Like most teenage boys, 14-year-old Jonathan Smythe has activities he’s passionate about, such as swimming, dancing, and bowling. But for him and his Vancouver-based family, perhaps their greatest pursuit is the task of just keeping him alive.
Smythe was born with multiple health complications including CHARGE syndrome (a genetic disorder), Goldenhar syndrome (a rare congenital condition), and epilepsy. But even the common cold can be deadly for him, causing his organs to break down quickly. In the latest scare to land him in hospital, he almost died when his lungs filled up with his own secretions.
