Variety — the Children’s Charity grant helps bring new bed warmer to UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — UnityPoint Health—St. Luke’s Foundation received a $19,000 grant from Variety — the Children’s Charity to purchase a state-of-the-art GE Panda iRes bed warmer for St. Luke’s Hospital Birth Care Center. A bed warmer is an open bed with radiant heat. It allows the medical team to safely assess and evaluate the baby after birth, while keeping the baby warm and safe. The bed warmers are also equipped with resuscitation equipment for emergencies.

“As Cedar Rapids’ baby hospital, we care for about 80 percent of the babies born in the community because of this, it’s essential we are equipped with the most advanced equipment,” said Diane Seelau, director of St. Luke’s Nassif Center for Women’s and Children’s Health. “This generous gift from Variety — the Children’s Charity will benefit babies, their families and our medical teams.”

In 2020, St. Luke’s Birth Care Center team members cared for more than 250 neonatal babies and delivered 2,323 babies. St. Luke’s Center for Women’s and Children’s Health has been recognized from a state and national level for its level of care for babies and families.