Meet the Dorey Family
From Abbotsford, BC
When Maggie Dorey was born prematurely at Surrey Memorial Hospital, weighing only 2 pounds, her mom Erin remembers the struggles and fears she experienced. Along with being postpartum, she also had to come to terms with the fact that her newborn would need to undergo intensive care at the NICU for an extended period. “The few times I had to leave her alone overnight I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I just cried the entire time,” she remembers. Although the family was living in Surrey at the time, they chose to stay at the hospital most nights to be close to Maggie.
When the doctors told the Doreys that Maggie would need to stay in the NICU for more than 90 days, new moms Erin and Aria felt fear and uncertainty. How would they manage between preparing meals, resting, and caring for their dogs? Learning about the Ronald McDonald Family Room was the first time the family felt they had a comfortable option during challenging times.
The Doreys ended up staying overnight at The Family Room for most of Maggie’s hospital stay, from Christmas day to the first week of March. During their time, they participated in the dog therapy program, utilized the kitchen, showers, and laundry facilities, much-needed self-care only steps away from the NICU. They had heard of Ronald McDonald House earlier in life and refer to the Family Room as a ‘mini version of the House.’
“I really don’t think I would have survived without it,” says Erin. “I wouldn’t have been able to leave Maggie alone in the hospital for all that time as a newborn. The Family Room was a huge help when I was going through postpartum depression because I was able to go check in on her, cuddle her, and feel close to her, while simultaneously experiencing a sense of normalcy.”
The parents also note the comfort of being able to hear NICU announcements on the PA system from inside the walls of The Family Room. “It was great. We would know if something concerning had happened to her and could walk over in a matter of minutes if we needed to,” says Erin.
Today, Maggie is doing exceptionally well. She is four months old, eight pounds, and eating naturally. The family is thrilled to see their baby happy and healthy and find it funny when strangers make note of Maggie’s size. “To us, she is actually big now,” says mum. “But people often comment that she is so tiny.”
The healthy baby and her family have since moved to Abbotsford with their pups and have nothing but positive things to say about their time in the Surrey Family Room.