The Montreal Children's Hospital celebrates World Prematurity Day this November 17!

Such is the case with Chadly Hamon, born on June 15th, 2015 at 24 weeks. While he had a difficult start to life with that 50% chance of survival and a first surgery at just ten days, Chadly is now doing much better thanks to the care he received at the MCH.  

His mother Tania thanks the nurses, doctors and professionals in the neonatal intensive care unit, the spiritual care department and the music therapy program: "without their help, support and backing, I don't think we would have been able to get through it. ’’ She also claims to have kept in touch with a number of specialists, such as Catherine, the spiritual counselor with whom she exchanges greeting cards every year in December, and music therapist Christelle Jacquet. 

The latter remembers Chadly and his parents well and explains how music that resembles the speed of a mother's heartbeat helps stabilize the breathing or heart rate of premature babies.  

Like Chadly, more than 8% of babies are born prematurely every year, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research reported in 2017. The MCH Neonatal Intensive Care Unit will soon be inaugurating a photo gallery to celebrate the strength of these prematurely born children and the resilience of their parents. In the meantime, Tania sends her support to them. ''You must never give up, then take one second, one minute, then one hour at a time.''