Share The Love: Giving Back For Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is all about the love. So let’s spend a few moments this month thinking about some people who could use our love and compassion.

Premature birth is a cause that is near and dear to my heart, as our boys were born at 32 weeks, after a high-risk pregnancy that included in-utero surgery in Toronto. We’ve had a lucky journey since then, one that has brought many fabulous people into my life. One of those lovely people has started a fundraising campaign to help give other preemies a better chance at a happy ending.

If you’re looking for a way to spread some love this month, consider making a donation to the campaign supporting the MSF (Doctors Without Borders) obstetrical facility and NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The goal is to raise $10,000 by the end of February.

In Canada, at NICUs like the one at The Moncton Hospital, babies born as early as 25 weeks gestation live and thrive, thanks to the medical care available. In many countries, including Haiti, being born early does not offer much hope. In 2010, out of more than 383,000 births, there were 600 infant deaths in Canada. The same year, out of 266,500 births in Haiti, 2,900 babies died because they were born too soon.

The MSF hospital, CRUO, offers free, high-quality care for pregnant women in emergency situations. (A complicated delivery in that country can cost up to $300; more than half of the population lives on $2 a day, according to MSF.) Since the earthquake in 2010, many maternal care programs were funded in Haiti through a program supported by the Canadian government. That funding, as well as other international assistance, has dropped significantly, sending more women and infants to CRUO looking for pre- and postnatal care.

The hospital needs help to try to meet the demand. To try to give more babies a chance to grow up, healthy and strong. This is a chance for us to make a difference in the lives of women and children and families. Don’t want the typical flowers and chocolate routine for Valentine’s Day? Why not ask for a donation to a great cause. What better way to celebrate love than to help more families experience the joy it can bring.