On February 24, 2025, Lisa was spending the day at home on her hobby farm near Weyburn. She was only 29 weeks pregnant with her third child when suddenly, early labour symptoms started. Although her medical instincts told her something was not right, she was hesitant to believe it. Her entire family had just recovered from the flu, and Lisa hoped it was nothing more than lingering fatigue.
Still, she trusted her gut. She spoke with the on-call obstetrician from her care team, who told her to head straight to the Regina General Hospital.
Ten minutes after arriving, Lisa was told she was already six centimetres dilated and fully in labour. Because of complications with her last natural delivery, Lisa was told she could only deliver by C-section or risk a uterine rupture. Knowing her history, the medical team readied her for immediate surgery.
At 9:56 p.m., baby Elsie was born by emergency C-section at just three pounds, nine ounces. Lisa saw her daughter for a moment before Elsie was whisked away to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the Rawlco Centre for Mother Baby Care.
Lisa describes the next 60 days as a blur of fear, hope and small victories.
“Every day in the NICU is an emotional rollercoaster,” she recalls. “You celebrate every gram gained, every tube removed and then you hold your breath during the setbacks.”
Elsie was intubated for two days, then transitioned to oxygen support to help her tiny lungs work. She faced brain bleeds and repeated episodes of apnea, a condition where premature babies stop breathing. But with the support of our NICU team, Elsie continued to grow stronger.
The emotional toll was also heavier than Lisa ever imagined. Like so many parents of premature babies, she had not expected this journey, and nothing could have prepared her for how hard it would be. During those long days, our NICU nurses became a steady source of strength. They encouraged her to care for her own mental health and supported her through one of the most difficult chapters of her life.
With two young boys at home, Lisa and her husband juggled NICU visits and everyday family life. She spent long evenings by Elsie’s side while her husband looked after their sons. The experience left Lisa feeling torn between two worlds, but never alone. Friends, family and colleagues stepped in to provide help wherever they could, and for that, she says, “I will always be grateful.”
Baby Elsie finally came home on April 25, weighing just over six pounds. Today, she’s a happy baby, giggling with her big brothers and enjoying life on the hobby farm.
Lisa often reflects on how vital our NICU was for Elsie’s survival.
“No one ever expects to need the NICU, but when you do, it means everything to have this level of care close to home,” says Lisa.
“Thanks to the generosity of our southern Saskatchewan community, babies like Elsie receive the highest quality care in our NICU, right here at home. Donor support is essential for funding the advanced technology and equipment that save the lives of our tiniest patients and help create brighter futures for families throughout southern Saskatchewan,” says Dino Sophocleous, president and CEO, Hospitals of Regina Foundation.
