Donor spotlight: Alysia and Rachael’s story

Alysia and Rachael’s family grew a little bigger, and their hearts wider, when they welcomed three baby boys into the world at 30 weeks’ gestation. The babies spent their first few weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mount Sinai Hospital. During that time, they received donor milk from the Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank to help with feeding. Here is their story, told by Alysia.

“After my wife and I found out we were having triplets, many thoughts raced through our minds. My wife Rachael, who was pregnant, also lives with an autoimmune disorder. Her specialist was already at Mount Sinai Hospital, so there was no question which hospital would support us through the challenges to come.

“Rachael stayed in the antenatal unit for nearly a month before the triplets were born. This allowed doctors to watch one of the babies more closely, as he was smaller than the others.

“Our triplets were born almost three months early, at the end of September 2018. A team of caring doctors and nurses was ready to take care of our babies and brought them to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The smallest triplet weighed only one pound, eight ounces. Soon after he was born, he became sick with an infection, and for a while, we didn’t know what would happen next.

 “One thing we worried about was making sure our babies got human milk. With three babies, we were concerned about having enough milk to feed them. The hospital staff told us about the Milk Bank, and we were so happy that all three of our babies got donor milk while they were in the NICU. The social worker even helped us find a breast pump. This meant Rachael could be at the hospital with the babies and still give them her milk when she needed to be away.

“Even though the NICU is a busy, fast-moving environment, both Rachael and I felt very well supported. The staff did bedside rounding every day, which helped us be part of our children’s care. We could hear what was happening and ask questions.

“Our smallest triplet had a longer journey, but just after that Christmas, our best present was bringing our entire family home.

“After we were discharged from the NICU, Mount Sinai continued to check on the children for three years. They did regular tests to see how they were growing and gave us the best chance to help them early on. They also supported us emotionally and gave us tips on key areas, like how to help the babies sleep better.

“This September, Harrison, Brodie and Oren will be five years old. Last year, they began kindergarten, and this summer they plan to play soccer, go swimming and join a summer camp. They are happy, energetic boys who love to explore the world around them.

When it comes to giving children the best possible start in life, early intervention is key. We firmly believe that Mount Sinai Hospital and the Milk Bank gave our children that strong start. Now they have the opportunity to explore their interests and live full lives.”

The Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank at Mount Sinai Hospital provides pasteurized donor milk to preterm and medically fragile infants in 52 NICUs across Ontario and the East Coast. The Milk Bank helps hospitalized infants whose families can’t provide enough milk for them.