After 19 years of hoping for a baby, Manjula and Simerjit recently experienced a moment they will never forget, taking their precious son Shemuel outside to see the sunrise for the very first time.
Father Simerjit holding baby Shemuel close in a Moby wrap at Waitākere Hospital's Special Care Baby Unit.
Baby Shemuel had spent the first 25 days of his life in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Waitākere Hospital. For his parents, who had waited 19 years to welcome a child, the opportunity to take him outside and experience the world together was incredibly special.
Thanks to the generosity of Well Foundation supporters, the SCBU recently received new Moby wraps, which allow parents to carry their babies close to their bodies, providing comfort and an opportunity for bonding.
For Manjula and Simerjit, the Moby wrap made a very special family moment possible.
"My baby has been in this room for 25 days. I wanted to show him the sunrise and the environment," Manjula explained.
"The lactation consultant showed us the Moby wraps and said we could take him for a walk outside. We watched YouTube videos about how to do it."
What followed was an emotional experience for both parents.
"It was so amazing, me and my husband had tears in our eyes. After 19 years [of trying for a baby] we are able to hold the baby with this wrap [and take him outside]."
For Simerjit, carrying his son close to his chest was a particularly moving experience.
"My husband said, 'I feel like two hearts are beating in one person.' My husband wore it and it was a great bonding for him. 10/10."
While the Moby wraps are a relatively simple addition to the unit, their impact on families like Shemuel's can be profound.
For parents whose babies need extra care in hospital, opportunities to hold, comfort and bond with their newborns are incredibly important.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, Well Foundation can continue to provide these thoughtful extras that go beyond public healthcare funding, helping make the hospital experience a little easier for babies and their families.
And for Manjula, Simerjit and Shemuel, a simple wrap helped create a beautiful family memory, 25 days in the making.