When her daughter was born without an esophagus, Brenda McCorquodale spent 100 days living in Victoria General Hospital, rarely leaving her newbornB次元官网网址檚 side.
During her high-risk pregnancy, the Port Hardy mom was required to stay near VGH and couch surfed at friendB次元官网网址檚 homes in Victoria. When Abigail was born, McCorquodale slept on cots or chairs near the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 run across the street to the corner store to buy food,B次元官网网址� she recalled. B次元官网网址淔inding a place to have a shower was tough, it was a tough time. The hospital staff were amazing and did what they could.B次元官网网址�
McCorquodale and Abigail, now six-years-old and an energetic little girl, are a testament to the need for a home away from home for families with sick kids.
On Saturday, the McCorquodales joined Jeneece Edroff for the official opening of Jeneece Place at VGH.
The 10-bedroom house has about everything a worried family could want B次元官网网址� a stocked communal kitchen and dining room, a place for kids to play, a vast media room, while being only a few steps from the hospital, for $25 per night.
B次元官网网址淔amilies need a place to stay in Victoria, and a hotel is too expensive,B次元官网网址� said Edroff, who celebrated her 18th birthday on Friday, one day before the grand opening. B次元官网网址淔amily is important, especially when a child is in hospital. This place is perfect.B次元官网网址�
McCorquodale said Jeneece Place would have been welcome relief six years ago. But sheB次元官网网址檚 happy future Island families B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 expected 95 per cent of people who will stay at Jeneece Place live north of the Malahat B次元官网网址� will have one less worry on their hands.
B次元官网网址淗aving a play room anticipates things well. (Brothers or sisters) can only spend so much time in a hospital,B次元官网网址� Brenda said. B次元官网网址淗aving a place to play and relax is excellent.B次元官网网址�
Decorated in First Nations art and art donated by the community, inspiration and thoughtful design pepper Jeneece Place, from the animal shapes that mark the rooms, to the glass art installation at the front door, offering B次元官网网址渉ope, strength, family and love.B次元官网网址�
The house, operated by the Queen Alexandra Foundation, aimed to raise $5.5 million to cover construction costs and 10 years of operating funds B次元官网网址� it raised $6.5 million through thousands of individual donation.
The building itself came in 10 per cent under budget and received $1.1 million in in-kind donations.
B次元官网网址淚 think it turned out better than we could have dreamed. So many families will get such better care, the stress is off them,B次元官网网址� said Angie Edroff, JeneeceB次元官网网址檚 mom.
Angie said the donation from Telus Skins golf game in 2010 brought the project and the issue to the forefront, and helped launch a cascade of donations.
B次元官网网址淚 thought at that point she was going to do it,B次元官网网址� Angie said. B次元官网网址淲hen she gets an idea in her head, there is no stopping her. B次元官网网址楴oB次元官网网址� doesnB次元官网网址檛 exist for Jeneece.B次元官网网址�
Jeneece plans to graduate from Claremont secondary this June, but the B次元官网网址減enny girlB次元官网网址� still lives every day with neurofibromatosis, a condition where tumours grow on nerve pathways. She may need more surgeries soon.
B次元官网网址淚 want to help the community a lot more,B次元官网网址� Edroff said. B次元官网网址淚 want to find a new project I can help with.B次元官网网址�
For more on Jeneece Place, see www.jeneeceplace.org.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
