B.C. man auctions off hockey skate wood carving to raise money for B.C. Children's Hospital

A B.C. man is auctioning off aunique wood carving of a hockey skate to raise funds for B.C. Children's Hospital.

Dan Wickstrom says he had been inspired toorganize a fundraiser for a whileto honour the health-care workers who helpedsave his son'slife.

Wickstromcommissioned artist Ryan Pakkalen to make a wood carving of a skate mounted on a puck, as well as Musqueam artist Chris Sparrow, who added Coast Salish elements. The piece stands24 inches tall,and is 18 inches long.

Jeff Schwartz of the reality TV show The Liquidatorwill be auctioning off the item, with allproceeds going to B.C. Children's Hospital.

Wickstrom says his son spent three days in hospitalafter falling into a coma back in 2016.

"He had minimal brain activity and we were told to expect maybe the worst," he said.

Hesays hospital staff not only took care of his son, who was one-and-a-half at the time, but also him and his wife during a time that could only be described as a parent's worst nightmare.

Full recovery

While his boy was in intensive care, nursesgave Wickstroma room to sleep in andbrought a twin bed to the ICU so hiswife could co-sleep with theirson, ashe was non-responsive and had almost no brain activity.

Then he made a full recovery.

"He's just an average seven-year-old now," Wickstrom said. "He's just climbing trees and riding BMX and skateboarding and doing whatever else."

"He's alive and we're sitting here talking about the good times, not the stuff that could have happened," he said. "I literally owe that to B.C. Children's Hospital."

A viewing of the carving will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT, at Direct Liquidation on 2306 Madison Ave. inBurnaby. The auction starts at 10 a.m. PT Sunday.

Wickstrom'sfundraiser has beenapproved and endorsed by the B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation.