Incubator to help babies in a new way
Little miracles Dunedin family support co-ordinator Shelley Gormon (centre) and Dunedin hospital neonatal intensive care unit nurses Nicole Dunford (left) and Saskia Vink transport a decommission incubator to Woolworths South Dunedin, where it will be used for fundraising. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
A piece of lifesaving equipment has a found a new home in a Dunedin supermarket, continuing to support New Zealand's littlest miracles.
A decommissioned incubator has become a donation box at Woolworths Dunedin South for the Miracle Month of May, an annual campaign to raise awareness and funds for sick and premature babies and their families.
Little Miracles family support co-ordinator Shelley Gormon, of Dunedin, said the money would provide fuel and food vouchers for whānau cot-side.
"Of course at that time they're feeling quite vulnerable and quite traumatised, because babies going through [neonatal intensive care units] is quite an unexpected journey," she said.
Every year more than 5000 babies in New Zealand started life in an incubator, either cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit (Nicu) or special care baby units.
This included Mrs Gormon's now 13-year-old daughter Mia, who was born at just 28 weeks and had a 10-week Nicu stay.
"[Little Miracles] didn't have a presence like we have now.
"[Now] we can actually meet people and walk alongside them and share stories," she said.
The charity aimed to raise $50,000 for its family assistance fund and Woolworths had already made a one-off cash donation of $20,000.
During May, for every participating baby product sold in Woolworths supermarkets, the company would give 5c to the cause, Mrs Gormon said.
She hoped the campaign would also raise awareness of the charity so it could continue its mahi with families across the country.
Dunedin Hospital Nicu nurses Nicole Dunford and Saskia Vink helped transport the incubator and said they saw the work Little Miracles did at babies' bedsides every day.
The trio were decked out in purple — the international colour for prematurity.
ruby.shaw@odt.co.nz
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