Last December when Makayla Legge first helped raise funds for the Sault Area Hospital’s Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit, she had no idea her newborn would end up there a few months later.
Legge, owner of the Algoma Makers Market, developed HELLP syndrome while she was pregnant.
The syndrome, which includes hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count, caused her son Parker to be born early -- at 33 weeks instead of the usual 40.
“I was airlifted to Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto where Parker was delivered via C-section on May 3,” she said on Monday.
“He spent one week in the NICU at Mount Sinai before he was stable enough to return to Sault Area Hospital, where he spent another week in the local NICU,” she said.
While in the Sault NICU, Parker needed some additional monitoring after he was diagnosed with a condition called Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.
“They were monitoring his blood pressure more frequently and ensuring he was eating and growing appropriately.
"Once he was a stable weight and drinking from a bottle, we were able to be discharged home,” Legge said.
“The kindness and compassion shown to us during such a trying time was truly the most memorable part of our experience.”
Last year the Algoma Makers Market Holiday Festival run by Legge raised $2,000 for the local NICU. This year she is hoping to raise $4,000.
“Meaghan Kent Photography hosted her fundraiser at last year’s market as well and she raised $5,500, bringing her total donations so far to $13,000,” Legge said.
“She is hoping to hit $20,000 this year.”
The festival will be at The Machine Shop this Saturday, Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with more than 70 vendors, offering all kinds of locally-made items for you or for a loved one over the holidays.
Entry into the festival is by donation -- with proceeds going to the Sault Area Hospital’s Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit.
More information is below:
All 73 vendors will be located inside on the main level & the mezzanine. There are 58 vendors on the main level & on the mezzanine level, Meaghan Kent Photography will be holding her annual NICU fundraiser with her Christmas Mini Photos, there will be a cash bar & 13 more vendors.
Outside by the Century 21 rink, you can find Hogans Homestead with Maple Taffy sponsored by OC Beauty, the Sault Ste Marie Beaver Tails truck, our Hot cocoa & coffee bar and a free skate from 1:00-3:00.
Saturday's free skate is sponsored by Meaghan Kent photography & Sunday's free skate is sponsored by Yummy Soy Scents. There is a colouring contest for kids being shared on the market's social media pages, reusable shopping bags provided to the first 90 people that are sponsored by Jared Theriault at Sunlife. There will also be opportunities for selfies sponsored by 40 Below Freeze Dried Snacks.