Kaylee Henderson is quite likely the youngest benefactor when it comes to supporting the expansion of Boundary Trails Health Centre.
The 10-year-old presented a donation of $2,660 last Wednesday to the Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation specifically for the development of a neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU).
Henderson and her family were inspired to collect donations in place of gifts for her 10th birthday party as a result of her own journey of having been born premature and spending her first few months of life at Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg.
Due to pregnancy complications, Kaylee was delivered three months early, shared her mother Amy.
“She did have some health concerns and was quite tiny. She was two pounds, four ounces, and she did spend three months in NICU in Winnipeg,” Amy said.
“We did spend our three months away from our family and our other two daughters that stayed with my parents while we were away,” she added. “We stayed with family in Winnipeg so we could be closer to the hospital to see her every day.”
Kaylee has since had no major health concerns other than a few bouts of pneumonia, but the experience has still had a lasting impact.
Whey Kaylee turned five, she had family and friends help her collect stuffies to donate to Katie Cares.
“Because she had been a recipient in some of her stays here at Boundary then she wanted to give back to them,” said Amy, who noted Kaylee then had a similar thought for her to be able to be close to their family and home also helps for them.”
“I wanted to because I know it’s hard,” said Kaylee. “I know it’s hard because … if you’re in the Children’s Hospital, then you really miss your family.
“Because I was in this hospital, for my 10th birthday I wanted to help because they probably needed a lot of help to expand,” she said. “When I heard that there was the NICU coming, I was like, ‘Oh, I should help, and I can make it faster for them to build.’”
“She is going to be an amazing little philanthropist … she sees the big picture,” said foundation executive director Shannon Samatte-Folkett. “We are always grateful when the youth get involved and they see things that the community needs at such a young age.
“I am speechless listening to her because we are going to do some really great things,” she added. “Learning about families who did have to stay in the city, and now when the level two NICU is complete, they won’t have to do that. They can stay closer to home, and that what was the whole purpose of our foundation … bringing services closer to home for our community.”
