Fraser Health was the birthplace of 16,748 babies in 2023-24, and an even higher number of babies is expected in the coming year. Most of these newborns leave hospital within a day or two of birth but some, like Shane Martyn, stay for weeks or even months.
Photo: Rianna Espada-Belonia, registered nurse, and baby Shane.
On August 25, 2024, Shane was born preterm at 24 weeks and five days gestation, far short of the average 40 weeks. He weighed less than two pounds. Christmas Day marked four months that Shane has been in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Royal Columbian Hospital.
“It has been a long road,” says his mother, Brittany Martyn. “Shane is off the ventilator but still requires oxygen because his lungs are so premature.”
Photo: Baby Shane, December 25, 2024.
Royal Columbian Hospital is one of four maternity hospitals in B.C. that care for premature babies like Shane. Surrey Memorial Hospital, BC Women’s Hospital and Victoria General Hospital also provide neonatal care for newborns who require special attention for conditions including extreme preterm birth, low birthweight, breathing difficulties and infection.
“The emotions and logistics that come with neonatal care can be overwhelming for the family,” says Esther Pang-Wong, project and operations director, Maternal, Infant, Child and Youth Program, Fraser Health. “To work in this area of health care, you need to have a gentle heart and a compassionate attitude.”
Esther considers it a privilege to witness a birth and hold a newborn’s hand.
“To be part of someone’s birth experience, part of their support network during their neonatal care or specialized pediatric care, is truly an honour,” she says.
Esther recalls a birth several decades ago where twin girls were born and one required open-heart surgery at BC Children’s Hospital. The baby came back to Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) for her recovery post surgery.
“Twenty years later, their mother brought the girls back to the unit, to show them where they were born,” Esther says. “I was there and the mom said, ‘Here’s the nurse who gave you your first baby bath.’ The girls of course didn’t remember but their mother remembered many of the nurses, the doctors and the environment because she had spent so much time in the various units at RCH. She was so grateful for everything we did for her daughters and has never forgotten that journey.”
“Every mother remembers the day their child was born,” adds Esther. “But when you give birth to a beautiful baby and something goes wrong, it’s very traumatic and mothers will carry that with them and remember it every year on their child’s birthday. The challenge and mission we have in the NICU is to create the best moment, regardless of the birth experiences, to make the memory positive, rather than negative.”
Photo: The Martyn family.
Brittany Martyn can relate to what Esther is saying.
“We had amazing care at birth…the doctors, the nurses, they were all amazing,” Brittany says.
Because Shane has been in hospital so long, the Martyns have developed a relationship with the care team where they can discuss any concerns they may have about their son.
“He still has a long road ahead,” adds Brittany. “But Shane is a little fighter and we’re hopeful.”
