Delilah made her entrance into this world in the spring, 10 weeks premature and weighing just over a mere 3 pounds. She was born at the hospital on Joint Base Elmendorf/Richardson but needed to be transported to The Children’s Hospital at Providence’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit immediately. Providence’s NICU transport team launched into action and had Delilah in the NICU within the hour.

Tracy was able to join her newborn baby at Providence eight hours later, after she was discharged from the military hospital. Delilah needed respiratory and feeding support, which meant she had a feeding tube, was connected to a ventilator and would spend most of her time in a neonatal incubator. But as soon as Tracy arrived, nurses and respiratory therapists were able to help Tracy hold her newborn baby. Kangaroo care, skin-to-skin contact, helps premature babies develop and bond with their parents.

After three weeks Delilah was able to feed on her own and move out of the incubator! She was gaining weight steadily and even with a few setbacks and some struggles, she fought through them and was finally able to go home. Delilah spent a total of 45 days in the NICU.

When Traci went into labor her doctor knew her baby would need the highest level of medical care available to newborns. In Alaska, that can only be found at The Children’s Hospital at Providence. When infants who need level III care are born outside of Providence, our NICU transport team is there to safely deliver them to the hospital. The transport team picks up babies from all around the state and brings them in using a jet, helicopter, or ambulance.

Providence’s NICU transport team is staffed with 8 specialized neonatal nurse practitioners who are on call 365 days a year. Round the clock coverage ensures all of Alaska’s infants are able to receive the care they need - immediately.

When a call comes in, the team often arrives before the baby is even born, or immediately afterwards. The team also teaches neonatal resuscitation and stabilization classes across the state. This gives caregivers in rural areas the tools they need to keep babies alive until the transport team arrives.

Our community supported this program through the purchase of a new state-of-the-art transport isolette. This life-saving equipment transports around 200 infants to the NICU each year. Providence’s NICU transport program is an example of The Children’s Hospital at Providence’s dedication to providing the best care possible to all of Alaska’s children.