BURST
On Thursday night, Kari Cermak and her family will bid an emotional farewell as the St. Paul’s Foundation Lights Of Hope Christmas display is lit up for the last time at the hospital’s current location.
Among the illuminated stars will be one dedicated her son Emmitt, 2, and the team who saved his life in 2024 when he was 25 days old.
Emmitt’s mother and father, friends and family hold a pub night to raise funds for the St. Paul’s Foundation every year.
It’s their way of saying thanks for saving their son’s life.
“Without St. Paul’s, I wouldn’t have my son,” said Cermak.
Sheila Biggers, president and CEO of the St. Paul’s Foundation, said this year is special, marking an end to the lights on Burrard Street that have become a beloved tradition in Vancouver’s West End.
“Since Lights Of Hope started at St. Paul’s Hospital 29 years ago. It has raised $60 million and has been key to supporting research, medical equipment, patient care at Providence Health Care Centres across B.C.,” said Biggers.
The fundraiser has grown over the years from its inaugural event in 1998, featuring just shy of 1,000 lightbulbs and raising $70,000, to this year’s display that will feature more than 100,000 bulbs and sparkling stars, and raise an estimated $2.4 million.
“Every donation makes a difference,” said Biggers, and every donation matters. The foundation provides funding for things like clothing for patients, special blankets for preemies, and medical equipment, such as a new PET scanner for radiology diagnostics that will serve patients from across the province.
Lights Of Hope is a community-driven event. Supporters can donate through the St. Paul’s Foundation Lights Of Hope website, and donors of $1,000 or more can buy stars of various sizes that feature their name, or the name of their organization, as well as archways and other twinkly decorations.
“St. Paul’s has been in my life since I was a child,” said Cermak. She was just four when her father was diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis, a rare condition that causes polyps in the gastrointestinal system.
Cermak was later diagnosed with the same condition, and after aging out of care at B.C. Children’s Hospital, she began regular screenings at St. Paul’s.
“It feels like a second home to me. When you walk in those doors it doesn’t matter how bad your day is — they’ve got your back,” said Cermak.
Her son Emmitt, who was born 10 weeks early at B.C. Women’s Hospital, was transferred to the NICU, or neonatal intensive care unit, at St. Paul’s when he was healthy enough to be moved.
“It was a coming home for me,” Cermak said.
Unfortunately, a few weeks later, Emmitt suddenly developed necrotizing enterocolitis, a life-threatening gastrointestinal condition that can affect premature infants.
“He coded and stopped breathing for over five minutes,” said Cermak. “St. Paul’s saved his life. They followed gut instincts and acted fast. It was terrifying.”
It happened in November, 2024, just as the lights from the Lights Of Hope display were being put up. “Through those dark days, the lights gave me hope,” said Cermak.
Emmitt survived, and is now thriving. “Our first family outing after he came home was to come back and see the lights.”
Fundraising for the St. Paul’s Foundation is a family tradition now, said Cermak. This year, she wanted the star earned through their fundraising to read, “Emmitt’s NICU Warriors.”
“I wanted other parents to know they are not alone, and thank everyone — the nurses, the doctors, the lab techs, the cleaners, the housekeeping staff. Everybody. I’m just so thankful for St. Paul’s and the NICU team.”
After the historic Burrard Street hospital moves in January to the Jim Pattison Medical Campus at 1002 Station St, the St. Paul’s Foundation hopes to continue the Lights Of Hope tradition. Details of how that will unfold are being “actively discussed,” said Biggers.
This year’s event takes place at 1081 Burrard St., is free for the public, and will feature music, food trucks, hot drinks, Santa Claus, a 50/50 draw and of course, opportunities to donate.
The lights will be turned on at 6 p.m. Thursday evening.