A family that lives east of Olds is celebrating the first birthday of their youngest daughter in a special way — by raising money to provide toys for newborns and other children at the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary.
The goal is to raise $5,000. As of last week, $1,600 had been raised.
Jessie Hall was born Aug. 29 last year to Lindsay and Stan Hall. The couple also has a three-year-old daughter, Austin. They live on an acreage near Reed Ranch School.
Jessie was born in Red Deer but was transferred two days later to the Alberta Children's Hospital (ACH) because of some medical issues she suffered.
Those issues included breathing difficulties and a blockage in her stomach.
"She had three surgeries total in less than three months. Her last surgery was November 2 and (during) her first surgery she was six days old," Lindsay said.
Jessie ended up staying in ACH for 93 days, and when she got home, she was on oxygen and a feeding tube for a while.
The family spent a lot of time there in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Unit 2, where Jessie was a patient.
While there, Lindsay noticed there seemed to be very few playthings for newborns or other children, so now that Jessie's first birthday is coming up, she wanted to help raise money for the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation so it could obtain more toys for the facility.
For example, she didn't see many mobiles or swings for newborns.
"Those babies are stuck laying in a crib. Lots of them, their parents can't even hold them. They're not allowed to move them or hold them or anything because they're just growing and developing," Lindsay said.
"So it's nice to be able to have some sort of, like, music playing for them or things that stimulate their brain and growth as if they were in their mummy's tummy, where they can hear noises and stuff."
Lindsay said before launching the campaign she contacted the hospital foundation and they advised her on how to proceed.
On July 31, she created a Facebook page: Jessie's Journey 1st Birthday Celebration, to explain her campaign.
Lindsay said there are two options for those who wish to donate to the fundraiser. One is to make a cheque payable to Lindsay Hall for pickup or by mail to RR1 Olds, AB T4H 1P2.
A second option is to do an e-transfer to Hall. Her email address is [email protected].
Lindsay said those who donate to her cause will receive a charitable tax receipt from the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation as well as a mention on that page and in the Olds Albertan in September.
Once the campaign ends, Lindsay's plan is to buy all new toys and other items and deliver them directly to the NICU and Unit 2 at ACH.
She said donations have to be new — not used — toys and equipment, due to concerns about potential germ transmission or other issues.
In order to obtain receipts, donors must provide their email address along with their name, phone number and mailing address.
Lindsay said the first few months were pretty emotional for her and her family as Jessie underwent those operations and recovery. But she said if anything, she's even more emotional as Jessie's first birthday looms.
"Her first birthday to me is a huge milestone. And then also, it brings up a lot of memories from when she was born and everything we went through.
"So yeah, it definitely has been emotional, but it makes me feel good that hopefully, we can do something to help give back. You really can't give back to a place that saved your kid's life, there's just no way. But it makes me feel a little better," she said.
Sheelagh Mercier, a charitable gift advisor for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, said that organization is very grateful for Lindsay's fundraising initiative.
"The hospital provides care in our community and people can walk in and get that care for their child and leave. But that's not what Lindsay's doing," Mercier said.
"Lindsay is appreciative of the care that the family — Jessie in particular — received, and Lindsay is going above and beyond to give back, leave the hospital better than when they arrived.
"And she's a busy mom; she's got two little girls. She doesn't have to be doing this, but she wants to, and we're just so appreciative of the time and the effort that she's putting in to raise money. But it also raises awareness. She's a real inspiration."
