RMH

Valentina’s mother was feeling a bit “off” in the final trimester of her pregnancy and decided to go to The Credit Valley Hospital for a checkup. Her husband offered to go with her but she said “no, they’re probably going to send me home, don’t worry."  Soon after arriving at the hospital, she unexpectedly went into labour and gave birth to Valentina six weeks early. Valentina was admitted into the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with breathing issues, jaundice and a hernia. Because she was so tiny she was first fed through a tube rather than expending precious calories during the effort of breastfeeding. 

Nurses in the NICU told Valentina’s mother about the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Credit Valley Hospital.  “Being a first-time mom and having a preemie, I was quite overwhelmed, worried and distraught at the very thought of leaving my little one, especially when she was so tiny in the hospital – I would have been heartbroken and would have felt like I was abandoning her.” She was able to use one of the sleeping rooms available just steps from the NICU and Valentina for a two week period. “Without the sleeping room it would have been much more difficult to cope. I was able to stay with my baby through the night. I was right next to where my baby was so when I had to go nurse her while half asleep I didn’t have to get lost in the maze of the hospital.” 

Valentina’s mom and visitors also found the lounge area of the Ronald McDonald Family Room very comforting. “When you have a little one in the NICU a lot of people are a bit taken aback by all the tubes on the baby so having that space to sit and chat – it’s very warm and inviting.” She was touched by all the little details; the kitchenette, the comfortable couches, a television and fireplace, the bathroom with shower facilities and the small snacks and drinks provided. “A lot of times you don’t even have time to make food between talking to the nurses and doctors, nursing the baby, just trying to take a shower and get into the swing of things again, so having little soups and toasts that we could nibble on was helpful.” 

Being able to spend so much time with Valentina also gave her mother the chance to speak to doctors and nurses frequently; “I felt like I was the mother with the most presence with my little one and learned quite a bit from the medical team about how to take care of a preemie and other good stuff." 

“Valentina greatly benefited from me being close to her. I would like to express a very heartfelt thank you from our entire family and let them know that we are so appreciative. Words cannot express our appreciation for being able to use the Ronald McDonald Family Room.”