“We are very grateful for our medical team and the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic at Humber—we have our family because of them,” says Jennifer.

Jennifer’s journey to motherhood began in 2019. After trying to conceive for two years, she turned to in vitro fertilization (IVF), a process where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body and then implanted in the uterus. Her first child, Sophia, was born as a result, with her second child, Max following some years later using the same process.��

Unfortunately, complications arose with her third pregnancy and her OB/GYN, Dr. André LaRoche, referred Jennifer to the (MFM) where she worked with MFM Specialist, Dr. Howard Berger and Medical Director of Nephrology, .��

At 22 weeks, Jennifer was diagnosed with preeclampsia – a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ (often the kidneys). If she did not act quickly, Jennifer would be faced with the devastating choice between terminating the pregnancy of her daughter Alessia or risking losing her own life. Sadly, the final decision was to terminate the pregnancy. “Losing Alessia was the most traumatic experience of my life,” says Jennifer. “The grief was overwhelming, and it left a deep void in my heart.”��

Baby Anthony with a picture of the baby prints of his sister, Alessia. Alessia’s pregnancy was terminated due to severe preeclampsia. But with the support of Humber’s Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic, Jennifer was able to deliver her fourth child, Anthony.

Reflecting on her journey, Jennifer cannot imagine what would have happened without the support of the MFM Clinic. “The initial meeting to discuss terminating Alessia’s pregnancy was one of the toughest moments I’ve ever faced,” says Jennifer. “However, the approach taken by the hospital staff was exemplary. They made sure we had all the information we needed, answering every question patiently and without any rush.”��

One of the standout aspects of her experience was the accessibility and support from the doctors and staff. “Humber’s commitment to patient care is exceptional,” says Jennifer. “The regular appointments and the ability to quickly address any concerns were vital in easing my worries.”��

Despite her trauma, Jennifer remained resolute in her desire to grow her family. Five months after losing Alessia’s, Jennifer decided to try again. In August 2023, with the approval and support of her team at �������, she embarked on another round of IVF. The process was fraught with anxiety and fear, but the MFM Clinic provided unwavering support.��

“They wanted to make sure I was mentally okay to go ahead and get pregnant again. The check-ins and support from the team were invaluable,” says Jennifer.��

“When I brought Anthony to show the team, it was a proud moment for my husband and me,” says Jennifer. Dr. André LaRoche was one of many who shared in the celebrating of baby Anthony.

Regular appointments and the availability of the doctors eased her anxiety. Even during moments of intense fear, like suspecting preeclampsia, the team responded swiftly and thoroughly, reassuring her that everything was okay.

“I can’t even imagine what would have happened if we didn’t have access to the MFM Clinic, and the support from Dr. Berger, Dr. Berall, Dr. LaRoche and the rest of the team. They made us feel at ease during such an uncertain time,” says Jennifer. “Their proactive approach and continuous support made all the difference.”��

The delivery of her fourth baby, Anthony, was a culmination of careful monitoring and the dedicated support of Jennifer’s medical team. Despite the challenges, and her overwhelming emotions, the preparation and presence of a fully equipped medical team ensured a smooth delivery.��

Jennifer is filled with gratitude for the team at Humber. Their support was not just medical but deeply personal, forming a bond that forged the path to growing her family. “It wasn’t just medical appointments. We talked and laughed, forming a relationship,” says Jennifer. “When I brought Anthony to show the team, it was a proud moment for my husband and me. Dr. Berall even came in on her day off to see Anthony. We are very grateful for our medical team at Humber—we have our family because of them.”��

The support that Jennifer received throughout her journey inspired her to make a donation in honour of the MFM Clinic. She also hopes to contribute to developing support systems within Humber, ensuring that other women have access to the same level of care and compassion that she received.��

If you would like to learn more about our and how you can support our MFM Clinic Expansion, please contact Judene Stewarts at justewart@hrh.ca

A Star is Born

If you’re expecting a little Star this year (or if you’re looking for another way to celebrate your family today) consider making a Star is Born donation and help us light new ways in healthcare for our future generations!

Donate Today

The post From Heartbreak to Hope with the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic: Jennifer’s Story appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Baby Angela’s birth was honoured by her grandmother Sandra, who had delivered her own children at Humber’s Finch legacy site, births she also commemorated with a star.

