By Jill Sperling

Local family shares heartbreaking story to inspire others to give to RIH Foundation

Dec 3, 2018 | 3:55 PM

KAMLOOPS — There was hardly a dry eye in the room as the RIH Foundation launched its Holiday Fundraising Campaign, highlighting the story of a local family who experienced a tragic loss earlier this year. 

“It means so much to us that they see hundreds of families every single month and the fact that months later they’re still thinking about our family, we just wanted to reciprocate that today,” said Brittany Ovenden. 

Brittany and Kevin Ovenden and their three-year-old son Griffin were surrounded with support from caregivers after their daughter Georgia died moments after she was delivered, suffering a fetal maternal hemorrhage while in uterus. 

“It’s extremely rare,” Brittany said. “A lot of obstetricians haven’t even heard of this type of hemorrhage and there’s not really a lot of testing. That’s a silver lining, I guess you could say, that’s come out of this situation is they’re looking for better testing now to look for something like this, but it is very, very rare.”

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The Ovenden’s thanked their nurses, doctors, and hospital staff for the light they shone on the family during such a dark time. 

Tanis Hubberstey and Lori Wells were noted as two of the Labour and Delivery nurses who went the extra mile to show care and compassion to the family. 

“Brittany and Kevin are an amazing family, they’ve taught us so much,” Hubberstey said. “Emotionally these families deserve everything we have to give them; time, support, answers. It is from these families that we as nurses learn to be better nurses, more compassionate, empathetic. They give us more than I think we are able to give to them.”

This year’s fundraising campaign will raise money in support of family care to help other families spending time in the Labour and Delivery, Neonatal Intensive Care, or Pediatric departments. 

“We cannot forget this is a pediatric hospital. We have a lot of children being born here and we have to make sure we have all of the right equipment,” said RIH Foundation CEO Heidi Coleman. “Thanks to the donors, that’s how we get it.” 

Throughout December people are encouraged to dedicate a holiday ornament to a loved one when they donate a financial gift. The RIH Foundation is hoping to raise more than $100,000. 

“I think that this will hopefully help other families that go through this type of situation in terms of maybe some financial donations or whatever that could help with,” said Kevin Ovenden. 

The Ovendens will be back at Royal Inland Hospital in two weeks for the delivery of a baby boy. 

“More than anything we just can’t wait to have a healthy baby in our arms,” Brittany said. 

People can donate online, or visit the RIH Foundation’s office.