Caiden's Story

 

Dear Friend,

Peace.

I want to share with you a story of peace. It’s a letter from one of our patients here at BC Women’s Hospital. Plus, I think it’s good to share a little peace as we approach the coming holiday season. The care and comfort she found is due to our unique women-centred approach to healthcare. It’s what sets BC Women’s apart.

Saraphina Kong writes:

To the wonderful staff at BC Women’s Hospital,

I’m a former patient of Evergreen Ward and I’m writing to say “thank you”.

My stay at BC Women’s started when my obstetrician in Kelowna detected problems that might indicate a more serious issue. I was immediately sent to your hospital in Vancouver for another examination.

When my husband and I arrived, we were told that I had to be admitted right away. Your doctors suspected that I had PPROM (preterm premature rupture of membranes) and my baby was in critical condition.

I was horrified. I was only at 24 weeks and they said my baby could be born very soon.

Under the care of the doctors and nurses at Evergreen, I managed to last almost five weeks before the birth of my son.

What helped me remain calm and peaceful during my stay was the way you cared for me as a woman. In particular, Carol Weiderman’s music therapy helped me the most. I could actually meditate and relax. Her music gave me a reason to hang on for a few more days, just to hear her sing again...

Our beautiful son, Caiden was born 11 weeks prematurely and weighed just 2 1/2 lbs. He suffered lung and heart failure when he was just eight hours old.
We almost lost him...

But little Caiden lived up to his name, which means “fighter,” and now, 9 months later, he weighs a healthy 18 lbs!

Our most heartfelt thanks go out to the team at BC Women’s and to Carol. BC Women’s Hospital is an amazing facility. We feel blessed to have been there when it really counted. Caiden, 9 months old

Yours truly,

 

Like I said earlier, BC Women’s is different. We’re not like other hospitals. Our women- centred model of care means we support the whole woman – physically, mentally and emotionally.

We’re not a hospital about mending broken bones, we are about building lives, families, and communities one woman at a time.

 

Saraphina’s story shows how important it is to treat the whole woman.
At 24 weeks, babies only have a 50% chance to survive. But because we cared for her as a whole person, and not just a body, Saraphina managed to last almost five more weeks, and little baby Caiden lived.

Specialty care, like our music therapy program is only possible because of donors like you

Partly why Baby Caiden is alive and healthy today is due to the generosity of insightful donors.

As a donor myself, I hope you’ll join me this holiday season to help women like Saraphina find peace in difficult times. You may even help to give a fragile baby, like Caiden, his only chance to live.

Peace to you,

Dr. Jan Christilaw President, BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre

P.S. Having trouble finishing your holiday gift list? Make your donation in the name of a friend, colleague or loved one.