For her first breaths of life, Lucy Hannah had a hole in her lung. Wade McReynolds weighed two pounds when he saw the light of day as a preemie at 29 weeks. Victoria General HospitalB次元官网网址檚 neonatal intensive care unit became home to their parents.
A year or a few years later, these kids and dozens of others run and play at the 27th annual NICU reunion at the hospital, as parents swap stories and give hugs to medical staff who saved their childrenB次元官网网址檚 lives. About 500 newborns per year go through the NICU.
B次元官网网址淚t was really hard at the time. The doctors and nurses were so helpful, they gave such good care,B次元官网网址� said Katie Hannah, mother of one-year-old Lucy and her twin Emma. The girls were 33-week preemies.
B次元官网网址淣urses and moms really bond when youB次元官网网址檙e in there. ItB次元官网网址檚 an intense time. When I see them I give them a big hug, and the doctors too.B次元官网网址�
Nicole and Trevor McReynolds help two-year-old Wade blow bubbles at the outdoor party, and recalled a lot of tough hours and days at the NICU. NicoleB次元官网网址檚 water broke at 23 weeks and she had to lie still for six weeks before her son was born.
B次元官网网址淭hey said the chances of him surviving and without problems was not good at all. But thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing wrong with him,B次元官网网址� Nicole said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 as healthy as anything. HeB次元官网网址檚 a real little miracle.B次元官网网址�
These stories of survival and strength of the smallest patients highlighted the importance of a long term gift announced Thursday B次元官网网址� professional firefighters in Greater Victoria are donating $25,000 per year for the next 10 years to VGH pediatric care.
Saanich, Victoria, Oak Bay and Esquimalt fire departments, under the Professional Firefighters of Greater Victoria Foundation, will direct their fundraising cash to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, which in turn will direct it to equipment in the NICU and pediatric unit.
B次元官网网址淪ustainable funding is different for us. Pledging $250,000 over 10 years allows us to do planning around that. ItB次元官网网址檚 fantastic,B次元官网网址� said Starr McMichael, chair of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. B次元官网网址淚t also shows people in the community what can be done. These firefighters risk their lives everyday for us. They really have gone beyond the call of duty.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 money well spent on saving the lives of the tiniest people.B次元官网网址�
Saanich firefighter Jared Barker said aiming for $25,000 per year comes on the backs of firefighters who have established strong fundraising networks and events.
B次元官网网址淲e sat around and got an idea of what each department is capable of doing. The advantage we have as firefighter is that we have no hidden costs, this is done as volunteer work,B次元官网网址� Barker said.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just blue collar guys who have got the opportunity to do this. We want to help Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 tiniest patients and their families. We are all thrilled to be working on such a critical project.B次元官网网址�
The VGH pediatric unit delivers 2,700 babies per year and all hospital births in Greater Victoria. Ninety per cent of injured and sick children on Vancouver Island are treated at VGH.
The firefighter donation isnB次元官网网址檛 yet earmarked for anything specific in pediatrics, but it wonB次元官网网址檛 take long for the doctors and staff to draw up wish lists. Pediatric cardiologist Dr. Brian Sinclair said the unitB次元官网网址檚 greatest challenge is the capital cost of new equipment B次元官网网址� incubators, vital sign monitors and ventilators eventually need replacing.
B次元官网网址淲e know weB次元官网网址檒l need equipment updates and new technology, and knowing this money is there is great,B次元官网网址� Sinclair said. B次元官网网址淲hen the need comes up, this contribution will be in the back of our minds.B次元官网网址�
Neonatologist Dr. Cherrie Tan-Dy has her eye on updating the NICU family room, where aging furniture and a couple beds allow out-of-town parents to catch a few moments of rest.
B次元官网网址淪ome preemies require intensive care for a long time. Babies can be in the NICU for four months at a time,B次元官网网址� Tan-Dy said. B次元官网网址淓very year we want to improve the family room, but itB次元官网网址檚 always at the bottom of the list. Maybe this can help make it happen.B次元官网网址�
For donate to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, see www.victoriahf.ca.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
