Victoria Leo, a former patient at Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada, started the Back-to-Back Project to ensure children undergoing spinal surgery know they are not alone. Inspired by her own surgery experience and a heartwarming encounter with a young girl, Leo began creating comfort kits for patients. These kits include essentials like blankets, lip balms, water bottles, and socks tailored to the needs of children in recovery.
The annual fundraiser for Back-to-Back, held in Kirkland, Que., featured a yoga and Pilates session to promote movement post-surgery. Leo’s goal is to provide 300 comfort kits, with a long-term plan to increase that number annually by 100. The project’s deep personal significance to Leo is evident as she aims to offer the support she wished for during her own surgery.
Attendees like Patrizia Marino and Mikayla Chetrit commended Leo’s dedication and expressed admiration for her initiative in transforming personal hardship into a source of help for others. Timothy Fisher of Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada highlighted the impact of patient-led initiatives like Back-to-Back, emphasizing the community’s vital role in supporting pediatric care.
Leo’s unwavering mission is to bring smiles to children’s faces during challenging times, fostering a growing community of supporters year after year for the Back-to-Back Project.
