A 13-year-old girl from Balcarres has a busy year ahead.

Torrie Schaffer is Saskatchewan’s Champion Child for 2020.

She was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune blood disease four years ago after noticing symptoms of being extremely cold fatigued.

Torrie quickly underwent treatment for the potentially fatal disorder utilizing a special machine purchased just six months before by the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

She was the first child in Saskatchewan to be treated with the Pheresis machine and appreciates having one in her home province to avoid travel making life easier on her and her family.

Torrie says her health is good but there have been some ups and downs with another treatment scheduled for Tuesday. She visits a pediatric hematologist every two to three months at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.

She feels it’s important the tell her story across the province and continent saying her goal is to help children through their hospital experiences.

As the Children’s Miracle Network Champions representative for Saskatchewan Torrie will also go to Orlando Florida next spring to meet others like her during Children’s Hospital Week.

She takes over from 2019 Champion Blake Wheeler.

The 13-year-old from Saskatoon is living a normal active life after surviving a severely premature birth through a 110-day stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.