Feeding Tube Awareness Week 2024

Feeding Tube Awareness Week (FTAW) was founded in 2011 in the USA by Tracy Nagy, a parent of a Tubie  (a child who is tube fed).  The purpose of this week is to increase awareness and understanding of feeding tubes and its important purpose in delivering nutrition, thus, promoting health and well-being in children with medical complexity.  The week promotes best practices, innovations, and understanding of the lived experiences of families and children reliant on tube feeding . It is celebrated across the globe.

In Canada in 2020, The G Tube Feeding Program at SickKids hospital in Toronto launched the nation's  first Feeding Tube Awareness Week and over the years, the event has grown to include clinicians and patients from across the county,  including hospitals BC Childrens, Children's Hospital of Winnipeg, McMaster Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, London Children's Hospital, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab, and IWK. Feeding Tube Awareness Week creates community, connection and support for Tubies,  their families, and those clinicians that care for them. 

This year, FTAW is scheduled for Feb.5-9, 2024 and our national FTAW has exciting events for both clinicians and Tubies and their families. Clinicians and Tubies and their families across the country are welcome to register for any of the free, virtual events.  

Click here to download a copy of the schedule

Monday, February 5th, 11-12pm (EST)
Topic: Overcoming Oral Aversion in the Tube Fed Child
Presenter: Sherna Marcus, OT, SickKids
Register Here
 
Monday, February 5th, 12-1pm (EST)
Topic: Feeding Tubes: What is the Lived Experience for Patient and Family?
Presenters: Patient & Families across Canada
Register Here

Monday, February 5th, 3-4:30pm (EST)
Topic: G/GJ Tube Care 101 for Nurses
Presenters: Connected Care Resource Nurses, SickKids
Register Here
 
Monday, February 5th, 6:30-7:30 (EST)
Tubie Patient & Family Night

Tuesday, February 6th, 12-1pm (EST)
Topic: Advanced Troubleshooting of Feeding Tube and Stoma Issues: Tips and Tricks from Tube Experts
Presenters: The G Tube Team & Connected Care, SickKids
Register Here

Wednesday, February 7th, 12-1pm (EST)
Topic: Interesting Paediatric Feeding Tube Cases
Presenters: Samantha Cicciarella, NP, Jane Lee, NP & Dilshand Kassam- Lallani, NP
Register Here
 
Thursday, February 8th, 12-1pm (EST)
Topic: Hot Topics: Clinical Practice Guidelines for FeedingIntolerance in Children with Neurological Impairment
Presenters: Dr. Justin Lam, MD, Samantha Cicciarella, NP & Silvana Oppedisano, NP, SickKids
Register Here
 
Thursday, February 8th, 3-4pm (EST)
Topic: NG Tubes: Care and Maintenance for Nurses
Presenters: Connected Care Resource Nurses, SickKids
Register Here

Thursday, February 8th, 6:30-8:30pm (EST)
Tubie Patient & Family Night
   
Friday, February 9th, 12-1pm (EST)
Topic: Jejunostomy Tubes - Friend or Foe? Indication for Primary Placement, Benefits and Complications
Presenter: Dr. Josh Ramjit, MD, SickKids
Register Here