The logo for the Grace Gabriella Manning Memorial Hockey Tournament says it all: the baby footprints of little Grace are combined with two hockey sticks to create the image of a butterfly.
Grace was born eight weeks early, Feb. 16, 2016, after mom Amy Manning became concerned: she could no longer feel the baby move, or kick.
Weighing only four lbs., four ounces, Grace Gabriella was placed in Neonatal Intensive Care, then transferred to the Hospital for Sick Children. She seemed to be progressing well – but an MRI brought shattering, heart-breaking news for parents Chris and Amy Manning.
The MRI showed Grace had no brain function, beyond basic brain stem activity that allowed her to breathe.
It left them asking the question, 'Why?'
“We just don’t know,” said Amy. All doctors could suggest was some unknown medical event, that Grace “had suffered some kind of trauma.”
Amy and Chris decided they did not want Grace to spend her last days in hospital, hooked up to machines. That’s when they learned of Emily’s House in Toronto, a hospice for children – one of only six pediatric hospices in the country.
Emily’s House allowed Amy and Chris to spend time with Grace as a family, cuddling and providing “adventures” and memories – the taste of chocolate, watching the stars, holding a princess party. One of the best memories was of Chris and Grace watching a Montreal Canadiens hockey game together.
Eight days after her birth, little Grace Gabriella Manning passed away, surrounded by her loving family.
It was Chris who came up with the idea of Hockey for Grace. The memorial hockey tournament has several goals.
“Hockey for Grace is a way for us to celebrate and keep Grace’s spirit alive,” the family stated. “It allows us to give back to an organization that we will forever be indebted to, as well as starting conversation about pregnancy and infant loss.”
A fundraiser for Emily’s House, Hockey for Grace raised $12,000 in its first year, and more than $22,000 last year.
This year’s goal is $25,000, raised through the tournament, a charity social and silent auction on Saturday evening at the Newmarket Optimist Club, and online donations.
What started as a one-day tourney has grown into a two-day event, held at the National Training Rinks in Newmarket, April 6 and 7. A record 20 teams donned jerseys with the Hockey for Grace logo to play in competitive, recreational, or co-ed divisions.
Chris and Amy were busy directing the volunteers, ensuring that bottled water and Gatorade were available in the dressing rooms, and entertaining two-year-old son, Carter Grayson. "We got a little 'Grace' in there,” said Amy, before the start of the tourney on Saturday.
Then Chris suited up to play in the opening game.
Among the dignitaries dropping the puck for the opener were Newmarket Mayor John Taylor and Coun. Jane Twinney, and Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor Rob Keffer, joined by BWG Coun. Peter Ferragine.
“Every year I’ve been invited,” said Keffer, who said he hadn’t known about Emily’s House before the Hockey for Grace fundraiser, but could see how important the hospice is for families.
“It’s a vulnerable time for parents,” he said. “It’s important, being able to talk to parents that are going through the same thing.”
This year, Hockey for Grace saw 20 teams, eight referees, nine timekeepers, 10 sponsors, more than 50 volunteers, more than 75 prize donations, and more than 300 people in attendance at the charity social.
“It takes a village," noted Chris and Amy. "We are simply blown away with the ways that our family, our friends, our community and complete strangers continue to come together to provide all we need.”
There is still time to donate. E-transfers are being accepted at [email protected]. For more information, visit the Facebook page.
