Giving parents with premature babies hope
Cross-functional teams provide newborns with the critical care they need for a healthy, active life.
Looking back, Agnes Ryzynski remembers the photo gallery of healthy children on the walls of Sunnybrook’s prenatal unit. “When I felt moments of fear and uncertainty, it gave me a spark of hope,” she says. Agnes also remembers those agonizing first few months of Josh’s life which were spent in the neonatal intensive care unit and transitional care nursery. “The best and scariest days of my life,” she recalls.
Agnes’ pregnancy wasn’t easy and required her to be on bedrest. Then suddenly, Josh was born 12 weeks prematurely, fighting for his life and quickly whisked off to the resuscitation room. “I couldn’t hold him, it was gut wrenching,” she says. Her expertise as a Registered Respiratory Therapist, providing care to prematurely born babies just like her son meant she knew Josh was having difficulty breathing and what that may mean for his development.
When Agnes left the hospital, her son remained in the NICU for three months. She found strength and peace of mind in Sunnybrook’s well-connected care team, which included some of her colleagues. “The team was amazing,” she says. Even with her experience, like many new parents Agnes felt completely overwhelmed. “I wanted it all simplified for me, and the team knew how to communicate conversationally, to make sure I understood what was happening,” says Agnes.
From fielding her questions to providing much needed emotional support, Agnes had every confidence that she and her son were getting the best possible care at Sunnybrook. “Everyone knew what they needed to do and there was a shared knowledge and understanding so that one team member seamlessly took over for another,” she explains. Agnes wants other parents to know they can expect to have that same level of confidence at Sunnybrook’s DAN Women & Babies Program.
Attending the Program’s annual picnic for the first time reminded Agnes that the healthy children running around were once premature babies like Josh. Now she tells other parents that just because your child is born premature, that doesn’t mean they won’t grow up to be healthy and happy.
These days Josh is an active young adult who recently celebrated his 23rd birthday. He has completed a university business degree along with his insurance broker certification. Agnes describes her son as someone who is unwavering in his courage and drive. She remains grateful for the support she received at Sunnybrook, and credits the incredible team—then, and now— with providing an outstanding level of care to parents and their tiny babies, every step of the way.
