平特五不中

Thanks to a generous donation to the MUHC Volunteer Department adult sites from the Ronald McDonald House Charities, the parents and siblings of the MUHC's premature babies will now have access to a new family resource library and the convenience of a refurbished drop-in daycare.

"Premature babies can spend anywhere from a few days to a few months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)" says Irene Vranas, volunteer coordinator of child and adolescent services on the adult sites. Their frequent daily visits to the NICU can prove to be difficult for parents who have other children. The newly refurbished drop-in daycare located adjacent to the NICU will make it possible for parents to leave their older children under the watchful eye of a trained volunteer while they visit their newborn baby. The daycare is fully equipped to keep children constructively busy, with a computer, toys and games. The Volunteer Department offers the service seven days a week, afternoons and evenings. This service is very much appreciated by parents who have no childcare support at home, noted Vranas.

In addition, due to the donation provided by McDonald's, an educational resource library has been set up for families. Education is an important component of care at the MUHC and with the new family resource centre in the NICU family room, parents will be able to consult books and videos on a number of issues dealing with parenting and care of newborns. These resources will be particularly helpful to parents of premature babies, who need access to information on dealing with the special care and needs that are involved with premature birth. "The resource centre and drop-in daycare provide the ideal setting to encourage family education and support from the very beginning" says Anne Marie Lanctot, Nurse Manager of Neonatology.

The refurbished daycare and new family resource centre will be inaugurated on April 26 at 11 am at the MUHC, Royal Victoria Hospital, NICU room C7, 687 Pine Ave. West.