For months, Nikki was the most terrified she had ever been. At 28 weeks pregnant, the Port Alberni mom learned that her baby had Down syndrome and hydrops fetalis – a sometimes fatal condition where fluid builds up around important organs. His chance at survival was 20 per cent.
The moment Bellamy was born, doctors whisked him away to drain his fluid – beginning a chain reaction of near-death experiences and life-saving interventions.
During Bellamy’s tube placement to drain fluid, he caught E.coli meningitis, which led to seizures and hydrocephalus – fluid on the brain. His doctors were able to drain some, but Bellamy still needed critical brain surgery to give him a chance at living longer than a month.
Bellamy’s hospital stay was looking longer with each complication, and the cost of a hotel nearby was impossible.
When a social worker told Nikki about Jeneece Place, Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island’s home away from home in Victoria, it was exactly what she needed.
Staying there meant Nikki was always just steps away from her son, saving her time and stress.
“I'd hold (Bellamy) for an hour and a half, then I’d come back here and pump for an hour, then I’d go back. I did that all day every day for two and a half months,” she says.
Nearly 550 families stayed at one of the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island’s homes away from home in the last year alone.
Nikki’s other children were able to visit and even stay at Jeneece Place with her. Being together helped bring the family comfort and a sense of normalcy.
“We lived in the art room when (my daughter) was here, and she loved the little fairy garden.”
Nikki’s family is one of nearly 550 families who stayed at one of the Foundation’s homes away from home in the last year alone.
As the holiday season approaches, many Island families whose kids need medical care are grappling with fear and uncertainty. They need community and support more than ever.
Together, we can ensure kids with complex needs are surrounded by loved ones and the comforts of home this holiday season.
Please give today at islandkidsfirst.com/holiday
Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island is a donor-funded nonprofit that has supported Island kids and youth with complex health needs for nearly 100 years. We work to reduce barriers to health care access for Island families through our Homes Away From Home and Bear Essentials programs.