Showcase

Redecoration cheers preemie ward

Hungary hospital now has a place designed specifically for premature infants

Early life is fraught with struggle. From those first panicked cries to learning to nurse, newborns instinctively strive to survive. For those born prematurely, the fight is even more desperate. Many, with their lungs underdeveloped, live for weeks in the hospital. Confined to an incubator, they are under constant supervision from nurses, doctors, and anxious parents, whose arms ache to carry their new baby home.

Elsö Györi Kiwanis members, hospital officials, and sponsors tour the new Kiwanis mother-baby room.

The preparation for that joyful trip is difficult. The cold, sterile atmosphere in which it takes place certainly doesn’t help, but the Kiwanis Club of Elsö Györi, Hungary, is easing the transition.

The club transformed a small, standard hospital room at the Petz Aladarf County Hospital into a more home-like environment in which these special babies and their mothers can bond, learn, and grow. The room is known as the “mother-baby room.”

“Miklos Alexy, the leader of the department of the Perinatal Intensive Care Unit and a past president of our club, proposed the mother-baby room as its first project,” says club secretary Ilona Hegyi.

“We made the plans for restructuring one of the hospital rooms where mother and baby can spend a few days together under the watchful eyes of doctors and nurses—but in a room that more closely resembles the image and style of a room in a family home instead of a hospital room,” Ilona says. “We built a shower, provided electricity, water, heating, paint, and wall tiles. We also bought furniture, including beds for mother and child, chairs, tables, stools, carpet, curtains, and lamps. It all has the look of home furniture, but still meets the hygienic standards required by a hospital.

“The room is used all the time now by young mothers, and the overall opinion is that it’s friendly, pleasant and comfortable—and the possibility of being together with the baby is satisfying and safe.”

The room, valued at 4,000 euros, was paid for through fundraisers including an art auction; a 2,000-euro donation given at the club’s charter ceremony by its sponsoring club, the Kiwanis Club of Barneveld, the Netherlands, and members’ donations—including that of Erika Hessling. The popular Hungarian author donated earnings from the publication of her novel this past year and money collected during a “dance with the bride” at her wedding reception.

The dedication of the mother-baby room this past fall was quite a celebration and attracted the pres and television. Well-wishers in attendance included sponsors, hospital officials, parents, and Princess Eilika Habsburg.

“Though she is very busy,” Ilona says, “she personally supported our charity project, visited the mother-baby room, and congratulated us.”