Thank you feels inadequate to describe the gratitude the MacRae family feels for the Stollery Children's Hospital. Without it, their girls never would have survived. On February 14, 2014 Adam and Amberliegh, along with big brother Benson, welcomed two tiny little miracles into the world. Identical girls Lena Grace & Quinn Huxley, 1lb 10.5oz and 1lb 9.5oz respectively, were born at just over 25 weeks gestation.
The moment the girls were born they were immediately admitted to the Stollery Children's Hospital NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) located at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. The incredible staff there spent hours into the night, unable to leave the girls bedside, fighting to keep them alive. Amberliegh recalls hearing stories from the nurses that night. "They were desperately trying to control the girls’ blood pressure and they were running out of options. There were many times during their NICU stay when things were touch and go."
At just a week old Lena was diagnosed with perforated NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis), a life threatening bowel infection, and a leading cause of death in preemies. She was immediately transferred to the David Schiff NICU, the surgical unit at the the Stollery's main location, to be treated with a stent into the abdomen to drain the infection.
Her sister Quinn followed just days later with the same condition. It was a tough battle for the girls - being transferred between units, and fighting to get healthy. Lena required a surgery to close a heart valve, as well as a procedure to correct ROP, a leading cause of blindness in preemies. She also needed a laparotomy to repair the damage from the NEC and required 2 sections of bowel removed.
For both girls, the months were filled with blood transfusions, infections, IVs, PICC lines, intubation and breathing machines. Eventually both girls were transferred to the Grey Nuns’ NICU, and were finally released at 132 days old.
"Looking back, it’s almost like it happened to another family," recalls Amberliegh. "Sometimes I wonder how we all made it through. The amazing medical advances and the incredible team at the Stollery are the reason we get to hold our girls today." While she credits the entire staff, she notes that the nurses are the heart of the hospital. "It was so hard to leave the girls there, but when you have nurses you know will treat your children like their own, it makes it a little bit easier."
Seeing the girls today, no one could tell the fight they had just to be here. They look like happy, healthy girls and the family is forever thankful for that.
While they are in good health now, the effects of a premature birth can last well into their childhood and even into adulthood. The girls suffer from chronic lung disease and battle bronchiolitis yearly. Lena was readmitted to the Stollery twice in her first year to treat the condition. "We have had a few close calls this year but we have been lucky and have had no further hospitalizations," says their mom, Amberliegh. "We have to keep an eye on things. We make a lot of trips to Edmonton to see their pediatrician, Dr. McGonigle, who is also a dedicated Stollery staff member. The Stollery is just a part of our lives now. We still visit for tests and specialists. It is a huge comfort to know the Stollery is there when we need it."
The family enjoys going to the annual NICU teas hosted by the hospitals - an opportunity for graduates and their families to reunite and reconnect with staff and other families. Quinn and Lena's second birthday party was dedicated to the hospital's amazing work. In lieu of gifts, the family was able to raise $1,000 for the Stollery. "It's such a small way we can give back to an organization that has done so much."
Amberliegh – Lena & Quinn's mom
