A Clive couple is hoping to avoid daily trips to an Edmonton hospital if they can raise some money to stay in a hotel while their ‘micro preemie’ is in intensive care.
Serena Rogers gave birth to 27-week-old AuroraLynn Rogers-Kard on March 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. A C-section was required after Serena’s placenta detached from her uterus.
AuroraLynn was born 13 weeks early and will likely remain in hospital for two-and-a-half months.
“She’s a little fighter. She looks stronger and stronger every day I see her,” Serena said.
AuroraLynn is “just a little peanut” weighing only .9 kilograms (two pounds) and is 32.7 centimetres (12.9 inches) in length. Her lungs are not fully developed so she requires oxygen, her mother said.
“It’s very hard to see your baby like that,” Serena said.
“It’s very hard, but we’re surviving.”
The parent said the baby was born at the Royal Alex, instead of Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, because the Edmonton facility is equipped to deliver babies as young as 22 weeks old.
A GoFundMe account Help Serena Stay With New Baby AuroraLynn to raise $6,000 was set up by Serena’s friend who lives in Newfoundland as a way to help out even though she was so far away.
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Money raised will help pay for an Edmonton hotel and travel expenses.
Serena said the Edmonton Ronald McDonald House, where families in similar circumstances can find temporary accommodation, has a long wait list because of COVID so it wasn’t an option. The pandemic also prevents her other three children from staying there, and those who use the facility can only travel back and forth to the hospital on a special shuttle, and can’t travel anywhere else during their stay.
Serena and Walter Kard, AuroraLynn’s father, have decided to stay at a hotel for a couple of weeks, possibly a month, if a good deal can be found.
“We’ve had a huge amount of support. My grandparents have been amazing. My auntie has been amazing. My mom, amazing,” Serena said.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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