80 beds, 80 babies, 80 cameras

By Anna Mitchell  

MARCH 3, 2010 9:15 a.m. (2)

Babies who stay at Greenville Memorial’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit might have weeks or years to live. They might have hours or days.

Documenting that time can be precious to the parent of a sick newborn, said Dwain Waller. He and his wife, Keeli, lost their daughter to cancer five days after she was born at Greenville Memorial this past January.

The Wallers posted pictures of their daughter, Ryker Elise Waller, on Facebook along with updates on her condition and a couple short movies – one of which shows her opening her eyes. Ryker was born with a swollen belly, which doctors would discover was a tumor. This was a surprise to the family because an ultrasound had not picked up the condition.

Surgeons removed the tumor, but Ryker grew weak. As her condition worsened, her parents asked for prayers on Facebook, and they got them from around the country.

“It affected a lot of lives,” said Waller, who is COO of the Liquid Highway coffee chain. “I wanted to get other parents to do that if they want to.”

The Wallers have donated three sets of voice recorders, digital cameras and video cameras to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Greenville Memorial since the Jan. 11 death of Ryker. His goal is to have such a set for every bed.

Greenville Memorial has the state’s largest NICU with 80 beds.

Berea High School has also donated $580 to purchase something completely new to the NICU in memory of the baby girl: Web cameras.

Michele Jackson, special education teacher, had worked closely with Waller while setting up a café at the school.

Laura Meister, Greenville Memorial’s director of nursing for children’s services, said the details are still getting worked out but the basic concept is this: Parents will be given confidential login information. When they want an update, a nurse will be able wheel a computer up to the baby and show them how the child is doing.

The Web cams will mean weather and distance will no longer be a barrier to parents wanting to see their babies. Parents will see their babies grow over time, and the peace of mind of seeing the baby doing OK means more than a phone call (especially important for nursing moms), Meister said.

“It’s still not the same as holding your baby,” she said. “But it’s another device to communicate.”

Waller said he is still working on acquiring a set of digital cameras, camcorders and voice recorders, about $500, for each bed in the NICU.

When his daughter was at Greenville Memorial, Waller said, the NICU had one set of recorders and cameras. He said he envisions parents recording their voices, reading a book to their child, and leaving the recorder with the baby overnight. Web cameras will enable parents to watch their babies from home.

“Most of the babies are in there for an extended period of time,” Waller said. “Most are a premature birth, so they are in there until they develop.”

Some parents have more basic needs – a phone card or a taxi voucher, Meister said. But the NICU tries to meet every family’s needs where they are. For all, documenting what can be a short time with their child is important for the bereavement process, she said.

Waller’s company, Liquid Highway, was designed to donate profits to charity. When he lost Ryker, he said, he walked into the March of Dimes office the Monday after she was buried and offered his help. Since then, Liquid Highway has produced private-label coffee for the March of Dimes and several cancer organizations to raise money.

“It’s challenging sometimes,” Waller said of his loss. “I’ve been working my tail off.”

To learn more about Ryker’s life and her parent’s charity work, google “Liquid Highway Facebook.” To donate to the NICU project, call Waller at 254-0733.

Comments

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Sally League  - Wonderful   |2010-03-03 15:35:21 My son came home one year ago today, after a 13-day stay in the NICU. This article details a wonderful concept - we will definitely be calling to find out how we can help. Reply

Claudia Wise  - Manager, Small Business   |2010-03-08 22:31:48 These parents are amazing! To support others in their time of need is awesome! Ryker Elise is an inspiration to all! Cameras and voice will certainly give to necessary memories! Reply

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