‘You’re not in it alone’: Baby Mila pulls through with help from CHEO

Baby Mila at CHEO. (Austin Lee/CTV News Ottawa)

When Fallon and Lionel welcomed their second child into the world, the months that followed were anything but stress-free.

In late January, Fallon went into labour. That’s when her uterus ruptured, preventing oxygen access for her baby Mila and prompting an emergency response.

Mila was taken by CHEO’s Critical Care Transport Team and rushed to the children’s hospital with hypoxia, a lack of oxygen to the brain and tissue and reduced blood flow.

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“It’s like this shock that goes through you like an earthquake,” said Mila’s father, Lionel.

“Difficult doesn’t even begin to describe the feelings and emotions,” added Fallon.

Moments after Mila’s birth, doctors told Lionel and Fallon their baby girl may not survive.

“We were told that she has to be transferred and later on, we learned that the doctors were not confident about her making it through the night,” said Lionel. “It was a day I’ll never forget.”

Mila’s resilience, however, saw her pull through. What followed was roughly two months in CHEO’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for tube feeding, medical cooling intervention, and regular monitoring.

“She had a period of time when she was around being born where she lacked oxygen and that had implications on her brain and the rest of her organ and her function,” said CHEO neonatal fellow Dr. Kimberly Wong. “She was critically ill here in the NICU for several days to weeks while we were supporting her care.”

Mila still faces a long road to recovery but with the unwavering support of her parents and her three-year-old bother Mateo, she won’t be going through it alone.

“I am always so impressed and unbelievably wowed every time I see them provide care and be there for their child,” said Dr. Wong. “They are such a lovely couple that care and love for their child and will do everything to be able to support them.”

Her parents are also praising the hard work and compassion of the team at CHEO.

“They will always make you feel heard. There are times as parents I feel like we’re probably being annoying, but that’s just because of our experience to get here, but at no point has anyone made us feel like we’re doing too much,” said Fallon.

“We’re always being heard and I feel like that’s the most important thing especially when you’re dealing with your children. The most important little ones in your life. You need to make sure that whoever is taking care of them is listening to you.”

CHEO’s NICU is a level 3 unit meaning it offers the highest quality of specialized medical and surgical care for critically ill and high-risk newborns within a 440,000 sq. km territory spanning across eastern Ontario and western Quebec, all the way north to Nunavut’s Baffin Island Region.

Given the demand and cost to operate life-saving equipment, the need for financial support from donors is great.

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“I feel so proud of our community when they come together to be able to provide and help our most vulnerable children that need help, that need expensive help,” said Dr. Wong.

“The effect that the donations and the foundation make on our day-to-day work is incredible. It not only allows us to give standard of care and routine care but also allows us as a department and as a hospital to push the envelop and push boundaries.”

CHEO also has a NICU follow-up Clinic to continue monitoring patient progress and development.

As for Mila, she remains at CHEO, but she has left the NICU.

“I wish no one has to come here, but if you do, just so you know, you’re not in it alone. You’re in the care of really great professionals whose sole purpose and drive is to help your baby, your newborn.”

The 43^rd CHEO Telethon continues all week on CTV News Ottawa, CTV Your Morning Ottawa and Newstalk 580 CFRA, with the grand finale on CTV Ottawa on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Visit the CHEO Telethon hub for full coverage, more stories, and live streaming

You can make a donation to the CHEO Telethon online at www.cheotelethon.com.