When Luciana and Giovanni found out they were expecting twin boys, they were overjoyed – but soon, worry took over when they learned the boys had a rare and dangerous condition and needed emergency surgery to survive. Then, Francesco and Alessio were born at Surrey Memorial Hospital at just 26 weeks, three months too soon.
“Those days were filled with fear, uncertainty, exhaustion, alarms, tears, doctors, nurses, and so many moments where we felt completely overwhelmed,” remembers Luciana. “As parents, all you want is to stay close to your children. Especially when they are fighting so hard.”
But home was a long bus ride away from the hospital for these physically and emotionally exhausted new parents. They had no idea how they would manage, until they were offered a room at the Ronald McDonald House Family Room, just steps from the NICU inside Surrey Memorial Hospital.
For Luciana, the Family Room was a place where she could finally breathe, have a cup of coffee or a snack, and most importantly, stay close to her babies day and night when every milestone meant the world.
Today, Francesco and Alessio are home, growing, smiling, laughing, discovering the world around them, and filling their home with life. Luciana hopes other families can find the same hope she did. “There is hope, even during hard moments.”
