By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Young Red Deer boy and former patient raising money for STARS

Oct 2, 2018 | 9:46 AM

A young Red Deer boy is stepping up in a big way to say thank you to STARS Air Ambulance for saving his life three years ago.

It was March 2015 when six-year-old Jayden Sorsdahl fell ill with what his parents thought was the flu. After staying home from school for a few days with typical flu-like symptoms, he was not improving and eventually woke up one morning with his body and limbs seizing up, his mother Melanie recalls.

“We raced him to the Red Deer ER. Dr. Hogarth and his exceptional team took amazing care of Jayden even though he had them all stumped as to what was wrong with him,” Melanie says. “Bloodwork results showed his sodium levels had crashed to almost nothing. His brain function and organs had begun to shut down, hence his inability to communicate with us. Dr. Hogarth decided to give him the strongest dose of saline he has ever given a small child, in an attempt to try and get Jayden’s body to start producing it for itself.”

It was at that point STARS was called to airlift Jayden to Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary.

“I instantly started panicking, thinking our son was dying, and essentially, he was,” Melanie says. “Due to Dr. Hogarth & his Red Deer ER team’s quick thinking, and STARS providing the swift flight and incredible care, it bought our son time while he started to slowly improve.”

Voyent Alert!

Lacombe County introduces new notification system aimed at improving community safety

Apr 24, 2026

April 20

Two central Alberta residents arrested in Oyen

Apr 24, 2026

April 10

Red Deer and Blackfalds RCMP make multiple arrests on outstanding warrants

Apr 24, 2026

Later, test results would show Jayden was suffering from SIADH (Syndrome of Inapprpriate Antidiuretic Hormon Secretion), and Hyponatremia, a condition caused by low sodium levels in the bloodstream.

To thank STARS for getting him to Calgary in time for life-saving treatment, Jayden is starting a fundraiser he hopes turns into an annual event called ‘Hot Chocolate for Helicopters.’ The Sorsdahl family will be outside the north Red Deer Save-On-Foods location Saturday, Oct. 6 from 11-3. A toonie gets you a cup of hot chocolate and all proceeds go to STARS.

Today, Jayden is living like a typically healthy nine-year-old boy, like it never happened at all, his mom says.

“He is wise for nine-years-old, and knows STARS relies on the support of its allies, so he knows his small endeavours truly help,” she says, also noting he raised $158 this summer for STARS by opening up a lemonade stand.

“My family is eternally grateful to STARS. He is here, alive and well, doing great in school, taking archery lessons — which he loves and is good at — and just being young and silly like he should be, thanks to them.”

Jayden is also featured as Mr. March in this year’s STARS calendar.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Young Red Deer boy and former patient raising money for STARS

What's Trending