Lismore Base Hospital is lit up in purple this week in recognition of World Prematurity Day today, Thursday November 17, to acknowledge the babies born too early and the health challenges they can face as they grow.
World Prematurity Day was created in 2011 to help shine a light on the risk and hardships created by premature births, and to show support and compassion for the families who have experienced premature babies throughout the world. 27,000 babies are born prematurely in Australia each year.
Lismore Base Hospital's Special Care Nursery is a much loved unit of so many local families. The Special Care Nursery team is led by Jo Ezzy.
"Premature babies do have a rough start, but due to medical science, technology and equipment they do well," Jo Ezzy, Special Care Nursery Nurse Unit Manager said.
"The wonderful equipment in the unit in Lismore has been purchased by the community through Our Kids, giving babies who arrive early a great start. Celebrating World Prematurity Day and turning the hospital purple is a way to acknowledge our preemie babies and say thanks."
Local parents, Jessica and Jonathon Wade, had their triplets stay in the Special Care Nursery in Lismore. Babies Everley, Alexia and Oliver and were born at 28 weeks, and, under the care of the medical team in Special Care Nurseries both at Lismore and the Gold Coast, all are doing well.
The Lismore Base Hospital will stay purple all this week.
