Last year, Humber’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) achieved a Level 2C designation for our ability to care for smaller and sicker babies.

Because of the contributions of generous donors like Connie, Humber is more ready than ever to welcome new babies and care for the most vulnerable newborns!

In December 2022, baby Aura was born at Humber River with a serious infection that required her to be quarantined and treated in the Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She couldn’t have been in more capable hands: last year, Humber’s NICU achieved a Level 2C designation, which means that it is able to care for higher acuity babies who are smaller or sicker.

This designation was achieved due to the generosity of donors whose contributions helped Humber purchase four specialized ventilators, essential equipment for caring for babies born as early as 30 weeks of gestation. These new ventilators can support newborns for a duration of up to seven days; the older models can do so for less than 24 hours.

“I couldn’t be more grateful and more determined to pay it forward,” says Connie.

Further, Humber’s NICU now features an in-house respiratory therapist, access to ophthalmology and staff who are trained on the delicate insertion of the tubes and lines needed to clear tiny lungs and deliver medication and nutrition.

Aura spent her stay in Humber’s NICU, cozy in her Giraffe Omnibed, a combined care stations and incubator that can be positioned in many different ways to increase access to babies for medical care while minimizing disruption to the delicate patients. The Giraffe OmniBeds also minimize each baby’s temperature swings and maintain a neutral thermal environment.

The NICU’s new upgraded Level 2C designation means that babies like Aura are more likely to receive the care they need closer to home at Humber, the hospital trusted and chosen by their parents.

Aura’s grandmother Connie was so grateful for the care that her granddaughter received at Humber that she decided to make an annual Gift of Gratitude donation, every Christmas, directed to the NICU. Aura was Connie’s second grandchild to need Humber’s NICU at the beginning of her life, and Connie donates in honour of both Aura and Adalyn every year.

“Although I’ve never met the team that cared for Aura, I make this donation to thank them for their collective devotion to their profession,” says Connie. “Aura received the best of care in the NICU and is now a thriving chunky little thing, adored by big sister Brea and the rest of our family. I couldn’t be more grateful and more determined to pay it forward.”