food trays served to breastfeeding mothers
Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center
The Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center, a Level 4 neonatal intensive care unit, provides the highest quality care for at-risk newborns. Philanthropy makes this world-class care possible, ensuring that the center can transport ill infants, educate medical professionals and offer ongoing support and care to our tiniest patients and their families.
Program highlights
Happy 50th Birthday, Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center!
The Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center celebrated its 50th birthday in 2024! Since it opened in 1973, the NICU has cared for more than 46,000 babies and their families, and we celebrated throughout the year with a special birthday party and the bi-annual NICU Reunion!
Little Heroes League Grant
The Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center received a grant from Little Heroes League to hire two RN care coordinators as part of the new Division of Comprehensive Care and specifically Medically Complex Care. These navigators partner closely with families with infants that are extremely medically complex and guide them through their hospitalization. Care is then transferred to the outpatient care coordinators who will be the family's point of contact and partner once they leave the hospital.
Angel Eye Cameras
The Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center added 46 Angel Eye cameras in 2024, which allow parents and families to be virtually present with their infant when they are unable to visit physically. We are now able to offer this option for every single patient in the NICU with a camera located in each room.
Parent-to-Parent Program
- As of November, 45 NICU parents have been matched with a Parent-to-Parent volunteer.
- Panels of P2P volunteers were hosted during nurse orientation, providing information on bereavement services and sharing stories.
- A new group of volunteers was trained in the spring, and the team is in the process of training another group.
With Gratitude from the Krummen Family
“I am a mom to TWO sets of twins which are all NICU graduates. We were in the NICU with our first set of twins for 8 weeks and 4 weeks with our second set of twins. The two things that made such an impact on our family with the second set were the Angel Eye cameras and the meal trays for breastfeeding moms. Being at home and being able to physically see my babies when I wasn't at the bedside was beyond reassuring and helpful when pumping at home. I would sometimes wake up anxious being separated from them and felt instant peace at being able to see them live. The meal trays were so helpful! With my first set of twins, I was not always able to eat well or as much as I needed to as it was cost prohibitive to eat 2-3 meals at the hospital a day. The meal tray provided during the NICU stay with my second set eased the burden of not only finding food but the cost. These two items from the foundation made our second NICU stay significantly improved and we are so grateful!”
-The Krummen Family
camera views through Angel Eye cameras from 14 different countries
NICU parents matched with Parent-to-Parent volunteers
food trays served to breastfeeding mothers
camera views through Angel Eye cameras from 14 different countries
NICU parents matched with Parent-to-Parent volunteers
food trays served to breastfeeding mothers
camera views through Angel Eye cameras from 14 different countries
NICU parents matched with Parent-to-Parent volunteers
food trays served to breastfeeding mothers
camera views through Angel Eye cameras from 14 different countries
NICU parents matched with Parent-to-Parent volunteers
Would you like to make an impact?
Give a gift to support the Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.