Humber’s Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic provides accessible and essential care for women experiencing higher-risk pregnancies and for patients with underlying health barriers who wish to become pregnant.

Helina was 31 and pregnant with her first child when she first came to ÍűșìșÚÁÏ’s (MFM) Clinic.

“I was looking for an obstetrician that would listen to me and help me along the journey, since it is my first time,” says Helina. After completing an ultrasound that showed that her baby was measuring smaller than the baby’s gestational age, she was referred to Dr. Howard Berger, an OBGYN and MFM Specialist at ÍűșìșÚÁÏ.

Humber’s MFM Clinic provides accessible and essential care for women experiencing higher-risk pregnancies and for patients with underlying health barriers who wish to become pregnant.

“As an OBGYN and high-risk specialist, I proudly lead the clinic, along with two nurses. The clinic has been a great success!,” says Dr. Berger.

At the time of her referral to the MFM clinic, Helina was 24-25 weeks along her pregnancy and Dr. Berger could not pinpoint why the baby was so small. They decided the best course of action was to monitor the baby very closely. She started getting ultrasounds every 2 weeks as the doctors continued to monitor the baby’s growth.

“At first, I thought it may have been a genetic component as my husband was a fairly tiny baby as well,” says Helina.

It was determined that the baby had a placenta blockage. This blockage resulted in insufficient nutrients being delivered to the baby, hence the small size. Dr. Berger and the team at the MFM Clinic decided to move monitoring to weekly.

“As an OBGYN and high-risk specialist, I proudly lead the clinic, along with two nurses. The clinic has been a great success!,” says Dr. Berger.

“Dr. Berger and the rest of the team continued to monitor my baby very closely to make sure that enough oxygen was being delivered,” says Helina.

Nearly 37 weeks later, Helina started having high blood pressure, a dangerous situation for both mother and baby. She was admitted to Humber where her attending doctor recommended that she be induced immediately.

After being induced and moved into the birthing unit, Helina was put on oxytocin and monitored closely.

“My body was still not going into labour, so they increased my dosage,” says Helina. “At some point, the dosage was so high, my baby’s heartbeat was going into distress.”

The doctors lowered her dosage, but her body was still not going into labour. After repeating the process a couple more times, the doctor recommended a C-Section.

“I knew that this was the most likely scenario, because the team could not keep increasing the dosage and repeating the process,” says Helina. “It would just put my child and I at risk.”

After her son Ezana was born, he was transferred to the NICU. Nurses regularly provided Helina and her husband updates about their son throughout the night. This kindness and support from the nurses, along with the quick and considerate action of her attending physicians during this stressful time was what made their Humber journey special.

“My husband and I are very appreciative of everyone that helped us at Humber,” says Helina. “From the MFM Clinic, to the Labour & Delivery team and the NICU, thank you!”

Helina and her husband are grateful for the support of the MFM Clinic. “It was much better that we knew early on, and were prepared. For every decision, it felt like we were in control,” says Helina.

After 2 weeks of trips back and forth to the hospital, Helina’s son was taken off the ventilator and was able to go home with his parents. After an incredible journey, and thanks to the help of their team at Humber, they could all go home together to start their new life as a family.

“My husband and I are very appreciative of everyone that helped us at Humber,” says Helina. “From the MFM Clinic, to the Labour & Delivery team and the NICU, thank you!”

Please note: Images have been changed for the comfort of Helina and her family

If you would like to learn more about our and how you can support our MFM Clinic Expansion, please contact Shelly Koren at skoren@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 Navigating High-Risk Pregnancies with the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic: Helina’s Story appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Last year, Humber’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) achieved a Level 2C designation for our ability to care for smaller and sicker babies.

Because of the contributions of generous donors like Connie, Humber is more ready than ever to welcome new babies and care for the most vulnerable newborns!

In December 2022, baby Aura was born at Humber River with a serious infection that required her to be quarantined and treated in the Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She couldn’t have been in more capable hands: last year, Humber’s NICU achieved a Level 2C designation, which means that it is able to care for higher acuity babies who are smaller or sicker.

This designation was achieved due to the generosity of donors whose contributions helped Humber purchase four specialized ventilators, essential equipment for caring for babies born as early as 30 weeks of gestation. These new ventilators can support newborns for a duration of up to seven days; the older models can do so for less than 24 hours.

