CROWN POINT, Indiana | One of the most difficult situations for parents of babies that need special care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is leaving the hospital without being able to bring their child home.
Thanks to donations to the Franciscan Health Foundation, the AngelEye Health live streaming camera system launched on Dec. 8 at the Franciscan Health Crown Point NICU. The camera system allows parents and any other family members they choose to check in on the babies at any time of the day or night through live streaming video on their phones or other devices.
Director of the Franciscan Health Crown Point Family Birth Center Carrie Renschen said, “The timing of this could not be any better as many siblings, grandparents, and other family members have not been able to meet the new addition to their family due to the current situation with COVID-19. We are so happy to provide families with this special treat just in time for the holidays.”
Sandra Mota has been a regular visitor to the Crown Point NICU since her daughter, Adrianna, was born on Oct. 27. She says being a NICU parent is especially difficult when you have other children at home. The camera system will make it easier on those hectic days when she can’t make it to the hospital.
“Just to be able to sneak a peek and see how she is, it’s going to help,” she said. “My whole family hasn’t been able to come see her, and this will make a huge difference. They’ll meet her for the first time like this.”
The system also allows text messaging so that parents can ask the nurses and physicians questions, or the NICU staff can message the parents about how their child did with their feeding.
“We understand how stressful it is for parents whose babies require the extra care that only a NICU can provide. Thanks to the overwhelming support of the community, these parents will be able to have that visual contact, which makes such a difference,” said Franciscan Health Foundation Executive Director Rick Peltier.
