Justin Turnbull’s Story

I went into labour eight weeks early. I was really excited at first. Then I realized how small my baby boy was going to be and that his health was in critical condition. When Justin was born, he weighed only 3.13lbs and he was diagnosed with TEF—his esophagus and tummy weren’t connected.

We stayed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Regional for his first 4 days and then we were transferred to the IWK in Halifax. Justin was only 6 days old when he had surgery. We had to stay at the IWK for 49 days. The staff were great, but I wanted him home in our hospital. We were transferred back to the Regional’s NICU, where he stayed for 50 more days.

Our time in Halifax was physically and emotionally draining. Justin was the first grandchild on both sides of the family and his grandparents weren’t able to see him until he came home.

I am the biggest fan of the staff at the NICU at the Regional. They supported not just Justin, but the whole family—I would stand on my head for them.

– Stacy Turnbull