“I couldn’t be more grateful and more determined to pay it forward,” says Connie.

Further, Humber’s NICU now features an in-house respiratory therapist, access to ophthalmology and staff who are trained on the delicate insertion of the tubes and lines needed to clear tiny lungs and deliver medication and nutrition.

Aura spent her stay in Humber’s NICU, cozy in her Giraffe Omnibed, a combined care stations and incubator that can be positioned in many different ways to increase access to babies for medical care while minimizing disruption to the delicate patients. The Giraffe OmniBeds also minimize each baby’s temperature swings and maintain a neutral thermal environment.

The NICU’s new upgraded Level 2C designation means that babies like Aura are more likely to receive the care they need closer to home at Humber, the hospital trusted and chosen by their parents.

Aura’s grandmother Connie was so grateful for the care that her granddaughter received at Humber that she decided to make an annual Gift of Gratitude donation, every Christmas, directed to the NICU. Aura was Connie’s second grandchild to need Humber’s NICU at the beginning of her life, and Connie donates in honour of both Aura and Adalyn every year.

“Although I’ve never met the team that cared for Aura, I make this donation to thank them for their collective devotion to their profession,” says Connie. “Aura received the best of care in the NICU and is now a thriving chunky little thing, adored by big sister Brea and the rest of our family. I couldn’t be more grateful and more determined to pay it forward.”

The post Every Year, Grateful Grandmother Connie donates to the NICU appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

Thank you to Robert, Jason and the entire team who chose to generously support Humber’s NICU again!

It was another successful McHappy Day!

Every year, McDonald’s Canada franchisees and crew across the country celebrate McHappy Day, which is an annual day of community giving in support of local charities.

On Wednesday May 11, 2022, 14 McDonald’s locations throughout the Humber community supported Humber River Hospital by donating 10 percent of product sales to support the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – Humber’s tiniest and most vulnerable patients!

The Results Are In!

We are proud to announce that the 14 participating McDonald’s locations supporting Humber River Hospital have raised over $20,000.00!

This couldn’t have been achieved without the support from McDonald’s customers and the many volunteers who took the time to be a part of McHappy Day, including our corporate volunteers such as RBC, Signet Group and Greenwin Corp. who joined in on the fun!

Thank you to Robert, Abby and team who also chose to generously support Humber’s NICU again!

The money raised will help purchase new ventilators that will help our NICU achieve Level 2C status, which can care for even smaller and sicker babies. This means families in our Humber community will no longer need to travel to other hospitals downtown or beyond since babies born as early as 30 weeks requiring ventilation can stay close to their parents at Humber.

A special thank you to franchisees Jon MacDonald and Robert Nadeau and their teams who chose to generously support Humber’s NICU once again with their combined 14 McDonald’s stores.

Check out our Facebook page for more photos from McHappy Day 2022!

We’re Lovin’ It!

The post McHappy Day 2022 Raises over $20,000 for the NICU appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

On March 8, 2022, members of the Women in Kindness (WINK) will gather together (virtually) to cast their final vote for which program (ICU or Breast Health) will win the $100,000+ pot.

WINK is a group of powerful women working together to support Humber River Hospital. Together, they decide where their funds will be used, making meaningful change throughout our Hospital community.

We profiled two of our previous WINK winners along with this year’s program finalists for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Breast Health.

Paula Villafana – Mental Health (2019/2020 Winner of WINK) 

Paula Villafana is the Program Director for Mental Health and Addictions at Humber River Hospital. Paula represented the Mental Health and Addictions Program at the first WINK Den Event for the 2019-2020 season.  She shares her joy and gratitude that the program was voted to win the $32,000 pot in combined donations.

“Winning the first-ever WINK Den Event has impacted the Mental Health and Addictions Program tremendously and we’re incredibly grateful to have been chosen,” Paula said. “Through donor support, we were able to help more patients gain access to tangible purchases likes iPads, digital thermometers, and new tables and chairs to accommodate the growth of group therapy sessions.”

Paula also mentioned how grateful patient, Joanne, who shared her story at the WINK Den event, is one of many success stories in the program. “Because of the community who supports the Hospital with donations, Joanne was able to get the help she needed and that truly means so much to us.”

