Bill Vastis
When our children are born, we wish many things for them; especially that they will be happy and healthy. Like every parent, that’s what my wife and I hoped for our daughter, but that’s not how her life began. Nothing could have prepared us for Angela’s early arrival of almost three months. It was a terrifying time as we stared down at our tiny little girl who barely weighed 4lbs.
Angela was born at a hospital in downtown Toronto and we lived in Mississauga. With a two year old at home, the daily commute was trying, to say the least. We were fortunate and grateful that we were able to have Angela transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at The Credit Valley Hospital shortly after her birth. While Angela was receiving great care at Credit Valley, we couldn’t help but notice that there was always lots of activity all around us. Privacy was tough to come by.
The new Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has more space and facilities for families who spend long days there. Angela and I had the opportunity to tour the new facility and were awed by what we saw. I can only imagine what this will mean for other families that may find themselves in the same situation we found ourselves in years ago; first class health care in a first-class facility right in their own community. Today, our eight-year-old Angela is healthy and strong. She’s an exceptional kid who really appreciates life and really knows how to live it to the fullest. She continues to inspire us every day. I’m a Dad just like many of you; I’m also a Dad that will be forever grateful that The Credit Valley Hospital was here for my family when we needed them most.