Lifesaving Bed Gives Premature Babies a Fighting Chance 
While their own son, Charlie, was cared for in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Avera Children's Hospital for only a short time with relatively minor issues, Carl and Michelle Carlson of Sioux Falls felt especially touched as they saw first-hand the number of critically ill infants whose survival depends on specialized care.
Being in a position to help, they wanted to donate a tangible, life-saving gift. The answer for them was the donation of a Giraffe® OmniBed to the Avera Children's Hospital Level III NICU. "The care here is extraordinary and we truly believe in Avera's mission," Michelle said. "Our experience in the NICU opened our eyes to the big needs that are there when a baby is born early."
"We've been very blessed by God," Carl Carlson said. "This is a way we felt we could directly save lives." And the Carlson's generous donation was put to good use, even before the official dedication. "The bed wasn't available for the dedication ceremony because there already was a baby using it," says Robin Prunty, Planned Giving Officer for the Avera McKennan Foundation. "So you can see first-hand just how necessary this bed was to the hospital."
Lori Popkes, director of Women's and Children's Services at Avera McKennan, said specialized equipment like the Giraffe® OmniBed leads to improved clinical outcomes in terms of development and growth. "This truly has an impact on the lives of our tiniest patients."
Premature infants lack the body fat necessary to maintain their body temperatures. Their skin is very thin - almost translucent - and its moisture evaporates very quickly. These babies are also vulnerable to illness and infection.
The Giraffe® OmniBed is the most advanced and supportive microenvironment for infants available today. Through innovative design combined with state-of-the-art technology, the OmniBed serves an isolette (or incubator), radiant warmer and crib all in one. The bed provides essential heat to maintain a normal body temperature in either an open or closed position. The open position allows access to the baby for care, while the closed position reduces noise and keeps the baby's environment stable. The Giraffe® bed also provides humidity, up to 100 percent, which reduces water loss from skin.
The push of a button converts the bed from an incubator to an open bed warmer. Because the bed is so versatile, babies can remain in it throughout their NICU stay without the stress of being moved from bed to bed.
The Giraffe's patented rotating mattress gives caregivers access to a baby from all sides. The built-in X-ray cassette tray and internal bed tilt also minimize the need to move the infant during procedures or treatment. The bed's built-in scale allows for frequent weighing of low birth-weight infants, yet eliminates stress from cold, noise and handling in transferring infants to a traditional scale.
The most nurturing and safe environment for infants in critical condition, Giraffe® Omnibeds were so named because of their telescoping overhead arms that resemble the animal's necks.
"The Giraffe® bed is an optimal healing environment for critically-ill infants," Popkes said. With the Carlsons' donation, Avera Children's Hospital now has three OmniBeds in its 27-bed NICU, with hopes to acquire six to eight of these specialized beds, which cost in the range of $35,000.
For more information about donation opportunities to help with the care of infants and children at Avera Children's Hospital & Clinics, contact the Avera McKennan Foundation at (605) 322-8900.