Dr. Graham Black – NICU (2020/2021 Winner of WINK) 

Dr. Graham Black, a pediatrician at Humber River Hospital. Dr. Black represented the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), who was voted as the winner at last year’s WINK Den Event.

“Knowing these group of women decided to raise and gift the NICU with $50,000 is amazing,” Dr. Black said. “Because of their decision, we are one step closer to purchasing a new ventilator for the NICU, one of four that will allow us to expand care for smaller and sicker babies.”

In addition, he said that this gift will help upgrade the NICU from a Level 2B to a Level 2C, which will provide care for babies that are born up to two and a half months earlier than expected.

“Seeing parents and their babies go home after staying in the NICU, sometimes for weeks and months at a time, always brings a smile to our NICU staff and myself. The kindness from these women has brought so much positive impact to our youngest patients and their families – more than they’ll know.”

Cecille Marville-Williams – ICU (Finalist for 2021/2022)

This year’s WINK Den Event program finalist is Cecile Marville-Williams, who represents the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Cecile is the Program Director of Critical Care, Cardiology, Respiratory and Oncology at Humber River Hospital.

This year’s WINK Den Event pot is over $100,000 thanks to the generosity of WINK members. Cecile says it would be incredibly meaningful if the ICU was chosen as this year’s winner, especially as the ICU continues to fight COVID-19.

“It has been an unprecedented two years because of the pandemic. Our ICU teams are now treating many unvaccinated patients and the immunocompromised, as well as dealing with staffing challenges and exhaustion
so it’s been a difficult time for us all,” Cecile said.

“Winning this year’s funding would allow us to purchase cardiac monitors for 12 new ICU beds, an expansion that would help us to better serve our community by having critical care beds available for the sickest patients, keeping patients closer to home so families can visit easily and often, and making sure Hospital services remain open, even in times of crisis and the ongoing pandemic.”

Natasha Batchelor – Breast Health (Finalist for 2021/2022)  

Lastly, this year’s second WINK Den Event program finalist representative is Natasha Batchelor. Natasha is representing Breast Health as Humber River Hospital’s Breast Health Supervisor and Navigator.

Natasha will pitch Breast Health to the WINK members at this year’s WINK Den Event because the team is hoping to improve the patient experience through seed localization surgery. Traditionally, wire-guided localization has been used to locate and mark tumors inside a breast so they could easily be removed in surgery. Natasha says this is not the most comfortable procedure for the patient as the wire can stick out and shift if the patient moves too much or the wrong way.

“Thanks to innovation and new technology, we can now use a small, implantable seed that is inserted directly into the tumor,” Natasha said. “If Breast Health is given the opportunity to win this year’s WINK Den Event, it would allow much more comfort for the patient(s) when they come to the Hospital to get their seed-localization procedure done.”

Join WINK today!  

There’s still time to join WINK and make your vote count! Click here to join today, or contact Lindsay Owen at lowen@hrh.ca to get started!

The post WINK Winners and Finalists: Past and Present 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.

“As new parents, we’re so appreciative to the team at Humber for teaching us so much. From how to bathe Sawyer or how to burp him, the nurses were always there for us when we had questions.”

We’re sharing with you Baby Sawyer’s story. Sawyer was born to dads Brian and Andrew. During his first week of life, Sawyer had already been treated at two different NICUs. Brian tells their family story below.

“Our son Sawyer was born via surrogacy and my husband Andrew and I were terrified because he was born way too early.

Sawyer wasn’t due for another 7 weeks when we received a call that our surrogate’s water had broke. We’re from Toronto and she lives in Ottawa. As soon as we got her call, we jumped into the car and got to her as quickly as we could.

When Sawyer was born, he was immediately whisked away to the NICU at the Ottawa hospital we were in. After a few days, we were transferred to Humber’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit via private medical transport. We were happy to be back in Toronto.

At first, we were really disoriented to be in a different hospital, but everyone was so nice. Dr. Jay Dahman was the paediatrician who came right away to check on Sawyer and made sure he was doing okay.

After a stressful few days in Ottawa, we were happy to be in a single-patient room in the NICU with our baby. While we couldn’t stay overnight due to the COVID-19 restrictions at the time, we knew when we left each evening that Sawyer was in good hands.

