Cause

Better health outcomes and more lives saved

Alice and Raphaëlle visit the Sainte-Justine hospital

In connection with the Healing More Better campaign, the Young Leaders Circle has pledged to invest $8 million in the future CHU Sainte-Justine Centre of Excellence in Neonatology.

As it currently stands, 8% of babies in Quebec are born prematurely, and preterm birth complications are the leading cause of death in newborns. The purpose in creating this centre is to turn these trends around and give these tiny patients a better chance to survive – and thrive.

In concrete terms, the Centre will endeavour to:

Accelerate clinical research
Introduce new and personalized approaches to patient care
More accurately assess the impacts of treatment on preemies’ development, from infancy through to adulthood.

In short, the Centre of Excellence in Neonatology will be a cradle of life, committed to building a better, brighter and healthier future for all babies.

“An enormous amount of progress has been made in the past 10 to 20 years: 70% of infants born at 25 weeks’ gestation survive, and over half of very premature babies go on to enjoy a good quality of life. As scientists, we must now do everything in our power to ensure they receive suitable medical care throughout their childhood and into their teen years to optimize their health as an adult.”

“The newborn unit is, by its very nature, much too stimulating for preterm infants and their immature nervous system. Every last detail in this high-stress environment has to be rethought to mimic, as closely as possible, the comfort and safety of the womb.”

“Laura is doing incredibly well. She’s blossoming. We’re not seeing any long-term problems so far, but we’re staying in close contact with Sainte-Justine just in case. We will have to keep a close eye on her growth throughout her childhood.

Some 6,000 babies are born prematurely every year in Quebec. Many of them, like Laura, make it. But we need to keep up the research. And to do that, Sainte-Justine needs you.”

Dr. Anne Monique Nuyt,
Neonatal Pediatrician and Researcher

Isabelle Milette,
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and Developmental Care Specialist

Maïa,
Laura’s mother

In Quebec, one newborn out of twelve is born prematurely. Has the largest Canadian centre in neonatology, the CHU Sainte-Justine welcomes each year over 1,100 little patients like Alice et Raphaëlle, twin sisters born at 24 weeks.

For their 1st birthday, Alice and Raphaëlle came to visit the neonatology team that made a difference in their life.

See how the donor’s generosity made a difference in the CHU Sainte-Justine neonatology unit.

N.B.: Video available in French only.