Miracle Babies thank NICU staff - Monash Leader
EVERY year, more than 40,000 babies start their life in a hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
The fragile newborns receive around-the-clock care from NICU nurses and doctors, who do their best to bring the tiny babies, some on the brink of death, to a strong and healthy state.
Monash Medical Centre’s NICU staff were honoured on Monday last week for their dedicated and specialised care of the young bubs and their families by the Miracle Babies Foundation, an organisation that supports premature newborns, their families and the staff who care for them. M i r a c l e B a b i e s CEO Melinda Cruz said the firstever Thank You Day paid tribute to all the hospital staff involved in looking after a premature baby but also aimed to raise more awareness of Australia’s NICUs.
‘‘NICU is not an acronym that many people in Australia know. This was a chance to put the spotlight on them for at least a day.’’
Ms Cruz developed Miracle Babies five years ago with eight other mums she met while her own children were in a Sydney NICU. The foundation went national last year and the mother of three said it showed how important it was to have a support network to which medical staff and families could turn. Monash NICU associate nurse unit manager Melinda Newton said she was happy to be involved in the national day of recognition . . . ‘‘Obviously we get appreciation from the families that are here but it’s nice to be more widely acknowledged.’’