Danika’s Story
When a baby is born, time is always of the essence
I’ve had two healthy babies at Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH), and both births ended up being more complicated than I expected.
My daughter, Maeva, was born this past January and her first few minutes of life were anything but perfect.
She was born by C-section after a high-risk pregnancy. Her lungs were full of mucus, and she was struggling to breathe. I was trying to stay calm as I relived the exact same nightmare from two years ago when her older brother Sullivan was born. Without missing a beat, my medical team whisked her across the room to a waiting Panda Warmer.
After many tense minutes, Maeva was stabilized and three days later, we brought our beautiful baby girl home. Today, both Maeva and Sullivan are thriving.
As an ICU nurse at VJH, I know how important it is to have the right tools at the right time. You don’t want your doctors and nurses searching for equipment in a critical moment. If your baby is born in distress, you want a Panda Warmer right there in your room.
Even when a baby is born healthy, a Panda Warmer makes their first moments a lot easier. Newborns need immediate warmth as their little bodies adjust to the world and they need to stay close to mom. That’s why this equipment is the perfect spot for your healthcare team to check vitals and weight in those first few minutes.
We need Panda Warmers in every labour and delivery room at VJH. Our fleet of machines is aging and needs to be replaced.
I’m sharing my story because you never know when this vital pediatric machine will save a life. I certainly never expected both of my babies to need the Panda, but I’m so grateful it was there because it meant they got the excellent care they needed at VJH.
Panda Warmers are essential equipment for every labour and delivery room. They gently provide the warmth newborns need to stabilize their tiny bodies, while healthcare workers perform initial assessments and monitor baby’s health. Equipped with tools for critical care, Pandas biggest benefit is keeping baby close to mom, right where they belong.
Vernon Jubilee is the third busiest hospital in Interior Health with almost 900 babies born here every year. Having essential labour and delivery equipment means newborns can get the best possible care close to home.
Panda Warmers are essential for neonatal care at VJH.
With your support, we can replace two of the aging machines to ensure our hospital continues to have the cutting-edge technology needed to offer the best care right here at home.
Together we can make sure that every baby born in our community gets the best possible care, close to home.
“Panda Warmers help staff provide the highest standard of care and give peace of mind to moms and dads. They are essential for neonatal care.”
- Dr. Jody Snook, Head of VJH Pediatrics Department