Blankets Bring Ray Of Sunshine To Jaundice Babies

Blankets Bring Ray Of Sunshine To Jaundice Babies

Baby Charlotte on a ‘BiliBlanket’ at Starship Children’s Hospital.

Newborn babies at Starship Children’s Hospital will soon benefit from lifesaving ‘BiliBlankets’ which are used for the treatment of babies suffering from jaundice.

Starship Foundation’s Fundraising Director Bobbie Brown, said the purchase of the two blankets was due to a recent donation of nearly $14,000 made by the Sovereign Sunshine initiative.

“A BiliBlanket is a portable phototherapy device which delivers up to 45 microwatts of therapeutic blue/white light whilst the baby is swaddled, held and cared for by parents and hospital staff,” Bobbie said.

Phototherapy is used to treat neonatal jaundice which is a yellowing of the skin and other tissues of the infant.

“Jaundice is fairly common in newborn babies and is due to the breakdown of red blood cells (which release bilirubin into the blood) and to the immaturity of the newborn’s liver (which cannot effectively metabolise the bilibrubin and prepare for excretion into the urine). The BiliBlanket is a comfortable and natural way for neonates to be treated for jaundice. It means they can be picked up, cuddled and moved around without needing to be hooked up to a machine or isolated in an incubator. The two new BiliBlankets will be used in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“We are very grateful to Sovereign Sunshine and all the people who voted for us online for their generous donation. Sovereign Sunshine’s support along with that of our individual donors and corporate supporters enables us to provide children with the best we can give them, over and above what the government provides.”

Bobbie said it was a challenging time for all charities.

“At the Starship Foundation we are continuing to work hard to ensure that our fundraising programmes enable us to make the most of the ongoing technological advances, for the care and treatment of New Zealand children at Starship Hospital.”

The Sovereign Sunshine programme which is backed by Kiwi actress and mother of two, Greer Robson helps under-resourced children’s charities by providing them with funding. Each month the initiative focuses on a different charity group, with members of the public deciding via online voting which charity will receive the funding. Sovereign staff also play a part, by helping to raise funds for the different charities.

Sovereign Marketing Communications Manager, Richard Allen, said staff enjoy getting behind raising funds for the children’s charities each month.

“Sovereign is working together with the New Zealand public to make the future brighter for as many young New Zealanders as possible. We’re committed to making a difference and invite other New Zealanders to join us by voting online for their favourite charity each month.”

To find out more about Sovereign Sunshine or to vote for a charity visit www.sovereignsunshine.co.nz

ENDS

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