When Sandra welcomed her first grandchild she was excited to continue what is becoming a stellar tradition for her family – Making a donation to the Hospital through our Star is Born program in honour of baby Angela.

—

One special wall on the Maternal & Child floor of Humber River Hospital is a popular spot for visitors and patients to star gaze. It’s decorated with a growing number of stars, each one a tribute to a much-loved baby who was born at the Hospital. Every star includes the newborn’s name and birth date and some include a picture of the baby.

One of the most recent stars added to the wall celebrates the birth of baby Angela, whose birth was honoured by her grandmother, Sandra. This donation is close to Sandra’s heart as she delivered her own daughter and son at Humber’s Finch legacy site many years ago, births she also commemorated with a star.

“During the years that followed my children’s births, we found ourselves at the Finch site often, visiting new members of the family who were born there,” recalls Sandra. “Each time we went, my kids were so excited to find their stars on the wall and to point them out to their cousins!”

When baby Angela was born at Humber’s Wilson site, Sandra was pleased to learn the Hospital was continuing the tradition of A Star is Born. She knew that she wanted to make the same tribute to her granddaughter as she had for her own children.

“My daughter, Celina, had a wonderful experience delivering her daughter at Humber—just as I did many years ago.” says Sandra.

“My granddaughter’s name, Angela Maria, was chosen to honour close relatives on both my daughter’s and her husband’s sides of the family. This makes her star even more special to us all,” says Sandra, who chose to donate to Humber’s area of greatest need.

“I am so pleased to have been able to continue an important family tradition with Angela’s star,” says Sandra. “More than that, I am passionate about giving to causes that are important to me. It’s gratifying to know that my donation is going towards helping the Hospital deliver the best care to its patients.”

“My daughter, Celina, had a wonderful experience delivering her daughter at Humber—just as I did many years ago at the Hospital’s legacy site,” continues Sandra. “While the new site’s single rooms and state-of-the-art technology are very impressive—and made for a lovely experience—what stood out to me and my daughter was the exceptional and warm care that Celina experienced. Her nurse Elnaz was her constant support that day, checking stats, making notes, and providing great support with a big and caring heart. It’s the same care that I was lucky enough to receive from Humber many years ago. In fact, I suspect we may have even had some of the same nurses!”

Angela was born just before Christmas and is now well settled into her home and routines. Sandra is, of course, a frequent visitor and coveted babysitter.

“Angela is such an alert baby, holding her head up at one week and recognizing voices at a very early age,” says Sandra with pride. Clearly, Angela is more than living up to her star billing!

The post A Star is Born! Baby Angela’s Time to Shine appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Ruby was worried about her mom, and she couldn’t imagine her not being around for her baby’s first days. So when Ruby felt Dr. Grace Mariampillai going above and beyond for her in her care, she was incredibly grateful.

As the due date for Ruby’s baby Aarian approached, she mourned how things would be different this time; when her first son was born, Ruby’s mother had been a pillar of support. But this time around, her mom was going through intensive cancer treatments including chemotherapy and stem cell transplants.

Ruby was worried about her mom, and she couldn’t imagine her not being around for her baby’s first days. So when Ruby felt Dr. Grace Mariampillai going above and beyond for her in her care, she was incredibly grateful.

Dr. Mariampillai had been Ruby’s OBGYN when she was pregnant with her first son who she delivered by emergency C-section, she had also been there for Ruby during her next pregnancy which unfortunately had ended in loss, and she was diligently caring for Ruby during her pregnancy with baby Aarian.

“Dr. Grace is amazing,” says Ruby. “I have no words to describe her. I had a lot going on during my pregnancy. I had gestational diabetes and needed lots of tests. My mom was going through treatment. And my sister was caring for my mother. Dr. Grace did everything she could to take care of me.”

Dr. Mariampillai knew that Ruby worried after every test, so she would call her between cases to reassure her everything was okay. She also knew how important it was to Ruby that her mom could meet the baby before her next stem cell transplant, so she scheduled Ruby’s planned C-section for before her mother’s treatment. At the end of her pregnancy when Ruby’s discomfort grew to be too painful, Dr. Mariampillai moved her C-section forward to be with Dr. Benjamin Tse but made sure to be in the operating room.