“The Integrated Bedside Terminal (IBT) in our room was really helpful too. It let us call a nurse when we needed one and also let us stream a YouTube playlist of lullaby music to help Sawyer fall asleep to.”

When we were there during the day, we took advantage of the recliner in our room to feed Sawyer in and did lots of skin-to-skin contact with him. When it was time to learn how to give him a bath, we were grateful for the incubator which kept him warm and cozy.

The Integrated Bedside Terminal (IBT) in our room was really helpful too. It let us call a nurse when we needed one and also let us stream a YouTube playlist of lullaby music to help Sawyer fall asleep to.

Dr. Dahman came back every day to check in with Sawyer. It was nice to have the same doctor and we felt like he really got to know us throughout the week and we got to know him. We also met with Dr. Sally Kenawy who was amazing too.

“Sawyer grew so much and ate so much while he was in the NICU. Now, he’s been home with us for a week and he’s doing so well.”

As new parents, we’re so appreciative to the team at Humber for teaching us so much. From how to bathe Sawyer or how to burp him, the nurses were always there for us when we had questions. We also learned how to perform CPR on a child and exercises you can do with your preemie baby to make sure they’re getting a strong start to life.

No parent wants to be in the NICU, but we had a very positive experience at Humber. We felt taken care of and the team was so knowledgeable. Sawyer grew so much and ate so much while he was in the NICU. Now, he’s been home with us for a week and he’s doing so well. We can’t imagine life without him!”

November 2022 Update: Today, Sawyer is doing great. He turned one a few months ago and is a happy kid enjoying life with his family.

Not all hospitals are equipped to care for premature babies, and our ability to do so at Humber has been generously funded by our donors. Today we would like to thank 407 ETR for supporting our NICU and keeping patients like Sawyer safe, happy, and thriving.

The post From NICU to NICU: Baby Sawyer appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

As her labour progressed, Danielle’s temperature started to climb and the baby’s heartbeat was increasing. Danielle, Cameron, and their healthcare team determined that a C-Section would be the safest option for delivery.

“In our NICU pod, it was all babies and their dads,” remembers Cameron.

After an unexpectedly eventful entrance, baby Eric was finally born April 16^th. While Danielle recovered from her surgery in her room in the Mother Baby Unit, Eric spent a day in Humber’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) so that his care team could monitor his breathing.

“In our NICU pod, it was all babies and their dads,” remembers Cameron. “We were all new parents, and the NICU nurses took the time to teach us how to care for our newborns. I hadn’t spent a lot of time around babies, but the nurses were so informative and showed me their techniques for things like the best way to burp him.”

After his short stay in the NICU, baby Eric was well enough to be moved to Danielle’s single-patient room in the Mother Baby Unit.

“The nurses and doctors were fantastic,” says Cameron. “The Paediatrician, Dr. Dahman, was very nice and took his time with him, and our nurses were very attentive and checked in frequently to make sure we were all doing okay.”

Danielle and Cameron made the decision to honour Eric’s arrival through the new Star is Born Program. Eric’s name was added to our beautiful star wall outside the Mother Baby unit, and the family’s donation will help future patients receive great care at the Hospital.

Three months after Eric’s arrival, the family is doing well and settling into life with their newborn.

Eric’s birth is now part of his family’s long history with Humber River Hospital. The Church Legacy site had always been there for Cameron’s family as he grew up in the neighbourhood. Cameron’s mother used to be a nurse at Humber, and he now works at the Wilson Site as a Medication Reimbursement Specialist. Danielle and Cameron even gave Eric his middle name, Howard, in honour of Cameron’s grandfather who received great care at Humber.

“Before Eric was born, I had heard about the Star is Born program in The River’s EDGE newsletter,” says Cameron. “I forwarded it to Danielle. She works for another hospital foundation and is very philanthropic, so we were both very excited about giving back to Humber through the program!”

Three months after Eric’s arrival, the family is doing well and settling into life with their newborn.

“Danielle bounced back after her surgery – and she is such a good mom,” says Cameron. “And Eric is developing a personality. He’s smiling and laughing and it has been so cool to watch him grow in such a short amount of time. I especially love every time I get to feed him, because he gets so excited when he’s eating.”

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! Learn more about A Star is Born here.

