Molly’s holiday mission: Cape Breton girl remembered through hospital Christmas catalogue
She's been the face of hospital care for kids in Cape Breton this year, so it’s only fitting that Molly Wadden's likeness is on the cover of the 2022 “Give Where You Live” Christmas catalogue by the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation.
"It is the absolute definition, start to finish, of what Molly wanted,” said Molly’s father, Jeff Wadden, when he helped unveil the new catalogue Thursday.
Molly spent her final months raising funds and awareness through her namesake charity, Molly's Mission.
It was an initiative she championed courageously until she passed away from Ewing sarcoma -- a form of bone cancer -- in July at age 12.
Now, despite their grief, Molly’s parents are bravely fronting her cause.
"We are now just the caretakers of what Molly set in motion,” Jeff said. “We are just the caretakers of Molly's Mission, so we are involved in it because that's what she wanted. If that's what she wanted, then we want it."
"I don't think that we could possibly ask for a better person to dedicate this year's catalogue to,” said Caitlyn MacDonald with the hospital foundation.
This is the fifth year for the Regional Hospital Foundation's holiday catalogue.
It has helped purchase more than 1,400 gifts for hospital patients and their families.
"Bus passes for someone who has to travel to Halifax for an appointment,” Caitlyn MacDonald said. “It might be a blanket. Anything we can give them to provide them some comfort during their hardest days."
The Waddens themselves were recipients of a gift during Molly's battle. They say it still brings them comfort and, now that things have come full circle, they are glad to be of service to others.
"We received the first blanket, a homemade blanket,” Jeff said. "As we speak, it sits on her bed and it will remain there. Those things mean more than the blanket. It is a symbol."
This holiday season will be their first one without Molly.
"Christmas is obviously difficult. I mean, we have a piece of our hearts missing,” he said.
That's why being involved with another charitable cause that bears Molly’s name -- and her mission -- means so much to the family.
"She is making a difference,” Jeff said. “Her life mattered and I think that will, underneath it all, give us the joy we need to get through this holiday this season."
The 2022 gift catalogue is available throughout the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.