Mother holding her premature newborn baby skin-to-skin in the hospital NICU, wrapped in a white blanket.

Community care for our tiniest patients

During an uncertain time, a local mom and her newborn son found reassurance and specialized care in our hospital’s NICU

When the unexpected happens

For Gaya Indra, a 31-year-old finance professional living in Whitby, the start of her pregnancy was filled with excitement and careful planning for her baby’s arrival. She chose to receive care with the Midwifery Services of Durham, one of the first clinics to have hospital privileges at Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) through the Alongside Midwifery Unit.

Her pregnancy was considered low-risk and began with the midwifery team’s full-scope practice, until an unexpected complication arose in her third trimester.

“I knew something was up,” recalls Gaya, who had noticed a decline in fetal movement during her own daily monitoring at 32 weeks.

Gaya was quickly referred to Dr. Yasaman Pazouki, Oak Valley Health Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, for further assessment. After examining Gaya and her baby, Dr. Pazouki confirmed that she had experienced a premature rupture of membranes — meaning her water had broken before labour began, and the baby could come at any time.

“That was a shock to my system,” she says. “Baby should be in Mama’s stomach for 40 weeks — my mind was going haywire and I was in panic mode.”

Finding comfort in uncertainty

Because Gaya was at high risk for developing an infection, she was admitted to MSH’s Antepartum Unit. She received antibiotics and steroids to help with her baby’s lung development, while her care team also closely monitored her gestational diabetes.

“The nurses took such good care of me, I had access to them at all times,” she remembers. “It gave me some solace.”

During her hospital stay, Gaya and her husband, Gleeson Kathir, met with Dr. Navneet Sharma, Oak Valley Health Neonatologist. He sat down with them and addressed any concerns they had about a premature delivery — assuring them the hospital had what they needed to handle their family’s challenges.

“Dr. Sharma made my heart calmer about the situation,” says Gaya. “It helped us a lot.”

Gaya hoped to stay in the hospital for three more weeks to give her baby time to grow. However, after just five days of treatment and monitoring, she went into labour.

Knowing the NICU team had the best tools available helped us trust the care and focus on our baby.

Gaya Indra

Handled with care

During active labour, it became evident that Gaya’s baby was in distress. Her delivery, led by Dr. Renée Chouinard, Oak Valley Health Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, quickly shifted to an emergency caesarian section. An epidural was administered to ensure her comfort and safety.

“Dr. Chouinard made the best educated calls for my particular situation,” says Gaya.

After 12 hours of labour, baby boy Benji Indra Kathir arrived on October 14, 2025, at 32 weeks and five days, weighing just 3lbs 6oz. Despite his early arrival, he was able to breathe and cry on his own. He was immediately transferred to MSH’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The specialized care delivered by Dr. Sharma and Dr. Taslim Dawood, Oak Valley Health Neonatologist/Paediatrician, set the tone for each day that followed in the NICU. They took their time to explain the treatments Benji needed, answering any questions the concerned new parents had. The nurses in the NICU were there for the family every step of the way, too — especially for Gaya as a new mom. They supported her through many firsts and milestones during a stressful time.

“That really changed my care for Benji. I learned a lot about how to take care of him from the nurses — how to hold him, how to feed him, how to bathe him, how to pump for the first time. All tools that I use today,” she says.

The power of community support

Gaya spent every day at the hospital, arriving at the NICU at 7 a.m. and staying until visiting hours were over at 7 p.m. While the average inpatient stay in MSH’s NICU is around ten days, Benji remained there for three weeks.

An infant warmer, such as the one generously funded by the Sandra Schmirler Foundation through MSH Foundation, played a crucial part in keeping Benji’s temperature regulated during his stay in the NICU. Having access to leading-edge technology and equipment — made possible by our generous community — is the reason that growing families like Gaya and Gleeson’s can get the care they need, close to home.

“The advanced equipment allowed our baby to be closely monitored and cared for, every moment,” says Gaya.

“If that technology wasn’t there, what would we do?” she adds. “Donor support truly changes outcomes for babies and families, and we’re deeply grateful for that.”