The post A Star is Born: Baby Eric’s Story appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

“The NICU being this year’s WINK recipient was the most meaningful compliment,” says Jhanvi Solanki, Program Director of the Maternal & Child Program. “ Even if we hadn’t won, the understanding and interest from the WINK group will be something I will carry forever.”

Every year, Women in Kindness (WINK) works together to support Humber River Hospital. Members join WINK through an entry donation and have the opportunity decide together where their funds will be used, making meaningful change throughout our Hospital community.

This year, after hearing from program directors, physicians, staff, and grateful patients from both Programs, the women voted to direct their collective $50,000 gift to the NICU, which plans to use the donation towards purchasing a new ventilator.

“I am so grateful that these powerful women are choosing to empower others,” says Jhanvi Solanki, Program Director of the Maternal & Child Program. “The NICU being this year’s WINK recipient was the most meaningful compliment. Even if we hadn’t won, the understanding and interest from the WINK group will be something I will carry forever.”

“Being part of WINK was a great opportunity for us to raise awareness for our Patient Comfort Fund, which ensures that the patients who arrive in our Apotex Emergency Department in need can have their most basic needs met,” says Jane Casey, Program Director of Emergency Services.

“Being part of WINK was a great opportunity for us to raise awareness for our Patient Comfort Fund, which ensures that the patients who arrive in our Apotex Emergency Department in need can have their most basic needs met,” says Jane Casey, Program Director of Emergency Services. “It was a great team effort and I thank the entire Emergency staff and physicians for the compassionate care they provide to all of our patients. Congratulations to the NICU!”

Back in November, WINK’s executive members (who join in at a higher donation level) heard pitches from four Programs: the NICU, the Emergency Department Patient Comfort Fund, the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic, and Humber’s Same Day Knee Replacement Program. Their preliminary vote narrowed down the funding opportunities to the NICU and the Emergency Patient Comfort Fund.

“One of our big promises to WINK supporters is that they will always be in control of their collective funds,” says Lindsay Owen, a Development Officer at Humber River Hospital Foundation. “They have the power to direct their money, and they get insider access to the world of Humber to help them make informed decisions.”

“Being a member of WINK this year has been a fabulous experience,” says first-time member Kellie D’Alessandro. “I was so impressed with the way the events were organized and all of the little touches that have gone into this process. I am already looking forward to next time.”

“Our family is grateful to Humber so it was a pleasure to be a part of WINK this year,” says member Libby Wildman. “The final WINK Den was a great evening, really well done. I can’t wait to meet all the other members in person!”

We can’t wait to see what this amazing group of women does next! To be part of the next round of WINK, please let us know how to get in touch:

The post Women Join Forces to Donate $50k to Humber’s NICU appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

My name is Dr. Guy Widrich and I am a Paediatrician and Neonatologist, which means I’m specialized in intensive care for newborns. I am also the Medical Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Humber River Hospital.

I have worked at Humber since 1997 and became the Director of the NICU in 2015, just before the Wilson Site opened.

“Every Tuesday morning, every week of the year we do multi-disciplinary rounds in the NICU,” says Dr. Widrich. “This means that we visit each baby with the Clinical Practice Leader, the Manager, the Occupational Therapist, the Dietician, the Social Worker, the Lactation Consultant, and often the parents.”

How would you explain your job to a friend?

As a Neonatologist, I am specialized in resuscitating newborns, diagnosing disease progression in newborns, and stabilizing and treating newborns who need intensive care. My patients are often premature babies, babies who are born with certain conditions, babies who have trouble breathing, and babies with social issues.

As Medical Director of the NICU, my role is to ensure that we provide the same excellent standard of care for every baby admitted to our Unit. We have many physicians on our team and my role is to make sure every baby is treated as a Neonatologist would treat them.

What makes you proud of the NICU at Humber?

Every Tuesday morning, every week of the year we do multi-disciplinary rounds in the NICU. This means that we visit each baby with the Clinical Practice Leader, the Manager, the Occupational Therapist, the Dietician, the Social Worker, the Lactation Consultant, and often the parents. We go through the baby’s report, answer questions the parents may have, discuss discharge planning, order tests, and screen the babies. It gives me the opportunity to see if we need to make any changes in the baby’s care too.

