Angel Eye Watches Over Babies
Published: February 15, 2006
Taking a newborn home from the hospital can be an exciting day for some parents. However, sometimes for families of premature infants, that may take some time. Now, these parents can see their babies, even when they’re far away.
In the neo-natal critical care unit are the tiniest patients at UAMS. They were born months too soon and still have lots of developing to do. For example, baby Avery was born 13 weeks early at just more than a pound.
Dr. Curtis Lowery says, “We’ve learned that these very low birth weight infants, that it’s better if you don’t stimulate them all the time.”
Visits are limited, but baby Avery is constantly under the watchful eye of neo-natal nurses. Now, thanks to program called Angel Eye, they won’t be the only ones looking out for her.
Lowery says, “The mother can from any PC in the world, be able to view her infant.”
The Angel Eye system works using a wireless camera to catch Avery’s image in real time. Bobby and Joy Forrester love it. They are Avery’s parents. Because she’s so tiny, they haven’t been able to hold her yet.
Joy Forrester says, “I almost tell them to tie my hands down because I can’t keep them off her when we go in there she’s so sweet.”
They visit when they can, but soon it’s back to work at home more than a hundred miles away.
Forrester says, “There’s no way people can stay over here, you know, 90 days. That’s just almost incomprehensible to think someone can leave their home and work that long.”
So, the Forresters say they’ll be glued to their computer monitor, so they’ll know how Avery’s doing every minute of the day.
Not just anyone can get access to the video. The family is given a password, which they can share with others. Right now, five of the 10 beds in the unit have a camera, so families are randomly chosen for the program. However, there are plans are to add cameras to the whole unit.
If you enjoyed this good news Subscribe to Good News Blog
Share this
To share this simply copy and paste one of the below URL's: