NANAIMO, BC – November 28, 2024 – Miracles happen every day in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH). Every week, an average of six newborns, many born prematurely, are admitted to or transferred into the NICU for life-saving care.
 
This Giving Tuesday, December 3, the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation (NDHF) is rallying the community to help raise $300,000 for urgently needed GE Giraffe Omnibed Legacy incubators.
 
As the only hospital north of the Malahat able to care for infants born before 36 weeks’ gestation, NRGH’s NICU serves families from the Cowichan Valley to North Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and the West Coast. Each year, over 1,250 babies are born at NRGH, and while many are healthy, some of the sickest newborns, premature or full-term, require specialized care only the NICU can provide.
 
“We are asking the community to help us reach this essential goal and give our tiniest patients the very best chance at life,” said Trina Knight, Manager of Child, Youth, and Family Acute Care at NRGH. “Our dedicated teams who work with these machines see first-hand the urgent need to replace half of our current fleet. These new incubators will enable NRGH to continue delivering high-quality care to the premature infants who need it most.”
 
The GE Giraffe Omnibed Legacy incubator offers the very best technology available for neonatal critical care, reducing stress on the baby, medical staff and family members by eliminating the need to transfer the infant between incubators and warmers. A specialized Air Curtain and radiant warmer prevent heat loss and provide a stable environment for the most premature babies including a consistent and controlled thermal environment.  Features like a specialized rotating mattress, bed tilt, in-bed scale, and drop-down removable doors allow the caregiver to properly support the clinical procedures for these infant patients.  
 
Each Giraffe Omnibed costs $75,000.
 
“Thermoregulation can be a lifesaving intervention for premature infants and although we do not plan to deliver infants less than 32 weeks’ gestation in Nanaimo it can happen for a variety of reasons, explains NICU Clinical Nurse Lisa Bakker. “Being able to stabilize and then close the lid of an Omnibed to deliver critical humidity to extremely premature infants without moving them from bed to bed can greatly decrease stress, and help prevent severe adverse outcomes.”
 
This Giving Tuesday, a group of anonymous donors have come together to match every dollar NDHF raises from the community on Giving Tuesday to a total of $150,000. With your support, we can raise enough to fund the incubators our team and their tiny patients need.
 
 “Almost a year later and I still vividly remember our NICU experience! Huge thanks to everyone involved in our care. Having a preemie was so scary, but we always felt like we were getting the very best care. We will always be grateful for the part you played in helping get our tiny girl home,” shared Sarah B a past parent mom of a NRGH NICU baby.
 
Donations this Giving Tuesday can be made by:

• Visiting the NDHF website
• Calling 250-755-7690
• Dropping off donations at The Foundation office at the Dufferin entrance at NRGH during office hours
• Parking can be tricky, so give us a call and we will meet you at the main entrance for curbside service.

-30-

About Nanaimo Hospital Foundation
The Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation was founded to support Island Health facilities. Today, we are raising millions to support our region’s healthcare facilities by leading major fundraising campaigns for critical medical equipment, construction projects and programs that provide the best and highest level of healthcare to the residents on central and north Vancouver Island.
Learn more: https://nanaimohospitalfoundation.com
 
Media Contact:
Andrea Bava    
778-908-1764 | andrea@blitzme.ca

Media Coverage:

Nanaimo News Now: Nanaimo hospital foundation raises money for neonatal unit incubators.