Des Moines, Iowa-based MercyOne Children's Hospital is renaming its neonatal intensive care unit to the William and Josephine Norkaitis NICU after a $1 million donation from the Norkaitis Family Charities to MercyOne Children's Hospital.
This donation is the largest single private donation in the history of MercyOne Children's Hospital. MercyOne Children's Hospital plans to use the donation to purchase a RetCam for pediatric ophthalmic imaging, Giraffe Omnibeds for incubation and infant warming, an infant simulator doll, a blanket warming cabinet, a birthing simulator doll and a transport bassinet, according to the Aug. 4 MercyOne news release.
The Norkaitis NICU serves 700 patients a year, some born as young as 22 weeks gestation, in its 62 beds and includes an on-site Ronald McDonald House.
"Norkaitis Family Charities is saving the lives of fragile infants every day," said Cary Murphy, MD, Norkaitis NICU medical director. "The lifesaving equipment they have funded supports our tiniest patients as our expert team of clinicians cares for them and their families."