Parents and caregivers with children in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at Foothills Medical Centre are getting a little bit of extra support from Ronald McDonald House Charities® Alberta. The first Comfort Cart in Calgary has begun its work delivering snacks, drinks, and comfort items to families spending hours at the bedside of their babies.
“Approximately 30% of the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Calgary have children in the NICU,” says Jason Evanson, CEO of RMHC Alberta. “The opportunity to connect with all of the families who are staying in the NICU and bring them comfort and support is a driving force of our mission. We are able to bring that home-away-from-home feeling we deliver every day at the House – right to the hospital bedside.”
The Comfort Cart provides an array of beverages, snacks, and comfort items that were curated through focus groups with families who have been through the experience of having a baby in the NICU.
While the House serves families who need to travel for vital medical treatments, the Comfort Cart is a resource for all families who are spending their days at the hospital, including families living in Calgary.
“When you have a baby at the NICU, life is a blur. You are drawn to spend as much time as possible with your baby, and all the while taking care of yourself drops to the bottom of your priorities,” says Loralie Johnson, Co-Chair of the Foothills Medical Centre Parent Advisory Council Team. “Many parents skip meals and put their personal care last. This program will allow parents who are in what is likely the most stressful time of their life to have a little more comfort and extra precious moments with their babies. A huge THANK YOU from the FMC PACT group and all the families in the NICU.”
The Comfort Cart is operated by volunteers from RMHC Alberta. RMHC Alberta would like to thank Sofina Foods for their support.
Click here for the media release.