Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.06.2010, Page 9

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 1. júní 2010 • 9
months older,” said Raelene.
Atli went straight into the
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
(NICU) and was transferred
to the Health Sciences Centre
where he would remain for
three weeks. Raelene tried to
get moved to Health Sciences
as well, but ended up having
to stay at a friend’s home in
Winnipeg for the three week
duration.
“It was hard because I
didn’t get to have him right
away and I couldn’t be with
him. We didn’t know what
was wrong, or if he was going
to live,” said Raelene, who to-
gether with her husband visited
their son in hospital everyday
throughout his ordeal.
“She missed not having
Atli in the hospital like other
mothers did. She was very
strong though all this,” said
Ray, who was concerned about
his grandson all throughout
his own recovery. “I wasn’t
that mobile but they were
able to take me to hospital to
see him.”
“I could relax with Ray
because he was recovering,”
said Norma. “My focus was
on Raelene and Atli at that
time. My faith is what got me
through.”
Eventually, Atli was sent
home with medication to con-
trol his heart rate, which Rael-
ene said was unheard of at that
time.
“He is so good,” said Nor-
ma proudly. “He takes his meds
three times a day; in the morn-
ing, at supper and at 12 a.m. at
night, and chews his Aspirin®
once a day.”
The parents have had to be
very vigilant, watching Atli to
ensure his lips don’t turn blue
and that he is getting enough
oxygen. Eventually, when Atli
is bigger, he may be able to re-
ceive laser surgery on his heart,
however the parent’s have cho-
sen to wait and see if it is nec-
essary, as there are always po-
tential risks with surgery.
“Originally they told us
Atli may not be able to play
organized sports, but of course
that’s all he wants to do now,”
laughed Raelene. “Now our
cardiologist says let him play.”
Today, Ray and Atli are a
healthy, active pair and Ray
is very grateful to be able to
spend time with his grandson,
playing ball or just going
fishing.
“Ray can do anything,”
said Norma. “He volunteers,
fishes, hunts, cuts wood, reads,
renovates our house, tutors
math, and sits on six different
committees!”
Ray has been a long
time volunteer for the Heart
and Stroke Foundation of
Manitoba’s annual Door-
to-Door campaign as a Kit
Captain during Heart Month
each February.
“There have been a lot of
advancements made in heart
treatment thanks to the Heart
and Stroke Foundation. Twen-
ty-five years ago, would it have
been possible for a baby like
Atli, with a heart rate over 200,
to go home with his parents?
Both Atli and I have benefited
from the efforts of doctors and
researchers to refine procedures
for heart surgery and develop
medications and treatments
that extend the lives of patients
of all ages,” said Ray.
“We’ve benefited on so
many fronts and on so many
levels in our family,” said Rae-
lene. “We know it could have
been much worse for Atli. Even
just being in the NICU with the
other babies that were sick, we
knew Atli was probably going
to be okay and we were lucky
to be able to take him home and
keep him home, so we have to
be thankful for that.”
Nobody is exempt from
cardiovascular disease. In
Canada, about one of every
100 babies is born with some
form of heart defect. These
heart defects range from a tiny
hole that will never require
treatment, to a life-threatening
condition that could require
multiple surgeries.
Cardiovascular disease
continues to be the number one
cause of death in Manitoba and
across Canada. Chances are
you know someone, whether it
is a family member, a friend, a
partner, or co-worker, who has
been impacted by this devastat-
ing disease. Help fund research
that continues to give people
like Ray and his grandson Atli
the best chance at life.
With your donation, we all
win. Donate now.
Courtesy of the Heart and
Stroke Foundation of Manitoba
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Ray with grandson Atli and his daughter Raelene
Atil and Ray have benefited from the efforts of doctors and
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