Ivy is a Registered Nurse in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). But her first time in the NICU wasn't as a nurse - it was as a parent.
Ivy’s son Billy was born in 2006. Billy was early, or “premature”. At 32 weeks, he would need specialized critical neonatal care. Ivy was quickly airlifted to Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto to deliver. The first few months were tough, as Ivy stayed in Toronto with her son. Billy was almost three months old before he was cleared to come back to the NICU at Sault Area Hospital.
This was just the beginning of learning and adapting to Billy’s needs. Billy was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease and a seizure disorder. “As we learned about his needs and what kind of care he had to have, I figured there was no better person than me to be the one to do it,” Ivy shared. With that drive, Ivy went back to school to become a Registered Nurse (RN).
As an RN, Ivy was able to care for Billy at home with the support of Billy’s SickKids care team and his local pediatrician. “I was very lucky. We had great pediatricians, so if Billy was at home, and something was off, I would be able to provide them with my assessment, and they would give me direction. But there were times we had to come in for care, and our hospital was there for us.”
As Billy grew, so did his needs. He needed a wheelchair, walker and additional adaptive equipment to help him day-to-day. In spite of his disability, he was “the happiest kid,” and “loved speed.” Ivy shared, “He always wanted to go fast – whether it was snowmobiling, four-wheeling or just in his wheelchair!”
With Billy being dependent on a wheelchair to get around, Ivy noticed the importance of having the “right” equipment at the “right” time: “As he grew, his equipment needed to be replaced. I see the same thing at work. As the years go by, and our equipment ages, it needs to be replaced,” Ivy noted.
Things took a turn for Billy in April of 2023. His chronic lung disease had made him vulnerable, and an infection became septic. When Ivy realized something was wrong, she rushed him to the Emergency Department at Sault Area Hospital, there was little that could be done. Billy passed away suddenly.
"I find more and more, my experience with Billy is what makes me a better nurse. Caring for him, being in and out of hospitals, I just know what that's like first-hand. It makes me better able to sympathize with families when they're experiencing something similar." - Ivy Adam, Registered Nurse, NICU
Billy’s legacy lives on in the work his mom does.
“Billy always made me a better nurse when he was here,” Ivy said. “When my Billy was flown out I remember how scary that was. Now, I can hold someone’s hand and give them that comfort because I’ve been in their shoes before. I know what they’re going through. I hope now, after losing him, I can help families through their grief too.”
Donor gifts are helping caregivers, and parents, like Ivy.
Your support of Sault Area Hospital Foundation isn’t just helping purchase critical equipment.
Your donations ensure caregivers have the tools they need to provide outstanding care. Your generosity helps give families the comfort of knowing our hospital is equipped to care for them when they need it most.
“Donor support is so valued by us, as nurses and as patients,” Ivy added. “I’ve been on both sides, I’m a nurse and a NICU mom, and this support goes a long way for the babies and the families. I see the difference it makes.”
Giving In Memory
When Billy died, his godmother, Ivy’s Aunt Linda, gave in his memory to SAHF. Her donation, along with many others, went toward a new isolette unit for our NICU.
The new isolettes offer humidity and temperature control, allowing care teams to adjust the environment according to the baby’s needs. They also have oxygen control, which helps babies breathe a little easier with some extra oxygen being pumped in.
Although Linda sadly passed away in August of 2023, her gift continues to have impact. Today, Ivy uses the equipment her Aunt’s gift supported, to provide lifesaving care.
When you give in memory, you’re not only honouring the memory of the person who passed away, but creating a legacy. Your impact lives on, purchasing the critical equipment used in our hospital to save lives.
Donations help us deliver outstanding care.
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