On June 3, my son and I walked into Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN), not to seek care, but to say thank you.
The annual visit has become a tradition for us – 14 years and counting now – that reinforces our gratitude for the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and the life-saving care my child and I received there.
Today, my son is a typical 14-year-old. He is kind, curious, and thoughtful. He pushes boundaries. He keeps us laughing. He is, without question, the greatest gift of our life.
I look at him now, a teenager growing by the day, and it’s hard to believe this is the same boy who fit in the palm of my hand when he was born.
Today, I’m sharing our family’s story – one of hope, perseverance, and gratitude, but also one of profound loss – so others in our community can understand the impact of NICU care.
As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a mother
Life had other plans.
After six heartbreaking miscarriages, including two very late losses, countless tears, and more disappointment than I can put into words, my husband and I decided to pursue IVF.
What followed were months and months of appointments, ultrasounds, bloodwork, medications, daily injections, endless waiting, and quiet hope.
Then, after what felt like a lifetime of trying, we received the news we had been dreaming of: we were expecting twins.
But joy and heartbreak often travel together.
After returning from a work trip, I awoke to a pool of blood. Nothing else mattered in that moment except getting back to the hospital.
The extraordinary doctors and nurses at WRHN worked quickly to save our babies. I was told I would likely remain on bed rest for months. Yet only hours later, I was rushed into surgery.
What happened next remains nothing short of a miracle.
Our son survived. Our daughter did not.
The smallest boy
He was so small he fit in the palm of my hand. We couldn't hold him for weeks.
We spent the next 12 weeks in the NICU at WRHN and the next decade navigating appointments, therapies, assessments, and follow-up care through WRHN, KidsAbility, and McMaster Children's Hospital.
Recently, our Rabbi shared a lesson that has stayed with me. He reminded us that the purpose of raising children is not simply to help them succeed, but to help them develop judgment, character, compassion, and self-control - to guide them until wisdom begins to lead impulse, and values begin to shape decisions.
It reminded me that parenting is not about perfection. It is about showing up, day after day, and helping another human being become the best version of themselves.
Grateful for each day
Fourteen years after the birth of my son, I remain deeply grateful - to my family, my husband, my mother, our friends and community, my mentors, and the extraordinary healthcare professionals who carried us through our darkest moments.
I remain grateful to my son, a young man who reminds me every day that miracles sometimes arrive in the smallest packages.
And I remain grateful to a community of donors – many who will never meet me or my family – but who gave generously anyway to help ensure our hospitals were equipped with the tools and equipment my child needed, when he needed them most.
That is why I continue to make the trip to WRHN each year, to share my gratitude for the healthcare professionals and community members that did more for my family than they will ever know.
If you’ve supported kids care at WRHN, I want you to know how deeply that impact is felt by patients and families – not just at the time they need that care, but in every moment after it.
Behind every milestone is a donor like you -- help another kid reach their next milestone today.
Each gift does more than fund equipment and programs. It makes every meaningful moment possible.
Let your experience inspire others.
Whether you’re a patient, family member, donor, event participant or proud WRHN staff, sharing your story and connection to Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) is a powerful way to show how donations impact our community in real, tangible ways.
