In 2024, funding was targeted primarily toward the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where specialized equipment is essential for premature and medically fragile babies. Investments focused on respiratory support and infant care environments, helping give newborns the best possible start during their most vulnerable days.

Total Invested: $143,770

2024 Purchases:

• 5 Cribettes – $36,670

  NICU cribettes combine the features of both a crib and a bassinette, specifically designed for premature and critically ill newborns. They provide a warm, safe, and comfortable environment for babies while allowing nurses and physicians easy access for medical care. This thoughtful design supports both medical needs and infant comfort, helping give our tiniest patients the best possible start during a very fragile time.
• 3 Ventilators – $107,100

  Ventilators are essential, life‑saving machines that support patients who cannot breathe adequately on their own. By carefully delivering oxygen and assisting with breathing, ventilators help stabilize critically ill infants and children during medical emergencies or recovery from serious illness. These devices are often used in the most critical moments and play a vital role in giving patients the respiratory support they need to survive and heal.

This funding strengthened:

• Life‑saving respiratory support for critically ill infants
• Safe, specialized spaces designed for neonatal care
• Access to modern equipment needed during complex medical situations

In 2023, Kids Ultimate Challenge funding supported a broad range of essential equipment used across both the NICU and the Children’s Health Unit. Investments focused on patient monitoring, emergency readiness, and cardiac care—ensuring care teams could respond quickly and effectively to critically ill infants and children.

Total Invested: $185,753

2023 Purchases:

• 3 Cribettes – $27,819

  NICU cribettes combine the features of both a crib and a bassinette, specifically designed
  for premature and critically ill newborns. They provide a warm, safe, and comfortable
  environment for babies while allowing nurses and physicians easy access for medical care.
  This thoughtful design supports both medical needs and infant comfort, helping give our
  tiniest patients the best possible start during a very fragile time.

• 1 Crash Cart – $5,818

  A crash cart is a mobile unit stocked with emergency medical supplies and medications
  that are needed immediately during life‑threatening situations. Having a fully equipped
  crash cart within the unit means that staff can respond without delay when a child is
  in crisis. Quick access to these tools can make all the difference, supporting fast,
  coordinated, and effective emergency care.

• 1 ECG WorkStation – $17,830

  An ECG Workstation allows healthcare teams to perform electrocardiograms (ECGs) directly
  at the bedside. This enables doctors and nurses to quickly assess a child’s heart rhythm
  without having to transport the patient. Faster access to this information leads to faster
  diagnosis and treatment, reducing stress for patients while improving the efficiency and
  quality of care.

• 4 NeoNatal Vital Sign Monitors – $56,988

  These neonatal monitors continuously track vital signs such as heart rate, breathing,
  and oxygen levels in newborns. In the NICU, even the smallest changes can be significant.
  These monitors provide constant, reliable data that helps care teams identify issues early
  and intervene quickly.

• 2 Standard Monitors – $5,298

  Pediatric monitors measure essential health indicators like heart rate, blood pressure,
  and oxygen saturation. They help care teams maintain constant awareness of a child’s
  condition and respond immediately if concerns arise. These monitors offer peace of mind
  to families, knowing their child is under continuous observation, and support clinical
  teams in delivering safe, attentive care.

• 2 Philips Remote Cardiac Monitors – $72,000

  Philips Remote Cardiac Monitors allow pediatric patients to remain safely monitored while
  moving freely around the unit. This mobility is especially important for longer hospital
  stays, helping children feel more like kids and less like patients. At the same time,
  care teams maintain vigilant oversight of heart activity. Providing this balance of safety
  and normalcy greatly supports emotional well‑being and recovery.

These purchases helped improve:

• Continuous monitoring for newborns in the NICU
• Emergency response capabilities on pediatric units
• Advanced cardiac monitoring for children requiring specialized care