Wishlist is thrilled to announce the purchase of a $85,000 MRI-Compatible ventilator for the Sunshine Coast University Hospital's (SCUH) Neonatal Unit.
The MRI-Compatible ventilator was funded thanks to the generous Sunshine Coast community, 92.7 MIX FM's Give Me 5 appeal, Sunshine Coast Turf Club Raffle, Aitken Legal Golf Day, and the Queensland Gambling Community Fund.
This state-of-the-art equipment is essential for providing critical care to some of the region's most vulnerable patients - newborns under six months of age.
Health staff are very appreciative of the new equipment, as SCUH Director of Neonatology Lizelle Weber says, “Before we had this piece of equipment we had to send critically unwell babies to Brisbane, which is costly and comes with a risk to the babies health.”
“The equipment helps us to quantify the injury to the brain tissue which helps us to decide what treatment is required.”
Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said, “We are immensely grateful for the support from our community, whose contributions will make it possible for newborns on the Sunshine Coast to receive the best care without the need for long-distance transfers.”
"This critical equipment will improve outcomes for the youngest patients in our region."
The new piece of equipment at SCUH will help local premature babies like Nellie, who needed to be delivered at just 29 weeks.
Nellie’s mum Jess Sumpton shared her story to help raise funds for the $85,000 piece of equipment.
"For babies like Nellie, it would mean not having to take these little babies to Brisbane to have an MRI done," Jess says.
“Seeing how little and fragile these babies are - to be taken to Brisbane just for that, and having a family at home - it’s stressful."
“We are a growing population, and this equipment will definitely help many families.”
Read more about baby Nellie’s miraculous journey here.
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