22-month-old Avery Harper is very vocal about her disapproval of all the medical tubes and wires that surround her. She gurgles, coos and softly whines as her mom, Airdronian Amanda Weger tries to soothe her rambunctious daughter at the Alberta Children's Hospital.

While Avery does feel more energetic on this particular afternoon, it was a terrifying several weeks for her parents. Avery, who was born as a premature baby, and then later diagnosed with Trisomy 21, Down Syndrome, has narrowed airways, hence the common cold and flu can pose a significant health risk to her. When Avery got sick a few weeks ago at daycare, Weger initially assumed she had croupe and hoped that with rest at home, she would recuperate. Unfortunately, Avery's condition became graver by the hour, so much so, that her mother decided it was time to go to Airdrie's Urgent Care Centre.

"The parking lot was insanely packed. I ran into another mom outside and asked how long she had waited and at that point, I made the decision just to drive into Calgary to [the] Children's [Hospital," she said.

When she arrived at the hospital with Avery, Weger said there was a line for pre-triage care and it could have taken upwards of 12 hours to see a doctor. However, when it was discovered Avery's oxygen levels were dangerously low, she was admitted.

"We were rushed into the trauma room; right from walking in the front door. I had no idea that that's how this was going to turn out," Weger said.

Little Avery was diagnosed with RSV, Influenza A, and developed pneumonia. She spent much of her time in the intensive care unit and was only transferred out of it on Wednesday afternoon after spending a week and a half in the hospital. As Christmas approaches, so does Avery birthday and while both Avery and her family are no strangers to hospital visits, Avery's aunt, Heather Weger, was prompted all the same to create a gofundme page for the family. While the monetary donations are meant to help the family financially, the gofundme also has another hope.

"Many people have also asked for an address to send get well and birthday cards/gifts for Avery. We are really hoping this is not another birthday Christmas stay for Amanda, Dwayne and Avery," the page stated.

Avery was born on Christmas Day, and according to her mother, she didn't want to miss Christmas. And so on Christmas morning 2020, Avery was welcomed into the world. Avery's birth, though a welcomed and cherished gift to her parents, was also one fraught with complications. At 29 weeks, she was placed in the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and would stay there for nearly two months.

Weger and her husband would then make the decision to move from Northern Alberta to Airdrie because as Weger said, if the current health complications Avery has now, would have occurred where they once resided, the hospital trip wouldn't be a 30-minute drive and not a five-hour journey. 

Since the gofundme has also been shared on social media, thousands of messages of love and support have made their way to Avery's bedside; some as far as the United Kingdom.

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