New Giraffe Carestations Arrive at OSMH NICU, Thanks to the Charlee’s Run Community

Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) recently added seven new state-of-the-art Giraffe Carestations to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) thanks to the generous support of the Charlee’s Run community and our donors. These essential pieces of equipment will enhance the care and comfort of newborns in the hospital.

The NICU at OSMH is a vital part of the hospital’s Regional Women and Children Program, which serves newborns and families across Simcoe County, Muskoka, Parry Sound, and Haliburton. The carestations will provide critical support to some of the region’s most vulnerable patients—premature and at-risk newborns.

“It’s amazing how people have donated towards the NICU,” says Cora Budweg, an OSMH NICU Registered Nurse for over 21 years. “We have a lot more babies coming in and we needed beds, and now we have them.”

The new equipment includes four Giraffe Omnibed Carestations and three Giraffe Incubators, technologically designed to create a nurturing, stable environment for infants needing extra care.

Both units provide the environment needed for baby’s survival and allow medical staff to monitor each baby’s condition with precision, making real-time adjustments as needed.

“We really appreciate the new Omni Beds. They allow us to easily care for the littlest ones in the hospital and they are simple to set up and use. The home screen is a beautiful display for the parents to view their child’s current weights and is easy to use to set up for a safe admission into the NICU,” – OSMH NICU Nurse.

The Giraffe Incubator offers an advanced, comfortable incubator environment designed to promote growth and healing.

These new additions to the NICU would not have been possible without the support of the Charlee’s Run community and our generous donors.

Charlee’s Run is an annual event hosted by the OSMH Foundation in honour of all those who have experienced prenatal and infant loss. It was named in memory of Charlee Clare Holmes by her parents David and Mallory Holmes when they started Charlee’s Run in 2017. The event raises funds to support the neonatal and paediatric needs at OSMH, as well as supporting the bereavement program.

We are profoundly grateful for the continued support of Charlee’s Run participants, volunteers, sponsors, and donors. Your contributions have a lasting impact, bringing life-saving technology to those who need it most.

Together, we are building a brighter future for the newborns of our region.