BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre is the only hospital in the province devoted solely to the health of women, newborns, and families. As the referral centre for the most complex maternity cases, families travel from across British Columbia to receive the highest level of care.
For Ashley, from Smithers, and Allison, from the Lower Mainland, BC Women’s became not only the place where they received life-saving care, but also where they found something unexpected — each other.
Ashley’s Journey
When Ashley discovered she was expecting rare monoamniotic-monochorionic (mono-mono) twins — meaning her babies shared both a placenta and amniotic sac — her doctor immediately referred her to the Maternal Fetal Medicine team at BC Women’s.
“With how rare and complicated my pregnancy was, my doctor immediately referred me to BC Women’s,” Ashley recalls.
At just 24 weeks pregnant, Ashley was medevaced from Smithers to Vancouver. Leaving behind her spouse and two children for an extended stay was overwhelming.
“When I was med-evacced to Vancouver, I left my spouse and two kids behind a lot sooner than we were prepared for. It was terrifying, but I knew BC Women’s was the safest place for me and my babies.”
Ashley settled into Evergreen, a specialized unit at BC Women’s, where she received daily monitoring and care for her high-risk pregnancy.
Allison’s Journey
Around the same time, Allison was also admitted to Evergreen — facing her own high-risk pregnancy with twins.
In early April, she was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia, a dangerous complication that can be life-threatening if not closely monitored. BC Women’s became her home for several weeks, and the Evergreen nursing team became like family.
“The nurses on Evergreen were amazing — Daniella, Tracy, Aya, Brianne, Lisa, Macy, Anita, Lucia — they felt like family by the time I delivered,” Allison says.
After weeks of specialized care, Allison delivered her twin boys, Jackson and Jace. Both newborns were admitted to the BC Women’s NICU, part of the hospital’s integrated approach for high-risk pregnancies and complex births.
“I will never forget the care and compassion I received. They made me feel safe, supported, and never alone.”
Finding Strength in Each Other
In Evergreen, Ashley and Allison became each other’s lifelines.
“We became each other’s support — sharing our worries, celebrating milestones, and keeping each other going,” Ashley says.
Their bond grew beyond hospital walls. When Ashley needed an emergency C-section at 28 weeks, Allison dropped everything to be by her side.
“This woman I had only known for a month came to be my rock. I will never forget that. I’ve had multiple surgeries before, but this scared me more — I still had a risk of losing the girls, and I had no idea what to expect. The teams were incredible at keeping me calm and walking me through every step.”
For Ashley, having Allison there in that moment meant everything.
Today, Ashley’s twin girls and Allison’s twin boys are growing stronger every day. Both women carry immense gratitude not only for the specialized teams at BC Women’s who guided them through their most vulnerable moments, but also for the unexpected friendship that gave them courage when they needed it most.
Stories like Ashley and Allison’s show that BC Women’s is more than a hospital, it is a lifeline for families across the province.
When you make a gift to BC Women’s Health Foundation, you’re ensuring that women like Ashley and Allison receive the highest level of care and that families across BC continue to find strength, support, and healing at BC Women’s.