A huge thank you to our amazing community!
Instead of joining in on the mania of Black Friday, let’s come together to do something more meaningful.
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The birth of our babies is one of life’s most meaningful moments.
But for over half of the parents at the Lois Hole Hospital, this can be a time of great despair and uncertainty.
The Panda Warmer is being purchased in partnership with the Lois Hole Hospital Women's Society.
The Panda Warmer is being purchased in partnership with the Lois Hole Hospital Women's Society.
A Panda Warmer is a state-of-the-art machine that provides a warm, safe environment for newborns.
During the most uncertain times, a Panda Warmer administers life support for the babies who need it most.
The Lois Hole Hospital is near and dear to our hearts (with 5 Poppy Barley babies being born there) and is a national leader in women’s health for all ages and stages.
Robyn is an Executive Member for the Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Society, but six months ago, she became a patient who required specialized care following complications with her pregnancy.
“My care at the Lois Hole Hospital saved my life, as well as my daughter’s life. I will never forget going for a measuring ultrasound at the hospital on a Friday afternoon at 35-weeks and 4-days pregnant. The doctor quickly realized that my baby wasn’t growing as she should and diagnosed me with preeclampsia. I was told I was having a baby that weekend!
I was scared about what that meant for my baby to be born early and so small—only four pounds! But the doctors and nurses were amazing at keeping me calm and reassuring me we were in the right place. When the labour didn’t progress, I ended up having an emergency c-section. Thankfully that happened so quickly with no complications and I had a healthy baby girl! I’m so thankful we have this amazing facility in our city dedicated to women’s health.”
Co-founder of Poppy Barley
“Giving birth was hard AF. I was not prepared for it. Somehow, don't ask me why, I thought I would be good at it but it is called labour for a reason! What helped me tremendously was the amazing nurses I had at the Lois Hole Hospital. In my experience, for uncomplicated deliveries (I had one of those and one of the other) nurses matter more than the doctor. They are in the room all the time and contribute greatly its the tone and energy. For my second, my nurse even caught my baby!”
Co-founder of Poppy Barley
“When my daughter was born, time stood perfectly still. I felt euphoria, love, relief, joy and amazement. After 36 hours of labour, I fully experienced the care of the Lois Hole Hospital for Women. My delivery involved multiple doctors, obstetricians and three shift changes of nurses. I remain so thankful to have a hospital of such high calibre available in Edmonton.”
Director of Content & Community
“I’d never been admitted to the hospital before. You hand yourself over to strangers. You could not be more vulnerable—physically, emotionally, mentally. Your life, your baby’s life, is in their hands. The staff at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women treated us with sincerity, consideration and kindness. From administering the anesthesia in the operating room during my c-section, to monitoring my recovery on the ward and teaching me how to breastfeed, their technical skill and medical knowledge was often paired with simple gestures—like a reassuring hand on my shoulder—and the essentials—like truly listening—that didn’t make me feel like “just another patient” on the list. In one of the most intimate, overwhelming moments of my life, I am forever grateful for their kind bedside manner.”
Retail Operations Manager
“The dedication of one nurse, Kristy, truly made my time at the Lois Hole. We were struggling with breastfeeding and she worked tirelessly with me to do everything she could to help. She was honest, straightforward and encouraging in the best way possible—just what I needed in those days following my c-section. It is people like Kristy who make the Lois Hole Hospital for Women a truly special place in our community."
Calgary Community Builder
“I drove to Edmonton on a Thursday night with the plan to be a bridesmaid in a wedding that Saturday. My daughter had other plans and decided to arrive 3 weeks early! Being away for home while having a baby was a little unsettling but every caretaker, nurse, and doctor, at the Lois Hole hospital was so amazing. They assured me that everything would be okay and an incredible nurse stayed by my side so I wouldn't be alone while my husband frantically drove from Calgary. I cannot say enough great things about this hospital and I feel lucky to have it be where my daughter was born.”
The Black Friday Fund kicks off on Thursday, November 22 at 5pm MST, running until Monday, November 26 at midnight MST, or until we hit our goal of raising $20,000.
