Born prematurely, Miller family enjoys special holiday season with son Greyson

THUNDER BAY – This Christmas is going to be a special one for Sarah Hannah and Blade Miller.

The parents will be spending their first holiday season with their seven-month-old son Greyson Miller, though they consider themselves lucky to have that opportunity after Greyson was born premature at just 26 weeks.

Hannah said the equipment and support at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre played a major role in helping her family pull through.

“It was quite the long journey and just to have the support and love from everyone, not only from the foundation but our families as well was incredible and made it a lot easier to deal with,” Hannah said.

“You don’t think about these things before the situation happens but once having a (premature baby), the resources available to treat him and the facilities we were in were so incredible and actually comforting. It actually felt like home at some points.”

On Wednesday the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation launched their annual Christmas appeal fundraising drive, announcing their wish list of six pieces of equipment that will help with providing the best possible patient care.

For newborns like Greyson, that includes a new neonatal ventilator to help babies who are unable to breath as well as a birthing bed for new mothers.

Teresa Bruni, the hospital’s medical director of women and children, said it’s important to have top notch resources in Northwestern Ontario.

“It’s essential that we have this state-of-the-art equipment to help our babies and help our parents know they’re receiving the same standard of care and specialized equipment they would if they were in southern Ontario,” she said.

“Ultimately we want the best care, at the right place at the right time, so the equipment ensures that.”

This is the second year the foundation has launched a wish list Christmas campaign and the target is $142,000.

The wish list also includes an ICP monitor for patients in the intensive care unit as well as three new defibrillators.

The foundation has a Christmas tree set up in the main lobby of the hospital where a personalized star is hung on the tree for each gift that is made.

As Hannah and Miller know, those donations can be a lifesaving gift to families and lead to a special Christmas.

“We definitely want to take tons of pictures and do some memorable things, stay at home close to our family and enjoy the time we have with him,” Hannah said of how they were planning on spending Greyson’s first holidays.