Our NICU has come so far from the days when we had 10-12 beds at the Finch Legacy Site. We have grown, and our fantastic team is equipped to care for more complicated babies. We used to have a standard TPN (or total parenteral nutrition drip) for every baby – now the TPN is tailored to each specific baby and how their individual needs might change every day. We also now have ways to prevent unnecessary admissions to the NICU. For example, we use glucose gel for babies with low sugar so that they can now stay with their parents in the Mother Baby Unit.

Has COVID affected your work at all?

“I love working in intensive care because it is very hands-on. I’m proud of the work that we do and the skillset we have, like being able to resuscitate babies.” says Dr. Widrich.

We have had babies that were born to COVID-positive moms, and for everyone’s safety we treat all of our babies like they might have COVID until proven otherwise. We swab the parents and babies, wear our Personal Protective Equipment properly, keep the incubator doors closed, and we have had to restrict our visitors to one parent per baby.

What do you love about your job?

I love working in intensive care because it is very hands-on. I’m proud of the work that we do and the skillset we have, like being able to resuscitate babies.

Most of our babies have good outcomes and it is nice to watch them grow up. Sometimes I’m lucky enough to see them in my private Paediatrics practice all grown up. I had one patient I remember weighing 500 grams at birth – I could hold her in one palm. Not long ago she was off to university taller than I am.

What is one awesome thing you have done in the last year?

I was given the opportunity to take on a leadership role during the pandemic, being involved in setting up new standards and protocols. It wasn’t something I expected, but I’m really proud that it was a challenge I could rise to. With the second wave, we are more prepared and less afraid, and I know everyone will rise to the challenge again.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by the teamwork in the NICU, by how everyone pulls their weight and everyone does their best. And I’m also inspired by the babies themselves; they are poked, they go through invasive procedures, they’re hooked up to lots of tubes – and to see them pull through is inspiring.

The post Interview: Dr. Guy Widrich, Neonatologist and Medical Director of the NICU appeared first on Hennick Humber Hospital Foundation.

“At Humber River Hospital, we are equipped to care for babies born as early as 30 weeks,” says Dr. El Sayed. “I’m proud that we can provide this care close to home for parents in our community.”

My name is Dr. Manal El Sayed, and I’m a Paediatrician specialized in Neonatology. I joined the team at Humber River Hospital in April 2020.

How would you explain your job to a friend?

Paediatricians care for patients 0 to 18 years old, and Neonatology is a subspecialty focused on babies who require support. Some of the babies I work with are born very early, and others are born full-term but still need support in their breathing and feeding. I am part of the team that cares for the babies in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

What makes you proud of the NICU at Humber?

At Humber River Hospital, we are equipped to care for babies born as early as 30 weeks. I’m proud that we can provide this care close to home for parents in our community.

Our NICU is an amazing place where we can do wonders for our families. I work alongside nurses, respiratory therapists, Clinical Practice Leads who maintain quality control, other physicians, and other support staff – and everyone is so hard working and devoted. It is truly an amazing team to work with.

What is your favourite way technology is used in our NICU?

Our electronic health records enable full transparency with our patients. When a baby is discharged from our NICU, we can give their parents a complete and detailed summary of their stay, including daily reports and progress. The NICU is an intensive care unit, so there is a lot of collaboration that makes having complete records really important. Everyone on each baby’s care team has access to their full history and test results. And their parents can access these at any time.

How has COVID impacted the NICU?

We have had to limit our visitors to only one parent per baby per day, but we are doing our best to promote parent-infant bonding because we know it is essential and can help enhance recovery. We also try to communicate with each family on a daily basis.

What do you love about your job?

As a Paediatrician, it’s wonderful taking care of children from such a wide age range, from premature babies to chatty four-year-olds, to teenagers nearing adulthood – Every age is different, and every age is special.

What is something awesome you have done in the last year?

Shortly after I joined the team at Humber River Hospital, I responded to a Code Pink for a really young infant, born under 30 weeks. We were able to resuscitate him and stabilize him, and when he was ready we transferred him to Sick Kids. I’ll never forget that moment of pride in my work and my team.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by perseverance. Perseverance by the healthcare workers around me who make sacrifices for our patients. And perseverance by families where a child has a chronic illness. That requires a lot of compassion, courage, and empathy and I really admire that.

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