I am going to begin. My name is Rob Samulack and today I'm with my wife, Rachel. We were planning to come in person, but she was sick. We're speaking virtually.
We're here today to speak in favour of Bill C-222 and the continuation of parental leave benefits following the death of a child.
Thank you for the invitation to speak to you.
In February 2016, we went to our routine 20-week ultrasound for our second son, Aaron. At this time, he was diagnosed with bilateral renal agenesis, which means that he did not have any kidneys and therefore did not produce any amniotic fluid after about 14 weeks' gestation. This meant that his lungs would not develop properly and he would not live long after birth.
Rachel and I decided to continue with the pregnancy. She was working for the federal government, and I was in nursing school. Towards the end of this pregnancy, I had to complete a maternity clinical placement.
We're very privileged and lucky in Ottawa to have Roger Neilson house, and we sought support there through the perinatal hospice program. Aaron was born on June 19, 2016, and lived for 100 minutes after birth. Rachel still had her 17-week maternity leave at this time, and I had just started my school summer break.
Go ahead, Rachel.