“The staff in the Mother Baby Unit were phenomenal,” says Ruby. “I really bonded with my nurses, Akua and Melissa. They made me feel at ease. I’m a nurse too, so they talked me through everything and reassured me. But they also understood when I was in the mood to talk about things other than newborns or jaundice.”

“Dr. Tse was great,” says Ruby. “And it meant so much to me that Dr. Grace was there in the room. When you trust somebody it makes such a big difference. I’m so grateful I found that relationship with her.”

Ruby’s C-section went smoothly and Aarian was born, a beautiful baby weighing 10 pounds, 6 ounces. But Aarian unfortunately had jaundice and needed a few extra days in the hospital receiving phototherapy. Humber arranged to have them all continue to stay in their Mother Baby room until he was ready to be discharged.

“The staff in the Unit were phenomenal,” says Ruby. “I really bonded with two of my nurses, Akua and Melissa. They made me feel at ease. I’m a nurse too, so they talked me through everything and reassured me. But they also understood when I was in the mood to talk about things other than newborns or jaundice.”

Baby Aarian’s jaundice made him sleepy and he could only go 20 minutes at a time outside the phototherapy lights. It made nursing difficult, but Ruby was grateful for the support of her lactation consultant, also named Melissa, who stayed nearby to help the baby latch whenever another feed started.

Dr. Mariampillai also checked on Ruby every day to make sure she was okay.

“I was super taken care of at Humber,” says Ruby. “My recovery was also very smooth. I’m a surgical oncology nurse and this experience affirmed for me that one day it would be nice to work in labour and delivery.”

“My mom was able to be a grandma to my son for two weeks before her treatment,” says Ruby. “It meant a lot to both of us. I’m very thankful.”

Ruby’s mother underwent her stem cell treatment two weeks after Aarian was born.

“My mom was able to be a grandma to my son for two weeks before her treatment,” says Ruby. “Culturally we have dishes we eat after giving birth – 11 days of special meals for wound healing and breast milk production. It meant a lot to both of us that she could do that again for me before her treatment. I’m very thankful.”

The post Ruby’s Above and Beyond Care from Dr. Mariampillai and Team appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

–

Amanda was referred to Humber’s Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic, which provides care for women experiencing higher-risk pregnancies and also for women who wish to become pregnant who may have underlying health barriers.

In 2021, Amanda had surgery at Humber River Hospital to remove the fibroids in her uterus that were preventing her from getting pregnant.

“I had a great experience at Humber,” says Amanda. “My OBGYN, Dr. Lynn Sterling, was so supportive during this time, even calling to check in on me while she was on maternity leave.”

The surgery was successful and Amanda was delighted to become pregnant shortly afterwards; however, her pregnancy was classified as high risk and she was referred to Humber River Hospital’s Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) Clinic for additional monitoring throughout her pregnancy.

In addition to visits with Dr. Sterling, Amanda began seeing Dr. Howard Berger, an OBGYN and Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, who was instrumental in establishing the MFM Clinic. Through an additional ultrasound, he identified that Amanda had placenta accreta, a serious condition in which the placenta grows too deeply into the uterine wall and that can cause complications during delivery.

“After the ultrasound, I had an MRI to see exactly how deeply my placenta was embedded in my uterus—and it showed that it was very deep,” recalls Amanda. “I learned that I would have to be put under general anaesthetic so they could safely remove my placenta during my C-Section and that my husband would not be able to stay in the room. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to deliver at Humber with Dr. Sterling who I trusted so much.”

Amanda’s placenta accreta meant that her delivery would be complex and high-risk, but Dr. Sterling had full confidence that the team at Humber could provide the care that she needed.

Amanda’s delivery would be complex and high-risk, but Dr. Sterling had full confidence that the team at Humber could provide the care that she needed.

At 34 weeks, Amanda began leaking amniotic fluid and was admitted to the Hospital immediately so she could be monitored closely. Her placenta accreta meant that going into labour naturally would be a risk to her and the baby.

“Dr. Sterling checked in on me often during that time and in addition to monitoring my physical condition, she would also go out of her way to ask how I was doing emotionally. I never once felt like I didn’t know what was going on. I was confident that I was in the best hands, which made this a much less scary time.”

