Photo caption: New moms are enjoying the soothing comfort of rocking chairs donated to Sparrow's Mother Baby Services by the Eleonore Rocks Foundation. Caregivers from Mother Baby Services, along with leaders of Eleonore Rocks, display the new chairs.
Published: Aug. 30, 2012
Spurred by the memories of a nephew who received tender, loving care from Sparrow as a premature baby, a Sparrow and Michigan State University physician has led an effort to donate five rocking chairs to the hospital's nursery for newborns.
Now, parents and Sparrow Caregivers will soothe their infants a little easier, thanks to the work of Dr. Jayne Ward, D.O., and the Eleonore Rocks Foundation.
The Foundation provides rocking chairs for children's hospitals and raises money for the families of terminally ill children through donations from fitness events, such as triathlons, held throughout the country.
Dr. Ward, who heads Sparrow's Resident Neurology program and is an associate professor of Neurology at Michigan State University, was inspired by her nephew, Thomas Corner of Holt. Thomas was born at 28 weeks old and spent several months in the Sparrow Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. He is now a healthy 14-year-old.
"It was important for us to give something back to Sparrow," Dr. Ward said.
Carol Fuller, R.N., B.S.N., Director of Women and Children's Services at Sparrow, said the rocking chairs have been a big hit.
"They really add to what we're doing in Sparrow's Mother Baby Services and Neonatal areas," Fuller said.