GENEROSITY THAT
2025
When Olivia Meija was born on August 20, 2023, she weighed less than two pounds and arrived more than three months early. At just 24 weeks, she was what doctors call “on the cusp of viability.” For her parents, it was a moment of awe and fear—their daughter was here, and the fight for her life had already begun. Why the Meija family gives back monthly Tiny Olivia was first cared for in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Foothills Medical Centre. Soon after, a brain bleed required her to be transferred to Alberta Children’s Hospital for specialized surgery. What followed was four months of NICU life—a fragile cycle of progress and setbacks. She would gain weight, then lose it. Come off breathing support, only to need it again. Through every uncertain day, Olivia’s parents took turns at her bedside so she was never alone. “The NICU is a roller coaster,” her mom, Ceniza Meija, recalls. “You’re in survival mode. Every small win feels miraculous, and every setback is devastating.” At Foothills Medical Centre, the NICU was often stretched beyond capacity. Space was tight. Nurses were caring for many patients. Parents sat shoulder to shoulder. Still, the compassion of the care team never wavered. “The doctors and nurses were incredible,” Ceniza says. “I can only imagine how much less stress they would feel—and how much more they could do—if they had a bigger, updated NICU.”
Today, Olivia is a thriving toddler. Looking back, her parents see that the NICU team didn’t just save Olivia’s life—they carried the family through their darkest days. That’s why the Meija family gives back as monthly donors to Calgary Health Foundation. “We never thought we’d need the NICU,” Ceniza says. “But it can happen to anyone. Every family deserves to know that if the unthinkable happens, the best care will be there.” The expanded NICU at Foothills Medical Centre is expected to open in 2030. It will mean more space for families, more tools for care teams, and more successful fighting starts, like Olivia’s.
Thank you to all 2,406 monthly donors, like the Meija family, whose regular gifts touch thousands of lives every month. Each monthly donation from these Champions for Health—whether it’s $10 a month or $1,000—directly supports healthcare in our communities.
The Meija family
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CALGARY HEALTH FOUNDATION
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