When her team determined it was safest to do so, five days after being admitted, Amanda was brought into the operating room to deliver her baby. Before undergoing the procedure, she was introduced to the team that would be attending to her, which included Dr. Sterling, Dr. Gilbert Miller, Dr. Lesley Hawkins, and anaesthesiologist Dr. Stan Konieczny.

According to Amanda, “the doctors and nurses were fantastic. Dr. Hawkins went out of her way to reassure me. Dr. Sterling held my hand while I fell asleep and made sure she was there when I woke up—which for her was at the end of a 12-hour shift. In fact, the whole team made a point of coming to see me after the surgery, including Dr. Konieczny. On top of that, because I was under anaesthetic and my husband couldn’t be with me, the nurses arranged to borrow his phone to take pictures of our baby’s birth for us.”

“Julian is four months old now and thriving,” says Amanda. “He eats, he sleeps, he’s happy–and he rolled over the other day! Everything worked out and I truly have Dr. Sterling and the rest of the team at Humber River Hospital to thank for that.”

Amanda and her husband, Domenic, are now the proud parents of baby Julian. Because he was born early, Julian was admitted to Humber’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit but was given a clean bill of health and discharged after nine days.

“Julian is four months old now and thriving,” says Amanda proudly. “He eats, he sleeps, he’s happy–and he rolled over the other day! Everything worked out and I truly have Dr. Sterling and the rest of the team at Humber River Hospital to thank for that. I’m so grateful to have had the best care and to have had it so close to home.”

The post High-Risk Pregnancy and Delivery at Humber River Hospital: Amanda’s Story appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

With each contraction the baby’s heart rate was rising and falling. Angela watched the monitor the whole time but she felt calm, and knew she was in good hands.

“I remember getting the call from Dr. Pizzuto that my two most recent ultrasounds hadn’t been as clear as she would have liked,” says Angela. “She suggested that I come in while she was on-call at Humber River Hospital. My ultrasound at the Hospital showed that I had low amniotic fluid and needed to be induced.”

Dr. Pizzuto induced Angela with a foley balloon to help her cervix begin to dilate, and told Angela to go home to eat and rest. A few hours later when the foley balloon fell out, it was go-time.

“When I arrived at Labour and Delivery, a student nurse named Mitch signed me in and he was so great,” says Angela. “He and the other nurses were very comforting and made sure I was aware of everything as it needed to happen.”

Once Angela received her epidural, there was a lot of resting and waiting.

“I had an overnight nurse named Sahar who was so kind and nurturing,” says Angela. “Things progressed slowly overnight, but I really felt like she took care of me – like having another mother in the room.”

By the morning, Angela hadn’t dilated as much as her care team had hoped, and with each contraction the baby’s heart rate was rising and falling enough that they were keeping a close eye on her. Angela watched the monitor the whole time but she felt calm, and knew she was in good hands.

“Dr. Pizzuto talked me through my options and asked all the questions in preparation for a C-Section just in case. She also performed a stretch and sweep to encourage things along,” says Angela. “I wasn’t rushed into any decisions and my team was great about keeping me calm as they were in and out of my room to monitor the baby and help me change positions.”

“She’s three months old now and every day is something different,” says Angela. “I love watching her react and smile and figure out the world.”

Finally, Angela reached 10cm and .

“At the shift change I got a new nurse named Nana who came in with the tough love,” says Angela. “Sahar had been incredibly calming while I rested through my contractions, and Nana gave me the strength I needed while I pushed for an hour. They were both exactly what I needed.”

Pushing was exhausting, but Angela dug deep and found the strength she needed. Baby Genevieve was born at 7:43am (with a full head of hair!), right before Dr. Pizzuto’s shift ended.

“We had the best experience at Humber and I felt so lucky that Dr. Kate was there to take care of me the whole time,” says Angela. “Having her there was like having a friend in the room. She was always reassuring, and never made me worry if I didn’t need to.”

Angela and her husband Michael are adjusting to parenthood and loving life with little Genevieve.

“She’s three months old now and every day is something different,” says Angela. “I love watching her react and smile and figure out the world.”

The post Labour and Delivery: Baby Genevieve’s Story appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

“Dr. Lesley Hawkins and my nurses were so calm, even when I wasn’t,” says Angela. “They reminded me that I had done this before, and that I could do it again.”

