Written by Paul Fraumeni  

Keira Gayowsky is pleasant, polite, funny and full of interesting thoughts. She’s a good conversationalist. What started out as an interview for this article quickly turned into what was more like a chat with an old friend.

But as easygoing as she is, it doesn’t take much to realize there is a fierce determination in Keira.

She’s 17 and entering her first year at the University of Guelph, where she’s going to major in criminal justice and public policy. From there, she plans to go into anti-discrimination law, specializing in representing families, especially children.

Keira is big on family. Her own—mom, Seana, dad, Wade and brother, Jack—certainly had her back for many tough years, starting when she was eight years old and was diagnosed with an incurable, chronic illness called intestinal failure. The condition prevents her body from absorbing nutrients from food and hydration from water. She spent a year and a half, day-in, day-out, at SickKids Hospital.

“My mom took a leave from her job as a social worker and stayed with me in the hospital that whole time. My dad and my brother stayed at home (in Brantford, Ontario), but would visit on weekends. It was a hard time but we stuck together. We called ourselves Team Gayowsky and came up a slogan we lived by: ‘cherish every moment.’”

She is effusive in praising SickKids (especially Dr. Paul Wales) in getting her condition to a point where she could return to school and to building her life. She can eat (and insists, “I love eating”), but uses an IV 18 hours a day that provides her with nutrients and hydration. “The IV,” she notes, “essentially keeps me alive.”
And the experience in her childhood, while difficult, gave her a perspective that has vaulted her into becoming a busy advocate today.

“One of the earliest memories I have is getting stared at in a theme park. It brings out a sense that you are not normal. I remember thinking people should know better than to do that. But now I hope to work to help people be aware of others with differences.”

So, she keeps a busy schedule as a SickKids Ambassador. She’s a gifted public speaker and has won praise for her efforts to advocate for the hospital and how it can serve children. Keira has also taken her advocacy skills to school. She is a student trustee on the Grand Erie District School Board and pushed for improvements in schools like regular land acknowledgements, de-streaming supports, and washroom accessibility. She also sits on the Ontario Student Trustees Association Public Education Cabinet and is secretary of the Wellbeing Working Group. Those latter groups are advocating for menstrual equity across Ontario.

And with her health more stable now, she is enjoying the freedoms many take for granted. She’s learned how to hook up and manage the IV on her own, and has taken to the road—over the past couple of years, Keira has travelled, by herself, to Ireland and Turkey. She loves going to movies in the theatre (“The Martian” was a particular favourite). She’s also working part-time at Devlin’s Country Bistro near Brantford, which enables her to buy her own Starbucks coffee when she’s out running errands. “Even tiny things like this make me feel ‘normal’ and excited.”

As she begins her university career (which includes living in residence), she is eager to build up the knowledge and skills she’ll need as a lawyer in the future.

“It’s hard to really accomplish anything to help people until you’re in a position that enables you to have some influence. I’m happy I’ve been able to raise awareness for SickKids and needs at our school. I’m eager to do much more.”

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