Last Saturday, a family and a community celebrated a miracle, and that miracle is named Charice.
On January 7, Charice Marie Galleon was baptized and celebrated her first birthday. The celebration was even more special since on January 6, 2011, the youngest daughter of Gilbert and Heidi was born, only 24 weeks into Heidi’s pregnancy.
Heidi was rushed to the hospital that morning at 11 a.m. experiencing premature labour. Dr. Khoza quickly realized the baby was in breach, but they were able to successfully deliver. Charice was considered a micro-preemie, weighing only 598 grams and measuring only 30 centimetres in length. Her lungs were underdeveloped, and she also had a heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus, where the vascular connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery fails to close.
Within 45 minutes Charice was airborne and was flown to the Foothills Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) by STARS.
This began a harrowing experience for the family, who had joy at the arrival of their baby, but fear of what could become.
They spent more than four months in Calgary as Charice defied the odds in an incubator. Miraculously she did not need surgery, and medication resolved her heart condition. She received three blood transfusions due to anaemia, and fought off pneumonia a few times. There were concerns for her eyes, which is common in premature babies.
While the baby was growing, the family made the Ronald McDonald House in Calgary and the Ramada in Airdrie their home.
By the end of March, Charice was moved from the Foothills NICU to the Rockyview Unit. By April 30 she was home in Drumheller, although the family continues to attend the Calgary Children’s Hospital and the Drumheller Health Centre to monitor her progress. At one year of age she is still on oxygen, but that will soon be a thing of the past.
While the family went through this struggle Heidi said they learned the spirit of community. When Charice was born, Dr. Khoza, Dr. Chung, Dr. Maseka and Dr. Tlhape all played a role, as did nurses Celeste and Myrna. The family is also grateful for the medical support of STARS, the Foothills Hospital, the Rockyview Hospital and the Alberta Children’s Hospital. The Ronald McDonald House in Calgary also played a great role for the family.
Gilbert works for Canalta in Drumheller, and Heidi said the Christianson family and the local office were supportive of their struggle in many ways. Heidi’s co-workers at DARTS also were supportive as were other agencies including Healthy Families, Big Country Outreach, FSCD and the Filipino community.
While the family was with their child in Calgary a whole community in Drumheller rallied for them. Heidi said people at St. Anthony’s and The Church of the Nazarene and friends all over the world prayed for the young family.
“Above all Almighty God who gave my daughter life, and used these people as His instrument to make all things possible in His name Jesus Christ,” said Heidi.
