Stella Buys a Bed for Zedo fundraiser recognized

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Published on Friday, June 16, 2017

Banner Staff 
The Neepawa Banner

On May 7, the Ford family, of Neepawa, attended the leadership wall unveiling at St. Boniface Hospital, in Winnipeg. The family was named on the donors’ wall because of the support they received from the Neepawa-area community.

 In 2011, their son Zdeno (Zedo) was born premature and spent most of his 22 day life in St. Boniface Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Following his passing, the family started a fundraiser to purchase a new isolet, which would help other  premature babies and their families. The isolet is a self-contained incubation unit that provides a controlled heat, humidity and oxygen microenvironment for the isolation and care of premature and low-birth weight babies.

In addition to accepting donations, the Fords sold merchandise, including copies of Stella Finds a Bed for Zedo, the children’s book they made, as well as children’s clothing and hats. With community support, the family raised just over $38,000, which was used to purchase the isolet in 2013. Corrie explains, “The majority of Zdeno’s life was spent in St. Boniface Hospital, having a place we can call our own there is such a great way to carry on his memory!”