The love and care provided by nurses, doctors and staff of the Nadi Hospital have been repaid. A former patient has paid the upgrade of some facilities at the hospital.
The help came from an Australian mother, Jayne Wren, who gave birth to a premature baby last year at the hospital car park.
Ms Wren of Port McQuarie, North of Sydney, visited Fiji last year with her husband Ashley to attend a friend’s wedding.
She was rushed to the hospital during their stay, but gave birth to her daughter Maddison at the car park.
They spent six weeks at the hospital.
In return for the love and care provided by the hospital, Ms Wren, despite the death of her husband a week after returning home, upgraded two bathrooms, three toilets and donated some equipment to the hospital.
This is her way of thanking the hospital for caring for her family during their stay in Fiji.
The project was co-ordinated in Nadi by four of her friends led by Jules Samuels.
They handed over the project to the hospital yesterday.
“With Ms Wren, we decided to do something to say ‘thank you’ to the Nadi community. We decided to renovate the bathrooms for expectant mothers. The group has been working on this project for two and a half weeks,” Ms Samuels said.
“She (Ms Wren) is not present with us here today (yesterday), but through Skype her message was “Thank you.”
“Without the staff and their care, they would not be where they are today. The love and support took them through their journey with their baby,” Ms Samuels said.
Nadi Hospital’s Dr Sailasa Misimisi thanked Ms Wren and her friends for their assistance.
“I think there is no word to be found to show the token of appreciation about this kind gesture of Jayne Wren,” Dr Misimisi said.
“She left our shores and to give back in a big win way is an open challenge to the people of Nadi because this institution is not for the Ministry of Health, but for the Vanua o Nadi who use this facility.
“The initiative has also challenged the Vanua o Nadi that much shall not be depended on the Ministry of Health to upgrade the facilities at all times, but effort within could make changes.”
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