Staying Close When It Mattered Most: The McIntosh Family’s Journey with YANA
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Originally published by the Comox Valley Record on Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Every family’s journey to welcoming a child has its own story. For Cameron and Melissa McIntosh, theirs took an unexpected turn at the 20-week ultrasound when they learned their son, Caelan, would need specialized medical care. Before he was even born, the family was travelling to Victoria for additional screenings and ultrasounds. When doctors determined Caelan would need to be delivered at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, during an already overwhelming time, YANA stepped in to take one major worry off their shoulders by arranging accommodations close to the hospital in both Victoria and Vancouver.
At just one day old, Caelan underwent surgery at BC Children’s Hospital, and Melissa and Cameron were able to focus on being by his side without the added worry of accommodation planning and expenses.
“It’s very nice just to have YANA help us out with accommodations, and everything was set up for us, so we only had to go down and worry about him [Caelan]. It takes a lot of the stress off of the planning,” shared Cameron and Melissa.
Before YANA became part of their own journey, the McIntosh family was already familiar with the organization’s impact in the Comox Valley. They understood the importance of keeping families close together during times when medical care requires travel away from home. After experiencing that support firsthand, their appreciation for YANA grew even stronger, inspiring them to become more involved.
Melissa, in particular, has continued to give back as a dedicated YANA volunteer, lending her time and helping wherever she is needed, with Caelan sometimes joining her. Cameron has always had a passion for mountain biking; he and Melissa now get to share that love of cycling with Caelan. Their first YANA Ride was during Melissa’s pregnancy with him, and now Caelan is riding alongside them, making this year’s Ride a meaningful full-circle moment for their family.
Now in their fifth YANA Ride as a fundraising team, the McIntosh family is giving back to help ensure other families receive the same support they did. This year, they’re working toward their fundraising goal of $1,000, riding to visit several Passport Checkpoints along their route, and volunteering at Party in the Park to celebrate with the YANA community.
For one member of the team, Ride Day can’t come soon enough. Caelan is especially excited to visit the Family Fun Zone and take on the Little Wheelers Track, where he’s looking forward to showing off his biking skills.
Every dollar raised through the YANA Ride helps ensure Comox Valley families travelling for medical care can stay together without the added burden of accommodation costs. It’s the support that allows parents to focus on their child during some of life’s most difficult moments.
To support Cameron and Melissa’s fundraising efforts, register for the 2026 YANA Ride, or learn more about the community celebration at Party in the Park on Sunday, August 16, visit www.yanacomoxvalley.com.