Having a child in need of specialized medical care no longer has to mean traveling out-of-province for Saskatchewan families. In fact, neo-natal intensive care (NICU) babies, some now growing and others all grown up, were some of the special guests last week in Saskatoon for a tour of the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital, which opens on September 29th.

The new hospital is the first of its kind in Saskatchewan, which makes it especially significant for those who have children who've needed specialized, long-term medical care.

Jennie Moule's 10-year-old daughters Morgyn and Myla were born eight weeks early.

"Myla was only in [NICU] for 22 days, and Morgyn was in for 97, after having open heart surgery at 8 weeks old, in Edmonton, unfortunately, but that was the closest place that could do it for her," she said. "So we're super excited that Saskatchewan finally has a children's hospital and we are able to stay in the province instead of having to travel, because she is going to need more procedures and surgeries done, so it'll be nice to be closer to home."

Morgyn, who has a congenital heart defect, said the hospital makes her feel at home. 

"I like the school room, because there is playgrounds and stuff that was right beside it and there was desks and the teachers can help you, and so you don't feel like you're not at school and you don't miss out on a lot of stuff, so I really like that part," she shared. "And I really like the family rooms. You can cook, you can bake cookies, and you can watch tv."

She said she also heard they will have board games.

"I really liked how the beds that the parents sleep on, there's like couches and they can fold out into beds, so my mom doesn't have to sleep on the ground," said Morgyn. "And I really wanna go there, and I wanna feel safe and welcomed, so next time I have a surgery or something like that, I might go there."

Myla said the new hospital is exciting for the whole family.

"I was happy that they had a place for my sister to go that wasn't as long (a drive) as Edmonton," she expressed. "Now she has a place to go to that we can always go there to count on them to help my sister and it has an awesome view when you look out the window, and you don't feel trapped like other hospitals and it's actually really nice."

The twins' younger brother Cayson, 8, shared with Discover Weyburn that his favourite trip with his sisters was to Morgyn's Heart Camp, where he was so happy for her that she got to climb on the climbing wall. He said he also hopes his sister will be able to stay close to home and live a happy life.

The Jim Pattison's Children's Hospital held a week-long grand opening last week, hosting tours of the first and second floor for the first two days. Their ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony was held Thursday (read more HERE), and on Friday they held a banquet.