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First Breath Campaign 

In support of the Misericordia Community Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care unit

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors and partners, we successfully met our $4.2-million campaign goal! While this campaign has now concluded, you can still give in support of the Misericordia Community Hospital or another Covenant facility close to your heart to help us continue driving innovation in health care in your community. Please visit our donation page to give today.

 


More than 3,000 babies are born at the Misericordia Community Hospital every year. 


With your support, we raised $4.2 million through our First Breath Campaign to help address the shortage of neonatal intensive care spaces in the Edmonton area by supporting the redevelopment of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the
Misericordia.
Some babies arrive in the world facing life-threatening illness, while others may just need a little assistance. Some of these little ones will require only a brief stay in hospital, while others will spend weeks or months in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Covenant Health redeveloped the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Misericordia Community Hospital to enhance care for fragile infants in a new, family-centred care environment. Over 3,000 babies are born at the Misericordia Community Hospital each year and the increased number of deliveries means additional neonatal intensive care beds are needed to care for sick babies. The newly-designed Misericordia NICU adds 12 new bassinettes, doubling the hospital’s ability to care for infants needing enhanced care.
Your donations helped us create a warm, welcoming and state-of-the art family-centred space to provide the best possible start for every new life that begins at the Misericordia Community Hospital.

     

Renovations to the third floor of the hospital created an expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), delivering state-of-the-art technology for care, enhanced security and monitoring, private spaces for families and family-friendly amenities, spaces and aesthetics. The new NICU provides the highest standard of care and comfort to fully support neonatal care and the family bonding experience.

     

Covenant Health is a leader in Obstetrics Care – creating an environment where parents are supported and babies are cared
for in a family-friendly environment.

In fact, one in five babies born in Alberta and 50 per cent of the babies born in Edmonton and area are welcomed into the world in a Covenant Health hospital.


Of the 9,500 babies born at a Covenant Health facility, over 3,000 are born each year at the Misericordia Community Hospital. One third of these infants will need some level of specialized care due to prematurity or medical complications.


Every detail was considered, and every decision was made to create the best environment for a family-centred approach to care – one where babies and their families will find compassion, hope, and healing. Babies thrive with parental involvement, a highly-trained team, an enriched environment and specialized equipment. We know life does not always start out perfectly for all babies and families, but caring for them with compassion in the right environment and with the best equipment will give them the best chance at a happy, healthy life.



The NICU also Provides:

  • Central Monitors
  • Computers at bedside for charting
  • Safe baby - barcode device for Mothers Breast Milk
  • Pyxis Machine - safe dispensing of medication
  • Procedural lighting - each bedside will require
  • Blenders at each bedside - for blending oxygen and air prior to delivery to infant requiring assistance with breathing
  • Increased ventilators
  • Increased beds: isolettes, overhead warmers, or Kanmed beds.
  • Increased bilirubin lighting for jaundice infants
  • Increased number of syringe pumps for medication/fluid delivery.

The Best Start

Together, we can give babies and families the best start possible. With your generous support, supported an enhanced care environment for newborns requiring extra care when they enter the world.


    


F U N D R A I S I N G  G O A L:
$4.2  M I L L I O N

Thanks to your generosity, this campaign has now concluded. However, you can still support care in your community by making a gift today!