Sally Elliott inspires donations to Regina hospital birth unit

For generations of parents in Regina, the name Sally Elliott has been linked with birth and babies.

Now the prenatal nurse counsellor is the inspiration behind a fundraiser for the Mother Baby and Labour and Birth units at the Regina General Hospital.

Sarah Smith is just one of the hundreds if not thousands of new parents who signed up for Elliott’s famous childbirth classes at the YMCA. After her first baby was born, Smith attended Elliott’s weekly Y’s Moms support groups for a year while on maternity leave.

“I really found that Sally was that helpful person. The class and the group were a safe place to come and talk about the things that were happening and the challenges I was experiencing and so I really connected with Sally,” Smith explained.

When she learned that Elliott was going to be scaling back her work this year, Smith felt compelled to do something. It made sense to make a donation to the hospital where Elliott gives tours to nervous, expectant parents and where she has been known to drop in to visit newborns and their families at the Mother Baby and Neo-natal Intensive Care units.

“I felt like there was room for something to be done in honour of her at the hospital where she has spent so much time and where the moms she takes such good care of spend time as well,” Smith said.

She shared a post online asking people to donate to the Hospitals of Regina Foundation (HRF) in Elliott’s name.

“I think (she) means a lot to all of us, so it was important,” Smith said.

The original goal was to buy a $2,300 rocking chair and dedicate a room in Elliott’s name. As word spread through the city, donations quickly surpassed $5,000.

“The popularity of this fundraising effort and how quickly it has spread is just a reminder of the impact that she has made to our community,” Smith said.

Elliott tends to avoid the media spotlight, but she told Smith she appreciates the gesture.

“She was really touched,” Smith said. “I spoke to her actually (Tuesday) on the phone and she’s very humble, but she knows just how much she means to the community.”

Smith has spoken to HRF representatives who have assured her all the money collected in Elliott’s name will be put toward the Mother Baby or Labour and Birth units.

Elliott is continuing to teach prenatal classes and lead groups at the YMCA, but will be stepping back from her role in May.