April 24, 2020

Send mom your love this Mother’s Day and support maternal health

This Mother’s Day, let the special mom in your life know how much you love and appreciate her, while also helping support moms-to-be at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital. This year, celebrating Mother’s Day may be a little different for some families, but now more than ever it is important to show your loved ones just how much they matter. 

 

You can send your mom your love this Mother’s Day by making a donation to Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation in her honour, and for each donation of $20 or more, you can pick out a virtual card to send to your mom, grandmother or another special woman in your life. Your gift will be doubled (up to $5,000) thanks to barBurrito. 

Funds raised through the “Send Mom Your Love” campaign will support equipment enhancements in the Mosaic Maternal Care Centre on the third floor of Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital. The hospital is home to one of Canada’s largest Single Room Maternal Care Centres, which is an innovative new model of care where moms-to-be labour, give birth and stay with their new baby all in the same private room. The floor also features three dedicated maternal operating rooms, plus a Prenatal Unit and Maternal Outpatient Clinic with a High Risk Fetal Assessment Unit.

“barBurrito is very proud to support Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation through this Mother’s Day campaign. We are happy to give back to our community and help support our province’s moms and growing families,” said Utsang Desai, barBurrito Master Franchisor in Saskatchewan.

“Mother’s Day is such a special day for families, as they honour and show gratitude towards the women in their lives who always give so selflessly,” said Brynn Boback-Lane, President and CEO of Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. “In this season of celebrating mothers, we are incredibly grateful for your generosity in support of the Mosaic Maternal Care Centre, which helps give new moms the best possible start to motherhood, as well as the best possible start to life for babies. The Centre provides the highest-quality maternal care to the deserving mothers of our province, and we thank barBurrito for matching donations to help continue that incredible level of care.”

This upcoming Mother’s Day will be met with excitement and anticipation for Jana Len, her husband Cleve and two-year-old daughter Claire, as they eagerly await the arrival of their newest member due on May 13. 

Despite a second baby on the way in a matter of days, at one point Jana’s journey to first becoming a mom felt almost impossible. For two years, the Saskatoon couple endured heartbreaking experiences, including a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy, before finally becoming pregnant with their first child. Based on her history, Jana was carefully monitored to ensure a smooth pregnancy and a healthy baby, and in April of 2018, beautiful baby Claire entered the world.

“We knew that we wanted more kids, but were concerned about how long it would take to get pregnant again, and what that journey might look like. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to go through all of the ups and downs yet again,” Jana said. 

Although uncertainty was looming, Jana and Cleve were still hopeful and were overjoyed to find out last year that baby number two was on the way. When Jana was 21 weeks pregnant there were some concerns and she was referred to the Fetal Assessment Unit at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital. She said the private rooms and clean, open space with large windows and a view of the riverbank brought a sense of calm to her situation. Thankfully with a week of rest, Jana’s pregnancy was once again considered “normal.”

While her pregnancy has been going well, Jana admits this hasn’t been the way she pictured her last trimester to go, as she never could have imagined giving birth during a pandemic, but added she’s grateful for the incredible health care providers who have brought comfort throughout the process.

“Knowing that during this unprecedented time I will have access to an amazing facility and maternity ward, along with top of the line equipment and amazing health care providers helps ease my worry and stress as I approach my delivery day,” explained Jana, who previously spent six years with Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation fundraising to help make the new hospital a reality.

Despite everything going on, Jana is enjoying every minute of being a mom to Claire and her family of three can’t wait to welcome their newest addition into the world. 

“My mom is my best friend, and I now have the opportunity to create that with my own kids. Seeing Claire grow, learn and experience life has been so much fun. It is amazing to watch her discover new things and develop her own personality. You forget the pureness and kindness children bring to the world, and once you have the opportunity to see it through a kid’s eyes, it makes the world such a better place,” Jana said. 

You can click here if you would like to make a donation in honour of your mom and send her a meaningful message this Mother’s Day.