Introduction
Every day, families across Nova Scotia welcome new life at South Shore Regional Hospital. For most, it’s a moment of pure joy, a celebration of hope, love, and new beginnings. But for some, unexpected complications can threaten the lives of mothers and their newborns. In these critical moments, the difference between tragedy and triumph can come down to a single piece of equipment: the rapid infuser.
This is the story of why the Women and Children’s Health Unit urgently needs a dedicated rapid infuser, and how your support can make a life-saving difference for families in our community.
Jenna’s Story: Joy, Challenge, and the Power of Modern Medicine
Jenna Bishop’s experience at South Shore Regional Hospital began with excitement and hope. The day she gave birth to her son, she looked forward to holding him, counting his tiny fingers and toes, and cherishing the first moments of his life. Unexpectedly, Jenna experienced a severe postpartum hemorrhage, a complication that required immediate medical attention. Instead of spending those first hours with her baby, Jenna was cared for in the Intensive Care Unit while her husband waited anxiously for news.
Thanks to the skill and dedication of the hospital’s medical team, Jenna recovered and was able to reunite with her family. Her story highlights the importance of having the right equipment available at the right time. The Women and Children’s Health Unit did not have its own rapid infuser, so staff had to leave the department and search for the device elsewhere in the hospital. In situations where every minute matters, this delay can have serious consequences.
What Is a Rapid Infuser and Why Is It So Vital?
A rapid infuser is a specialized medical device that quickly delivers blood and fluids to patients experiencing severe blood loss. It simultaneously warms the fluids to prevent hypothermia, stabilizes blood pressure, and allows doctors and nurses to focus on saving lives rather than manually pumping fluids. For mothers suffering postpartum hemorrhage, timely access to a rapid infuser can mean the difference between meeting their baby and a family facing unimaginable loss.
Currently, South Shore Regional Hospital has only one rapid infuser, located in the operating room. If a mother in the Women and Children’s Health Unit needs it, staff must leave the department, search for the device, and transport it back—sometimes taking five to ten minutes or more. In an emergency, those minutes are critical. With approximately 360 babies born at SSRH each year, the need for rapid, reliable intervention is clear.
The Human Impact: Families, Healthcare Teams, and Community
The urgency of this campaign is not just about equipment—it’s about people. It’s about mothers like Jenna, fathers who face the possibility of raising a child alone, and babies who need their parents from the very first moments of life. It’s about the nurses and doctors who give everything they have to provide the best possible care, and who need the right tools at the right time to save lives.
As Arlene Stevens, CEO of Health Services Foundation of the South Shore, explained in a recent meeting, “We want to focus on the urgency of this equipment, the fact that we only have one single rapid infuser in the entire hospital. If it’s being used in the operating room, then a mom who’s bleeding out up on the Women and Children’s Health Unit doesn’t have access. It’s that instant, life-saving impact that it’s going to have here in our community.”
The domino effect in healthcare is real: when the Women and Children’s Health Unit has its own rapid infuser, staff won’t have to take it from the operating room, ensuring both departments are prepared for emergencies. This means better care for mothers, babies, and surgical patients alike.
The Numbers: Why This Matters
Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the most common and serious maternal complications worldwide. It happens suddenly and without warning. Statistics show that it is the leading cause of maternal complications after birth, and while the severity can differ, the risk is ever-present. With 360 births at South Shore Regional Hospital each year, that’s 360 opportunities to save a life if needed.
The cost of a dedicated rapid infuser is nearly $70,000—a significant investment, but one that will have an immediate and lasting impact. As soon as the funding is secured, the device can be purchased and put to use, protecting mothers and babies from the very next emergency.
Voices from the Front Lines
Michelle Wile, manager of the Women and Children’s Health Unit, emphasizes the importance of having a rapid infuser close at hand. “When a mother is experiencing a postpartum emergency, our team needs to respond immediately. Having a rapid infuser in our unit means we can deliver life-saving care without delay. It’s not just about equipment—it’s about giving families the best chance for a healthy start.”
The Appeal: How You Can Help
The Gift of a Lifetime campaign is a direct appeal to the community. There are no lotteries, draws, or complicated fundraising mechanisms—just a heartfelt request for donations from those who care about the safety and well-being of local families. The campaign is timed to coincide with Giving Tuesday, a global day of generosity, making it the perfect moment to make a difference.
Your gift today will mean that a mother experiencing a life-threatening emergency receives the best possible care during the most critical time of her and her baby’s lives. It will ensure that the care teams at South Shore Regional Hospital have the equipment they need to save lives and give moms like Jenna the chance to see their babies grow up.
Conclusion: A Community United for Mothers and Babies
Emergencies happen in seconds. The difference between hope and heartbreak can be measured in minutes, in the availability of life-saving equipment, and in the generosity of a caring community. By supporting the Gift of a Lifetime campaign, you are helping to ensure that every mother and baby at South Shore Regional Hospital gets the safe, timely care they deserve.
This is more than a fundraising campaign—it’s an opportunity to make a tangible, lasting impact on the lives of families in our region. Please consider making a donation today. Together, we can bring a rapid infuser to the Women and Children’s Health Unit and give every family the gift of a lifetime.
For more information or to make a donation, visit healthservicesfoundation.ca/giftofalifetime or contact the Health Services Foundation at 902.543.8065.
