A Place to Rest: Josh's Gift of Gratitude to Redland Hospital's Maternity Team
When Josh Warren’s fiancée Caitlin went into labour with their first daughter Maia in 2023, the couple were cared for through Redland Hospital’s Midwifery Group Practice (MGP). Maia arrived via an emergency caesarean, and for Josh, watching the level of support the MGP team provided Caitlin and their daughter left an impression that’s stayed with him ever since.
“We were actually lucky enough to get into the MGP program,” Josh said.
“We did that for both of our kids, and it was just fantastic to have that personalised service that we received. Our first birth with Maia was a challenging one and the MGPs really went into bat for us throughout that experience.”
Josh and Caitlin are Redlands born and bred and have settled with their now family of four in Gumdale and the proud locals made a deliberate choice to return to Redland Hospital when Freya, their second daughter, was born this past January.
“Freya’s was a planned C-section and that was an absolute breeze in comparison,” Josh said.
The incredible care the family received at their local hospital built a level of gratitude in Josh that he wanted to give back in a meaningful way. That gratitude led to a donation of funds via the Redland Hospital Fund for the maternity ward with the aim of helping future fathers and partners get more rest while in hospital supporting their wives, girlfriends and partners.
“It's wild when you don't sleep all night and you've been up for like a day or two, and you've got this new little thing to help care for and experience. It's pretty overwhelming.
“We wanted to do something for the next people who are in our position, so they can be more well rested.
“If you're rested everything's much easier, that was a lesson that I've learned as a parent and so we wanted to do something to make sure the next couple who go through the experience are comfortable.”
The family’s connection to the Hospital didn’t end at the ward and the births of their daughters. When Freya had an adverse reaction to her first vaccination, Josh and Caitlin found themselves back at Redland Hospital, this time in Lamb Ward and once again the staff took care of the whole family.
“They took such good care of us and our girls, so, we are very happy to give back,” Josh said.
Josh originally hoped to make a donation to help upgrade the partners’ lounge to make those long overnight waits a little more bearable. But after speaking with Redland Hospital Fund Community Partnerships Manager Ellen Dann, Josh redirected the gift toward something the ward needed even more, an Aspire Comfy Sleeper Chair, giving partners a proper place to actually sleep rather than just wait.
“I originally wanted to upgrade the lounge and the TV, so the lounge area was a bit more cozy. But after Ellen floated the idea with the team there, they said they’d really like another one of the sleeper chairs, that’s also fitting the brief of having better sleeping accommodation for the partners that are there. So, I was more than happy to go ahead with their suggestion.”
When asked if he would recommend Redland Hospital’s maternity services to fellow locals, Josh was quick to answer positively.
“Most definitely, we would, that’s why we went back with Freya, because it was excellent.”
Josh and Caitlin are engaged and marrying in November this year, with Maia set to take her place as flower girl. Their gift means the next family to walk through Redland Hospital’s maternity ward, exhausted and overwhelmed in equal measure, will have somewhere proper for both parents to rest.
You can support the maternity team at Redland Hospital to care for more families like Josh and Caitlin’s by making the Redland Hospital Fund your place to give here.