“Dr. André LaRoche took great care of me during both of my pregnancies,” says Angela. “Delivering our first baby Leo had been traumatic, so I knew exactly what I wanted for my second and final birth. I planned on being induced while Dr. LaRoche was working so that he could deliver our baby and be there as we said farewell to this chapter of our lives.”

Then Angela’s induction date got pushed out. By the time she was induced, Dr. LaRoche was no longer on call. Things progressed quickly and by the next morning she was in active labour.

“I could tell when I was being triaged that the Labour & Delivery team was stretched,” says Angela. “Labour was progressing quickly. My biggest fear was that I wasn’t going to get the care I needed. But the nurse who triaged me, Ellie, reassured me. She brought me to L&D and told me that she was going to be my nurse and I could feel she wanted to make sure I was being taken care of.”

Angela then met Dr. Lesley Hawkins, the OBGYN who would deliver her baby.

“Right away, I appreciated how Dr. Hawkins approached me. As someone who had had a traumatic experience before, I felt really safe this time,” says Angela. “We decided together that based on my previous experience and how quickly the baby was coming that I wouldn’t be getting an epidural.”

“Dr. Hawkins and my nurses were so calm, even when I wasn’t,” she says. “They reminded me that I had done this before, and that I could do it again. And like exercise balls and peanut balls to support my new birth plan.”

When baby Gia was born, Dr. Hawkins invited Angela’s husband Frank into the experience by allowing him to cut the cord. It was a detail that they hadn’t planned for but that ended up feeling very meaningful to Angela.

Dr. Hawkins holds up her Gifts of Gratitude card and pin that she received after Angela made a donation in honour of her, Ellie, Natalie, Paula, and Elena.

Soon after baby Gia was born, her healthcare team realized that she needed oxygen support. Angela waited in her bed for 40 minutes while Gia received the care she needed. She felt vulnerable and worried but her nurses continued to reassure her that Gia was okay. And when Gia was finally put on her chest, Angela was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

“We completed our family at Humber River Hospital,” says Angela. “Even when the unexpected happened, the care Gia and I received was so amazing and I knew I wanted to say thank you to my team with a Gift of Gratitude. I want Ellie, Natalie, Paula, Elena, and Dr. Hawkins to know that we appreciate everything they did for us. Thank you!”

Learn More ������� Gifts of Gratitude Today!

Are you grateful for the care you received at Humber River Hospital? Give a Gift of Gratitude in honour of the person or team who went above-and-beyond for you with a donation in their name.��Click here to get started!

The post Thank you for bringing our baby into the world | Angela’s Gift of Gratitude appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Dr. Pizzuto and her newborn daughter, Olivia.

As an OBGYN at Humber River Hospital, Dr. Kate Pizzuto has provided remarkable care for women throughout their lives: through puberty, pregnancies, deliveries and the transition to menopause.

When Dr. Pizzuto found out she was pregnant with her first child, during a pandemic, she found herself feeling a bit more anxious than she thought she would be.

“I think it’s always a hard transition to become a patient. And I found it especially difficult because I knew exactly what was going to happen during the pregnancy and delivery, but had so much to learn about being a new mom.”

Having Dr. Andre LaRoche, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, as her OBGYN was a huge sense of relief for her, considering that they share the same office.

Dr. LaRoche holding baby Olivia.

“I knew that I was going to be in good hands with him, and I was so happy to have him care for me during my pregnancy and delivery,” Dr. Pizzuto said.

On top of that, Dr. Pizzuto didn’t even hesitate to give birth to her now one-year old daughter, Olivia, at Humber because she couldn’t imagine delivering her anywhere else.

“To me, it was really important to deliver my baby at Humber because I know the exceptional quality of care that our department provides to our patients. It was nice to bring her into the world in the place that I work, surrounded by my colleagues,” she said. “I also think that when you look at the other hospitals in the area, Humber just provides the best care for our pregnant patients. For three years in a row, we’ve had the lowest neonatal harm index, which means it’s one of the safest places to have a baby in the province.”

“I wanted to recognize all of the exceptional care that we received while Olivia and I were patients at Humber. Our doctors and nurses went above and beyond to ensure that we had a great birth experience at Humber,” Dr. Pizzuto said.

