Donors Fund Cardio Equipment that Helps Save the Lives of BC’s Most Fragile Newborns

Donor funding is pivotal — especially when it translates into saving the lives of our youngest and most vulnerable.

That’s why we are so proud to have compassionate donors like Canadian Pacific, Tzu Chi Foundation Canada, and Gary + Verna Ardron who are committed to supporting infants cared for by BC Women’s Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Together, they funded a new state-of-the-art Cardio-Respiratory Monitoring System that will assist medical teams in making quick decisions when saving the lives of at-risk newborns.

When the life of an infant is most fragile, their needs can change in a second. In those precious moments, physicians have to make critical decisions fast, and having the right information about a newborn’s heartbeat, oxygen levels, and breathing rate can mean the difference between life and death.

The Cardio-Respiratory Monitoring System is absolutely essential for ensuring that the most critically ill infants are safely and continuously evaluated. Small electrodes are attached on a baby’s chest or stomach, which connects to an electronic monitor to provide an ongoing stream of information about their vital signs. When a baby’s heart or lungs stops functioning, the monitor sends out an alarm so NICU healthcare workers can intervene immediately.

Every day of the year, this equipment will be the front line defense ensuring the safety of these fragile babies. Last year alone, more than 1,100 newborns needed the highly specialized medical and surgical care offered only at the BC Women’s Hospital’s NICU.

Because of the generosity of our donors, every infant in BC Women’s Hospital’s NICU can have access to Cardio-Respiratory Monitoring. Thank you!

Learn more about how you too can help impact the lives of at-risk newborns in BC Women’s Hospital’s NICU. Your support means everything to these families.

BC Women’s Health Foundation is BC’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the full spectrum of women’s health. The information shared is intended to educate, inform, and point readers to credible sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice.