Testimonials
One in ten chances.
That is the probability that a child may born prematurely. Prematurity is when a child is born before the expected date of delivery. A pregnancy lasts between 38 and 40 weeks before it is considered full term.
Some babies are born much earlier. You can imagine all the complications that can arise in this situation. In addition to the many health risks for baby, we must not forget the parents who must live through this ordeal.
I would like to share our story with you. A story among many others, with ups and downs. With fears, joys, and worries. I have experienced prematurity as a father. My daughter is a preemie. She was born 2 months earlier than expected.
- Jonathan "le papa Prof." St-Pierre
12 years ago, on May 25th, 2010, I gave birth to this tiny baby after only 24 weeks of pregnancy. No balloons, no flowers, no life celebration, just a lot of worries from people who already loved him. The prognosis was bleak... a low chance of survival and even lower percentage for a survival without serious repercussions. Today, he is handsome, he is tall, he is smart, and he doesn't realize what a great fighter he is. During the long hours waiting before his return home, I was reading stories like his, that filled me with hope of normality. I share with you Guillaume’s story, my hero, my tiny chicken turned giant, my roller coaster and the man of my life, hoping that this story can give hope to other parents who are going through this terrible ordeal.
Guillaume was born at 24 weeks of gestation and left the hospital without any after-effects after 11 weeks of hospitalization. He is now 12 years old!
- Emilie
Here is a story -- my own! I was born at the 25th week of pregnancy, in October, when I was due in January! I spent almost eight months at Sainte-Justine UHC. During my stay, I underwent surgery to close off my arterial canal, and I had slight intercranial bleeding. I summoned my courage and fought back. Now I’m a healthy adult and a student, and I have no lasting effects from my prematurity. Yes, I’m very happy to be alive and take advantage of every minute of life. Some time ago, I went to the neonatology unit to see the preemies in their incubators. I wanted to see what the reality was, my reality. Thank you, Préma-Québec, for having been there for my parents, but also for the children who need you so badly.
- Michaël, born at 25 weeks
Victoria was born at 29 weeks. It was at 24 weeks that our world was turned upside down and that I understood that I would not live my pregnancy as I had hoped. I will always remember that little office at Ste-Justine Hospital and the words of Dr. Iglesias telling me that my daughter, weighing 514gr at the time, would be born in the next few hours. I stopped thinking. An immense emptiness came over me.
Thanks to my partner and the doctors around me, we defied the laws of nature and made it to 29 weeks, which seemed impossible at first. Although 29 weeks is still too early, preeclampsia sealed our fate that morning of April 27, 2015. It is a little Victoria suffering from severe stunting and weighing just 970gr that entered our lives. Far from the image of a normal baby, we took our courage in both hands, and we managed to go through 2 and a half months of hospitalization, uncertainty, pain, but also love and hope.
Victoria is now a beautiful little girl in perfect health, without any after-effects and who is developing at the same pace as a baby of her age. Thank you to Préma-Québec and Ste-Justine for supporting our family.
- Patricia