“Your work is difficult. Your work is important.”
Omar Jabar and Saedee Hosein: “It’s our way of acknowledging how important your work is for families in Manitoba.”
To mark Mother’s Day 2025, Winnipeggers Saedee Hosein and Omar Jabar looked beyond their grief and held onto the goodness and compassion that made their tragedy easier to bear.
Their baby, Nora, died during birth in April 2024. While devastated, the young couple felt nurtured and safe in the care of the Labour and Delivery team at HSC Women’s Hospital.
As an act of gratitude, Saedee and Omar raised funds in support of the hospital. With the money raised, they sponsored meals for the staff on Mother’s Day and funded the purchase of a cuddle cot—a cooling crib that gives parents more quiet, loving time with their baby after its passing, so they can say goodbye at their own pace.
A Letter of Thanks
To the wonderful members of the Labour and Delivery team,
You might not remember us, but we certainly remember you. And we have thought about you every day since April 4, 2024.
It was a tragic day for our family. We arrived at HSC Women’s Hospital in distress. At only 23 weeks of pregnancy, Saedee was experiencing contractions and was five centimetres dilated. Labour had begun many weeks too early.
We feared the worst, and the worst came to be. Our baby—baby Nora—passed away.
From the moment we arrived at HSC, we felt cared for and comforted. You saw our fear when we arrived, you understood Saedee’s physical pain, and you mourned with us as the unimaginable happened.
We went home with an unbearable sense of grief and loss. Those feelings are still with us; they always will be. But we also have enduring feelings of profound gratitude for the care we received, and for the compassion and empathy you demonstrated.
Losing Nora was the worst experience of our lives. Your team made it more bearable.
On April 4, 2025—a little over a month ago—we decided to mark the anniversary of Nora’s passing and to honour her memory by inviting the people in our lives to make a gift to the HSC Foundation. We are proud to let you know that the effort raised over $5,000.
The funds raised are sponsoring your meal today, and the balance will be used to support the purchase of a future piece of equipment at HSC Women’s Hospital.
It is no coincidence that we are offering this meal on Mother’s Day. It’s our way of acknowledging how important your work is for families in Manitoba. You are with parents in times of incredible joy; and with them in times of unfathomable sadness.
Your work is difficult. Your work is important. And we want you to know we will always be grateful for your professionalism, warmth, and kindness.
– With respect and gratitude, Saedee Hosein and Omar Jabar
