The Pay Family - Queenstown
The Pay family from Queenstown consists of mum Alisha, dad Jamie and children Max (four) and one-year-old Georgie. Georgie was born at just 36 weeks’ gestation via emergency C-section, and needed NICU care due to low blood sugar levels. Mum Alisha explains, “Max was also born at 36 weeks, my babies seem to come at the same time! He spent 10 days in the NICU, so I felt comfortable knowing Georgie was in safe hands with the amazing nurses.”
At the time Georgie was born, the family were living in Ryal Bush – a small town near Invercargill in the deep south. When Georgie arrived early, Alisha stayed near the ward at Ronald McDonald Family Room, inside the hospital. “Georgie was very sleepy and needed tube feeding for her first few days earthside,” says Alisha, “she spent two weeks’ total in the NICU.” During this time, Alisha was extremely relieved to be able to stay so close to her newborn’s bedside. “Staying at the Family Room meant I didn’t have to leave Georgie at the hospital to travel back to Ryal Bush during the night,” she says, “I had to focus on helping her build her strength by feeding every three hours; I couldn’t imagine what it would have been like if had to leave her every night.” 
One of the most challenging aspects of this stay for Alisha was missing her wee boy Max, then aged three. “It was such a blessing having the space at the Family Room for Max when he came to visit me. It was so hard being away from him, but having the space to play with him and enjoy meals together was priceless. It meant we could spend quality time together as a family, with Georgie just down the corridor.”
The room Alisha stayed in at the Family Room included an ensuite and double bed, and was the perfect place for her to “go and rest and recover after my C-section, and between the three-hourly feeds!” The family were blown away by the kindness and support offered by the staff and volunteers at the Family Room, with Alisha recalling, “they made sure you had everything you needed – nothing was a problem. Max loved coming in to check out the baking and treats that were refreshed daily, and the other families with NICU babies meant I could connect with people who knew what we were going through.”
As Georgie was born on the 13th December, the family were at the Family Room for Christmas Day – Georgie’s first. “It never crossed my mind that we’d be spending our first Christmas as a family of four in hospital,” Alisha says, “as each day crept closer to Christmas I became more anxious and upset about being away from our families. However, the Family Room staff and volunteers went above and beyond to make the day special – not just like any other day.
“The fridge was stocked with the most delicious food – ham, new potatoes, pavlova. We were spoilt with the most generous gifts, even for Georgie. Although it wasn’t the Christmas we had planned it was special in a different way and the generosity of the staff, volunteers and sponsors made it so much more enjoyable.”
Georgie turns one this December and is now a cheeky, laid-back toddler who loves her big brother. Alisha will always remember fondly their time at RMHC NZ and is forever grateful for the support her family received – especially over Georgie's first Christmas.
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