s survival at that time, was the first of many miracles in his life. We are so grateful to Dr. Glen Van Arsdell and the Sick Kids team for giving us the chance to know and love Zack. Zack also had several other anomalies, including hearing loss, global developmental delay, feeding issues, GTube, seizures, and fluid in the brain. Though he had no official overall diagnosis, the genetics team discovered Zack had a deletion of the 12th chromosome. This deletion is the first recorded case in the world, making Zack a very special and unique little guy. Two weeks ago, Zack was hospitalized with pneumonia and an Influenza B virus. His lungs were so severely infected, that Zack required assistance breathing. With his Mommy never leaving his side, he fought to stay strong but eventually needed to be put on a ventilator. During the intubation process, Zack's weak heart suffered a cardiac arrest. The amazing Critical Care team at Sick Kids performed CPR on Zack for 45 minutes and miraculously kept him alive. He was immediately placed on life support and just like he did his entire life, he fought the odds against him and shocked the entire medical team by surviving days after the trauma he experienced. The impact caused by the lack of oxygen to his brain during the resuscitation process, caused severe damage including an irreversible end to all of his brain activity. When Zack was born, his future was uncertain but that never stopped him! With the help of his parents, brothers, caring therapists, friends and family, Zack lived life to the fullest! His infectious smile will be remembered by everyone who ever met him. He amazed everyone around him with all that he accomplished in his short life, including walking this past November! He inspired those around him and continued to teach lessons of perseverance, determination and resilience. He worked hard to accomplish his heart’s desire and never gave up. His happiest times were watching Elmo, playing drums, jumping on his trampoline, eating Froot Loops and walking around the house after his brothers. Zack is already terribly missed by his very proud mommy and daddy, adoring big brother Ty, and loving twin brother Jayden. He will forever be in the hearts of Nana and Poppa (Peter and Lynda Oliver), Auntie Erin, Uncle Gary and cousin Tristan Cerrato. Forever remembered by Uncle Lorenzo and Auntie Karen Walker, Godmother Libbie Oag and several therapists, nurses, doctors and loving friends. At 3 years old, our Zackie has touched many more people that he ever could have realized. Life is best measured by impact and not duration. In that way, Zack lived a life of incredible importance. In lieu of flowers...please consider a donation to the place that gave us Zackie for 3 years and allowed us to know pride, love and joy that will stay with us forever.

Zack Hamilton

He changed us forever and will continue to be in our hearts.