Our community in Chilliwack is expanding at a rapid pace, yet our healthcare capacity has not been able to keep up. Several families, including mine, have experienced the burden of traveling all the way to Surrey or vancouver just to visit their critically ill newborns. I, personally, have had to go through this overwhelming ordeal with my own son, and I know of family members who are currently enduring this heart-wrenching situation.

This predicament forces families to be apart at a time when unity is most needed, placing an undue stress on the parents and the family as a whole. It is imperative that these families have their needed support nearby during such a critical period. Establishing a Neonicu in our local hospital will make a significant difference in our community.

According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the birth rate in Chilliwack increased by an estimated 3% in the last five years, and the availability of NICU beds has not increased proportionally. Therefore, a NICU in Chilliwack Hospital is an urgent need, not a luxury.

Let's work together to ensure that families can stay together during critical times and receive the essential care without traveling long distances. Join us in urging the local health authorities and the government to establish a NICU facility in Chilliwack Hospital. Please sign this petition to show your support for this urgent cause.