Amelia and Harper’s Story

Twins Amelia and Harper needed the expert care at Children’s Hospital even before birth.

Their mom, Jessica was on bed rest when her water broke at just 21 weeks. The team at London Health Science Centre’s Antenatal Department worked tirelessly to keep the girls in utero for as long as possible.

In August, Jessica went into labour at just 24 weeks. Amelia and Harper were rushed straight to Children’s Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Their core team of nurses immediately settled in – providing help with feeding, medications and other interventions to help them grow stronger.

During those early weeks in the NICU, Amelia and Harper were the first patients to be visited on rounds – needing the most critical care. Both girls battled multiple infections, endured repeated intubation, and Harper faced a milk allergy that made her care more complex.

With each difficulty, the girls not only received world-class medical care, but also were supported with music therapy to help calm their nervous system and bravery beads to mark each hurdle.

After more than 100 days, Jessica and Jonathan were finally able to hold them. The family experienced the magic of a NICU holiday season – complete with festive décor and a special Santa visit! By January the twins were finally strong enough to head home.

Today, Amelia and Harper regularly still visit Children’s for check-ups where Child Life specialists make each visit both joyful and reassuring. Their family is forever grateful for the expertise and compassion of their Children’s team.

With our community’s generosity through Dream Lottery, children like Amelia and Harper receive the specialized care they need to help them grow stronger. You are a source of hope, as your generosity helps fund the leading-edge equipment, programs, education, and research at Children’s Hospital that make up the best possible care.

Your ticket purchase funds the equipment, programs, education, and research that helps hope live at Children’s Hospital. With one Dream Lottery ticket, you help bring hope to children and families facing life-changing diagnoses.  Hope lives through generosity — because of you, Amelia and Harper are enjoying fun-filled childhoods.