New Neonatal Ventilator
will save newborn lives
$50,000 Newborn Health grant supports Fiona Stanley Hospital
The new neonatal ventilator has been delivered to the Fiona Stanley Hospital in Murdoch. Image resource from "Running for Premature Babies", edited by CCWF
The Fiona Stanley Hospital in Western Australia has taken receipt of a new, state-of-the-art neonatal ventilator, following a $50,000 grant provided by the Chau Chak Wing Foundation to the Running for Premature Babies organisation earlier in this year.
The new ventilator will help save the lives of critically ill premature babies experiencing respiratory failure due to lung immaturity, as its technology permits neonatal professionals to apply the right protective lung and brain ventilation strategy to prevent lung injury, haemodynamic and neurological impairment. It adds to the national network of lifesaving newborn health equipment that makes an enormous difference to the lives of thousands of Australian children and their families each year.
Donation plaque acknowledging the Chau Chak Wing Foundation grant. Image resource from "Running for Premature Babies", edited by CCWF
Running for Premature Babies was one of four organisations supported by the Chau Chak Wing Foundation under its inaugural $200,000 Newborn Health grant program. It was established in 2007 by Sophie Smith after she and her late husband Ash lost their first-born triplet sons, Henry, Jasper and Evan following their birth at just 24 weeks. Since then, Sophie and her team have been giving premature babies a better chance of survival by facilitating urgently needed neonatal equipment to hospitals around Australia.
Commenting on the new neonatal ventilator, Running for Premature Babies founder Sophie Smith said, “My longest surviving triplet, Jasper (who lived for 58 days) lost his life to respiratory failure in 2006 as a sophisticated ventilator like this was not available to him. This year would have been his 18th birthday. It makes me so happy to know that our charity is able to provide life-saving equipment to Fiona Stanley Hospital, thanks to the generosity of the Chau Chak Wing Foundation, so that babies like my Jasper have a much better chance of survival.”
Dr Chau Chak Wing said, “Australia has some of the best neonatal health facilities in the world, but as the population grows there will always be a need for new equipment to support our excellent medical specialists. The Chau Chak Wing Foundation congratulates Running for Premature Babies for so quickly delivering this lifesaving equipment to support the medical staff of the Fiona Stanley Hospital, and the entire community.”
The Chau Chak Wing Foundation is dedicated to advancing newborn care in Australia. Four organisations shared in our inaugural $200,000 Newborn Health grant program, including Running for Premature Babies, Outback Futures, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Barwon Health.