It was all about cute babies and giving thanks on Monday as new mom and ‘Love It or List It’ TV star Jillian Harris joined other new moms to celebrate a Kelowna success story.
The new moms and dads joined generous donors, the media and community members to laud the completion of a $3-million fundraising campaign to support KGH’s Perinatal Unit.
“Our experience at KGH was probably the most intense, raw, crazy, scary, wonderful thing I have experienced in my life, I’ll never forget it,” said Harris at the event.
“I really want to thank the community for that.”
Harris delivered her son Leo at KGH on August 5, 2016 – one of more than 1,600 babies born there since the new unit opened on March 6, 2016.
“We whole-heartedly know that the $90,000 incubator that housed my son for the first 10 days of his life was an extension of your hearts. You enveloped my baby and kept him warm when my body could no longer be his home,” said fellow new Kelowna mom, Jaclyn Robertson. Her son Indy was born two months premature.
“Please know that your generosity nourished our family in more ways than our words can reach.”
A common thread in the thank yous from all those involved was the work of the doctors and nurses who aided the new moms and dads through the process.
“I’d like to thank our amazing NICU nurses, who continually said things to me like ‘I will love your baby like you love your baby’,” shared Robertson.
“I’ll never forget Tara, she was our nurse that night, I’ve never had a stranger look into my eyes with such support and conviction,” said Harris. “I’ve never felt so empowered by a stranger before.”
KGH Foundation Board Chair Bruce McAuliffe annouched that as of March 6, 2017 - $3,283,389 had been raised.
“We are still accepting donations after today, so that number can still grow,” said McAuliffe.
“All the staff at the hospital, the medical staff, the volunteers, day in and day out provide the best patient care they possible can. We have a lot to be proud of right here in Kelowna.”
For more information on the Giving Giggles campaign, click here.