A Star Is Born

Dr. Pizzuto made another easy decision by honouring baby Olivia’s arrival through the A Star Is Born Program. Olivia’s name was added on to our beautiful star wall outside the Mother Baby Unit, and her donation will help future patients receive great care at the Hospital.

“I wanted to recognize all of the exceptional care that we received while Olivia and I were patients at Humber. Our doctors and nurses went above and beyond to ensure that we had a great birth experience at Humber,” Dr. Pizzuto said. “On a more personal note, every time I’m on call and pass by the beautiful Star Is Born wall, I am reminded of my daughter and how my journey to motherhood began.”

She was also surprised to receive a birthday card from the Humber River Hospital Foundation in honour of Olivia turning one, which all A Star Is Born babies receive on their first birthday.

“Although my baby won’t remember her first birthday, I know that I felt a huge sense of accomplishment, that we somehow made through the year, especially being a first-time mom in the middle of a global pandemic,” she joked.

Dr. Pizzuto made another easy decision by honouring baby Olivia’s arrival through the A Star Is Born Program.

Learn More ������� A Star Is Born Today!

Honour your beloved child by sharing their name on our beautiful star wall, while giving a donation in support of Humber River Hospital. It’s the perfect way for adoring parents, starstruck grandparents, and aunties and uncles with stars in their eyes to show their love!

To learn more about A Star Is Born, please contact Saneh Singh, Senior Development Officer, Annual at (416) 242-1000 ext. 81517 or sansingh@hrh.ca

The post A Star Is Born: Dr. Pizzuto’s Story appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

“My pregnancy with Amir was complicated. I have fibroids on my uterus and fallopian tube, which has given me horrible cramping and pain since I was a teenager. This made my pregnancy higher risk and nobody expected me to carry to term,” remembers Sehdeen.

Sehdeen’s journey at Humber River Hospital started in the Apotex Emergency Department (ED) where a fibroid in her uterus had put so much pressure on a kidney that it led to an infection. While Sehdeen was being treated for the infection in the ED, she learned she was pregnant.

“My pregnancy with Amir was complicated. I have fibroids on my uterus and fallopian tube, which has given me horrible cramping and pain since I was a teenager. This made my pregnancy higher risk and nobody expected me to carry to term,” remembers Sehdeen.

Dr. André LaRoche, Chief of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Humber, was leading Sehdeen’s care. Due to her fibroids and other complicating factors, the best course of action for her care was to coordinate several departments working together to ensure the safety of both mom and baby.

Obstetrics, Paediatrics and Interventional Radiology were all on standby for the C-Section. Since fibroids pull in extra blood supply to the uterus, balloon pumps were inserted at the hips before the C-Section to reduce blood flow to the uterus and mitigate the chance of Sehdeen bleeding too much during the surgery. Units of blood were prepared just in case Sehdeen needed it.

After the surgery, Sehdeen experienced heavy bleeding which required an iron transfusion as well as medication to help the bleeding stop. She was able to go home with her son, Amir, several days later.

Fast forward 9 months and Sehdeen has returned to Humber and back to Dr. LaRoche who used the da Vinci Surgical Robot to remove her fibroids. She asked Dr. LaRoche to leave one fibroid (the one on her fallopian tube) so she could continue to have children in the future.

Only a few days later, Amir was admitted to a hospital downtown. Thanks to the quicker healing time offered by this minimally invasive procedure using the da Vinci Surgical Robot, Sehdeen had recovered enough to be at Amir’s bedside.

Only a few days later, Amir was admitted to a hospital downtown. Thanks to the quicker healing time offered by this minimally invasive procedure using the da Vinci Surgical Robot, Sehdeen had recovered enough to be at Amir’s bedside.�� “If I had any other surgery, I don’t think I could have been there for him. I’m so grateful I was at Humber with the technology to perform this procedure,” says Sehdeen. Now, Amir is feeling better and Sehdeen is too. She says, “my quality of life has gone up so much. I’ve taken pain medication for the fibroids since I was a teenager, but after the surgery, I felt great.”

“Dr. LaRoche is my favourite person. There were highs and lows to my pregnancy and he helped me get through it all. I still see him now for regular checkups. He goes above and beyond. I have one of the best doctors there is!”

