On Valentine’s Day, my 9-year-old son wanted to spread some love for sick children who currently stay at the Children’s, like he did when he had acute leukemia. Jean-Gilles was then fighting for his life. Everyday, our anxiety increased: the only way to save his life was a bone marrow transplant and he needed a compatible donor.
During the fall of 2014, we contacted the media to help us find a donor. We were speechless when we learned the intervention was about to become a reality. Jean-Gilles celebrated his first transplant anniversary in January and was able to return to school a few weeks ago.
Now he wants to give back. For him, his greatest achievement, and what makes him very proud, is his first album
Vivre launched at the Children’s.
Jean-Gilles’ doctor, David Mitchell, was aware of his patient’s passion for music. He encouraged Jean-Gilles to sing for sick children, but the project didn’t stop there. A variety of artists joined Jean-Gilles to record an album, including Alain Dumas and Valérie Lahaie, finalist at
La Voix, to name a few.
On February 14, Jean-Gilles sang two songs from his album in front of young patients at the P.K. Subban Atrium with Valérie Lahaie (
Plus fort que lui) and Madison Tucker (
Let it go). He then performed a concert including its entire opus with artists at the Collège Sacré-Coeur de Granby in front of an enthusiastic audience.
For Jean-Gilles, the word
Vivre (live) means the second chance at life he got. In recognition of the excellent care he received at the Children’s, Jean-Gilles has chosen to give all the profits from
his album sales to the Montreal Children's Hospital.
Marie-Josée, Jean-Gilles' mom