Taylum Lamoureux gets customized advent calendar from students

Its not uncommon to have an advent calendar during the holiday season, but a Sudbury teacher and her students are working to enhance the experience for a sick child and his family.

Marymount Academy teacherTammyJutilawanted to help her former co-worker, Desiree Lamoureux, whoseson,Taylum, was born with a kidney disorder

Taylumhas been receiving medical treatment in Toronto since being born.

Jutila, who has been keeping in touch with Lamoureux by e-mail, decided she wanted to help make Taylums holiday a bit more special, so shedecided to work to build a special advent calendar.

She shared her idea called Tidings for Taylum with her co-workers.

I had a vision of a tree and that we would start with smaller boxes at the top and wed build to the bottom of this tree,Jutilasaid.

If we could even just relieve this for them for the month of December [then] that would be great.

Students, their parents and staff fromMarymountwere more than happy to assist.

'It made me feel so special'

Eventually, the advent calendar was created. It included 25 presents, such as toys, gifts, poems, songs, cards and money to help pay for rent at the Ronald McDonald House, where Desiree stays while Taylumreceivedtreatment.

I was brought to tears, not just because of the overwhelming support of the gifts that were brought in and the money, but the cute little things that the kids were bringing in, Jutilasaid.

Two students wrote a song. And one girl put the soundtrack together and the other girl sang the lyrics. Its just absolutely beautiful. It brings you to tears.

In November, Jutiladelivered the advent calendar gifts to Lamoureaux in Toronto.

Lamoureaux was touched when she saw what Jutila and her students had done.

It made me feel so special," she said.

"To go from thinking that they had kind of forgotten about me to realizing that theyd done something so elaborate and heartfelt for us it was amazing.I kind of feel like we have an army of angels back home who are just rooting for us and praying for us and thinking of us. That means so much. I can never verbalize how special that is.