$56,000 needed for neonatal incubator
When Ollie Douglas was born nearly two weeks ago, his mum Tiffany was almost too scared to hold him.
Ollie was born at just over 30 weeks and weighed in at slightly more than 1kg.
‘‘It was a little bit scary because he’s so little,’’ Douglas said. ‘‘It took me a few days before I felt comfortable holding him because he is so little and fragile and his skin is so thin.’’
This isn’t Douglas’ first time in the neonatal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital. She has been here before when Arlo, now 3, was born at 35 weeks. ‘‘So we know these guys pretty well.’’
This is why she is getting behind the Taranaki Health Foundation’s campaign to raise $56,000 by Christmas for a new Babyleo Incuwarmer incubator.
Ollie spends a lot of time in an incubator and it’s hard to change him, Douglas said.
‘‘The new ones will be so much easier, there’ll be less movement and the babies would be more accessible.’’
Neonatal clinical nurse manager Abi Webber says the new incubator would be a game changer for Taranaki babies.
‘‘The Babyleo would allow our most vulnerable babies to be in one incubator from the moment they are born without being moved, which is extremely important for brain development.
‘‘This incubator protects the baby while allowing for that allimportant parent interaction.’’
Taranaki Health Foundation general manager Bry Kopu-Scott said the appeal was a chance for Taranaki people to give a Christmas gift with real purpose, ‘‘one that will positively impact on the region’s tiniest patients and give them a really good head start in life.’’
The aim is to raise the money before Christmas to allow for the new incubator to be ready for use early in the new year.
The Babyleo incubator will support Taranaki babies born at less than 32 weeks gestational age and who weigh less than 1500 grams (53 ounces), as well as critically ill newborns of any gestational age and birth weight. Anyone wanting to donate can go to www. taranakihealthfoundation.org.nz.