Kyte Baby donates to a NICU every month to support the specialized, intensive care that these units provide to the most fragile of newborns. Through our Nominate a NICU program, our Kyte community members are encouraged to share their stories and nominate a NICU of their choice to receive our donation. This January, we named Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) as our NICU of the month to support the life-saving work of their specialists and staff, as well as join the relief effort for those impacted by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County.
Entire communities from the Pacific Coast to inland Pasadena have been completely ravaged by multiple wildfires, forcing 180,000 residents from their homes in the greater Los Angeles area. The Pacific Palisades fire, the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, has burned over 21,500 acres so far, destroying over 5,000 structures in its path. The second largest fire, the Eaton fire, has burned over 14,000 acres. Our hearts are with all of Los Angeles, especially the thousands of parents and their young children who have lost everything to these fires.
Although hospitals in Los Angeles County remain operational, many health systems have closed clinical locations and physician offices due to evacuation mandates, contaminated water, and hazardous air quality. Wildfire smoke is extremely harmful to humans–especially children—and exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy is a known risk factor for preterm birth. With so many affected by these wildfires, It is our hope that our donation to CHLA will support patient care and help provide necessary resources during an extremely difficult time.
CHLA’s Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit (NICCU) is a Level IV NICU that provides the highest level of care for the most critically ill babies and their families. Here’s what they have to offer:
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Gold-standard services: Its Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) program is recognized as a Center of Excellence – Gold Level designation from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization.
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Family-centered care: This unit has private rooms and is designed so that one parent can stay overnight in the same room with their baby.
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Treatment for all neonatal complications: Specialists can begin coordinating care before birth for babies who are diagnosed while still in the womb, and also bring the surgery team to the NICCU to promote better outcomes when surgery for a newborn is needed.
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Unique mental health support: Specialists use Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) to strengthen the relationship between infant and caregiver, as well as reduce trauma and promote better long-term outcomes.
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Collaboration from a team of experts: This NICCU has 24/7 neonatologist coverage and a team of subspecialists, such as neurocritical care specialists, neonatal surgeons, and pediatric cardiologists.
CHLA’s neonatal care specialty is ranked the best among children’s hospitals in California and No. 6 in the nation, with over 90 hospitals throughout Southern California and the western United States referring babies to this NICCU. Although Los Angeles County is currently experiencing unfathomable devastation, CHLA’s Cohen Foundation NICCU is a haven of hope and safety for families and their critically ill babies, and we are so proud to help them continue to provide outstanding care to those who need it most.
If you would like to donate to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, you can visit their donation page here.
If you would like to help the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, donations can be made to these organizations:
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World Central Kitchen: Providing food and water to victims and first responders
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American Red Cross: Providing food, shelter, relief supplies, and medical care to affected communities
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Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation: Providing firefighters with emergency fire shelters, hydration backpacks, and wildland brush tools
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The Salvation Army: Providing food, personal necessities, and shelter to victims and first responders
