RMH

Born premature at 33 weeks and 5 days, twin girls Eshaal and Umaymah were transferred directly to the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Credit Valley Hospital. Their mom had been diagnosed with Hyperemesis (uncontrollable nausea, vomiting and dehydration) during her pregnancy and checked in to Credit Valley Hospital for an ultrasound and IV fluids after a particularly awful night and morning of vomiting. Within five minutes of arriving at the hospital, her water broke and she was immediately scheduled for a caesarean section. 

“I wasn’t ready at all. I was still working and had one more week left, and I thought that once I was done work I’d set up and do up my hospital bag, but I guess they had their own schedule and…they’re here!” 

Although their mom was discharged 48 hours after giving birth, Eshaal and Umaymah had to stay in the NICU to be tube fed until they developed strong enough facial muscles for feeding. Told by nurses about the Ronald McDonald House Toronto Family Room located next to the NICU, their mom signed up for one of the four sleeping rooms available. 

“Staying overnight for the first 10 days was a big help because when you become a mother you just don’t want to leave them. When I would wake up in the night, at 2 in the morning, I would wonder how they were feeling, how they were doing and I would just get up and go across the hall to them.”

Even when she wasn’t spending the night in one of the sleeping rooms, Eshaal and Umaymah’s mom  spent  time with her girls in the NICU  from 7am until 10 pm and made use of the Ronald McDonald Family Room lounge area to rest and spend time with visiting family members. 

"Words cannot express our thankfulness. You and all the Volunteer at RMHT Credit Valley have touched our hearts and our gratitude is overflowing. My husband said to me 'when the girls are little older, we are going to volunteer at the RMHT. All the people who are supporting RMHT organization are doing an amazing job and have made a huge impact on us and our family.'"

Click here to support families like Eshaal and Umaymah’s – your support will help families like theirs heal better together.