Maeve Field before the accident
By Haldimand Press Staff
HAGERSVILLE—After 130 days as an inpatient at McMaster Children’s Hospital, Maeve Field finally got to go home on July 18, 2019.
On March 9, then four-year-old Maeve was struck and pinned by an out-of-control vehicle while walking on the sidewalk with her family along Main Street in Hagersville. Her father pulled her out from underneath the vehicle and rushed her to the West Haldimand General Hospital. She was immediately transferred to McMaster. Both her left arm and right leg were shortened due to irreparable damage and her left eye was also damaged beyond repair.
“Maeve also endured multiple head and facial injuries for which surgeries are being carefully planned out by an amazing team of specialists. We are in the best of hands, focused on each step along our journey to healing,” said parents Gloria and Ian in a release on April 9. At that time Maeve had become an active participant in her physiotherapy, but was still unable to use her voice. One hundred days later, Gloria shared the “excellent news” that Mighty Maeve had been discharged: “It is SO GOOD to be home. We wanted to emphasize this accomplishment, so we departed the hospital through the doors we arrived at – the ambulance entrance. We are the proudest parents in the world.”
Maeve will continue to visit the hospital “twice per week at least” for follow-up appointments with specialists, “and there will be more surgeries as she continues to grow”. She also receives ongoing speech therapy to support her communication skills. “Maeve will begin her amputee rehab in the fall with an incredibly dedicated and comprehensive team of therapists and physicians. For now, Maeve gets to enjoy her newly updated ‘big girl’ bedroom, snuggling with her doggies and falling asleep outside by the campfire; her favourite therapies,” said Gloria.
Gloria also reiterated previous statements thanking everyone for their continued support, prayers, and fundraising. The GoFundMe page had raised over $144,000 of its $150,000 goal as of press time. Multiple fundraisers have been held in Haldi-mand as well for Maeve: “Every single donation has and will continue to be employed to improve the quality of Maeve’s life and help secure her future. Thank you for giving Maeve these opportunities.”
“When we moved to Haldimand five years ago, it was with the purpose of providing Maeve with a safe childhood out in the country. While we couldn’t have predicted or prevented what happened to her, the response of the community has reinforced loud and clear that we made the right choice in settling down where we did,” said Gloria. “It takes a village to raise a child and we are so grateful to be able to bring her home where she belongs.”