The da Vinci Surgical Robot is the centerpiece of the Murphy and Helen Hull Robotics Centre at Humber River Hospital. The Centre was established thanks to a transformational donation from the late Murphy and Helen Hull.

The post It Takes a Team – from the ED to the da Vinci Surgical Robot: Sehdeen’s Story appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

“When I woke up from my coma, I had no idea so much time had passed. My C-section scar was healed and Zion was already a 7-week old baby,” recalls Denishar.

This past spring, Denishar was 35 weeks pregnant when she came into Humber’s Apotex Emergency Department with shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. She tested positive for COVID-19.

“I felt like I was suffocating when I arrived in the emergency room. They sent me upstairs and I had to have an emergency C-section right away. The last thing I remember was the doctor saying, ‘we are going to look after you. Everything is going to be okay,’” says Denishar.

Baby Zion was born weighing just over 6 pounds and was whisked away to Humber’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where he stayed for the next several days.

But Denishar had no idea what was happening with her son. She was in a fight for her own life.

Due to complications from COVID-19, Denishar spent the next 7 weeks in a coma. During this time she suffered a stroke and her breathing became even more laboured.

She was transferred to another Toronto hospital and put on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) which let her heart and lungs rest while still pumping oxygen into her bloodstream. When Denishar became stronger and could breathe again on her own, she was transferred back to Humber.

“When I woke up from my coma, I had no idea so much time had passed. My C-section scar was healed and Zion was already a 7-week old baby,” recalls Denishar.

“The only thing I could think of was my son. I wanted to hold him and be able to care for him, but I couldn’t move the left side of my body and I couldn’t walk,” says Denishar.

The combination of COVID-19, the stroke and lack of movement for weeks meant Denishar could no longer walk.

“The only thing I could think of was my son. I wanted to hold him and be able to care for him, but I couldn’t move the left side of my body and I couldn’t walk.”

Leigh, a Humber physiotherapist, recalls how he and his assistant Helen worked with Denishar to help her regain her mobility. “She was very determined to walk again and be the one caring for her baby. She did her exercises every moment she could to get stronger. In her last week at Humber, she was blowing by rehabilitation milestones. Her recovery was remarkable.”

While Denishar did not get to meet many of the doctors and nurses who took care of her while she was in a coma, she fondly remembers Leigh. She says, “I wouldn’t be walking if it weren’t for Leigh. He pushed me every day and helped me with my mobility. I was really motivated by him.”

Now out of the Hospital she says, “I’m a survivor – I survived this incredible ordeal and lived to tell others about it. I was so happy when I finally regained mobility and was able to hold my baby. He is doing very well. I’m so grateful to Leigh, the team that cared me for me at Humber and the team who cared for Zion in the NICU. Thank you!”

The post Battling COVID-19 & Pregnant: Denishar’s Story appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Dr. Kosalka with Magdalena and baby Natalia.

Dr. Kosalka remembers meeting Magdalena when she was pregnant with her first child in 1999. “Her oldest is now in university and it means a lot to me that Magdalena and Zbigniew continue to come back to Humber for every new child,” he says.

During her pregnancy with Baby #10, Magdalena recalls a number of complications that arose. Due to the years of care and strong relationship she had built with Dr. Kosalka, she remained trusting of the guidance from him and his team, and both mother and baby had a healthy delivery.

“Dr. Kosalka is a miracle worker. He and his staff team have been here for us for every baby. We live over an hour away, but we wouldn’t think of going to anyone else or anywhere else.”

Throughout the years, Humber has seen some big changes. The new Wilson site opened in 2015 with 80% single patient rooms. Since then, Zbigniew has a bed of his own thanks to the recliner chair in each room and the family has use of a private washroom.

Dr. Kosalka has been with Humber since 1994 and has delivered over 7,000 babies over the course of his career. “People like Magdalena and Zbigniew come back because of the Humber difference. Our Hospital has leading-edge technology and the importance placed on providing good patient care is unparalleled. How you focus on the patient and how you care for them – that’s why they come back.”

Magdalena, Zbigniew, and Natalia are now at home and adjusting to life as a family of 13.

Learn more about the Humber River’s Maternal Child program, including a tour of our birthing and postpartum rooms.

The post Building Lasting Relationships: Magdalena and Dr. Kosalka appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.