A Gift of Comfort from a Heavenly Star
“She lay like a beauty in slumber, her loveliness inspires wonder.”
In April of 2018, Jeanette Arsenault was faced with the most devastating experience a parent can live through - the loss of a child. After a brave four-year battle with cancer, Jeanette’s daughter, Kaitlin, unfortunately succumbed to her illness at the age of 23.
“Kait was a bright, gifted and talented young woman who excelled at pretty much everything she put her mind to - including math, calculus, piano and singing” reflects Jeanette. “She became a heavenly star.” she adds. (In fact, Jeanette wrote a poem about her daughter entitled Heavenly Star and the subtitle of this article is a line from that piece of memorial prose.)
In the weeks preceding her passing, Jeanette and Kaitlin came up with the idea for Kait’s Comfort Kits – something that was inspired by Kait’s lived experience in hospital. Kait’s Comfort Kits are a “survival kit” of sorts for hospitalized patients to help improve their experience and support the healing process. They include a selection of natural products like lip balm, moisturizer, shampoo and conditioner, a toothbrush and toothpaste, cloths and towels, kleenex, room darkening masks, ear plugs, a crossword puzzle book and blankets.
Jeanette poses with a Kait’s Comfort Kits rack card, featuring her late daughter, Kaitlin
After Kait’s passing, a memorial concert was organized in her hometown of Prince Edward County, which raised over $6,000 and served as the catalyst to eventually raising $30,000 and officially launching the Kait’s Comfort Kits program in September 2019. To date, more than 500 kits have been donated to various hospitals, hospices & homeless shelters in Ontario, including:
- The Ottawa General Hospital
- Prince Edward County Hospital (Picton)
- Quinte Healthcare (Belleville)
- Kingston General Hospital
- Hospice Prince Edward
- Grace Inn Homeless Shelter (Belleville)
- Providence Manor (Kingston)
- Joseph Healthcare Hamilton (Emergency & 6th floor)
Wondering what the St. Joe’s connection is? Jeanette has a special connection to the Hospital in the heart of Hamilton. It’s the place where she and her four brothers were born, and the place that one brother, Ron, calls home right now.
Ron was born with Cerebral Palsy and health complications have required him to live and receive care at St. Joe’s in the complex care department since 2012. After a brief pandemic-related move to a long-term care facility, Ron was readmitted to St. Joe’s in August 2020. At present, he’s cared for by the compassionate team in the 6th floor surgery department in the Sister Mary Grace Wing.
Jeanette with her brother, Ron, pose with one of Kait’s Comfort Kits
Jeanette has seen first-hand the incredible care her brother receives here at St. Joe’s and that’s what inspired her to donate some of Kait’s Comfort Kits to the 6th Floor surgery department for other patients on the unit.
“I wanted to find a way to say thanks - besides always bringing them chocolate! I am so pleased to be able to contribute Kait’s Comfort Kits to help other patients have some of the comforts of home during their stay,” said Jeanette. “Grieving your lost child is something I would never wish upon anyone. Knowing these kits bring some comfort to someone who is going through medical challenges is therapeutic for me. I know Kait would be so proud.”
Jeanette poses with Tracina Pearse, Nurse Manager: 6 Surgical, GI Motility, IV Team
To learn more about Kait’s Comfort Kits, and how they're funded please visit kaitscomfortkits.ca.