ZABEL ON THE WALLS OF STE-JUSTINE
This past weekend, during the 10th Kangaroo Day at CHU Ste-Justine, in collaboration with Préma-Québec, professional painter ZABEL, currently emerging on the international scene, unveiled her painting VICTOIRE, which was gifted to the new Neonatal Unit at CHU Ste-Justine.
Both a professional artist and the mother of a premature baby born at 25 weeks and weighing 790g, she was the best person to depict the ultimate moment of joy in Neonatology: holding your baby in kangaroo care, skin-to-skin against you.
DONATION OF 50 KANGAROO CHAIRS!
Additionally, thanks to the profits raised during her Virage exhibition, Zabel has donated 50 zero-gravity chairs to the neonatal unit, which are essential for practicing Kangaroo care. "These chairs made all the difference in Victor's life, his survival, and the duration of his stay in the neonatal unit." Zabel hopes to encourage parents to practice this method with their babies and to see the benefits of their presence at the bedside.
"The purchase of Zero-Gravity chairs to facilitate Kangaroo care changes the lives of both parents and babies. Parents are much more comfortable, as is the baby, and the kangaroo care lasts much longer, increasing all its benefits," explains Sophie Gravel, coordinator of the Neonatal Care Unit at CHU Sainte-Justine.
This method gave Victor every chance. As his parents alternated at his bedside, holding him skin-to-skin, his heart rate improved, his stress decreased, and his oxygen consumption drastically dropped as soon as he began Kangaroo care. "Before the arrival of the new chairs, I had back pain after 20 minutes!" says Zabel.
VIRAGE EXHIBITION
It is worth mentioning that the Virage exhibition, which highlighted the artist's artistic shift following her time at Ste-Justine, allowed the sale of 43 paintings, with 40% of the sales proceeds donated to the neonatal unit at CHU Ste-Justine.
You cannot go through 100 days in intensive care without being changed internally. Victor's birth and his journey forced me to change the way I see life and the way I paint. My art has taken a Virage (turn). This turn is currently opening doors for me internationally.
"I wanted to give back. To make a difference. Even if it’s just a small part of what we received. 'We wouldn’t have been able to celebrate our son’s 3rd birthday without them,'" says Zabel, alongside the little boy overflowing with joy and love!
The exhibition was a great success and raised $6,325 in donations.
DO YOU KNOW ZABEL?