By: ELOISE WALTON
THE BABY Braveheart project, started by Samantha Rafael in memory of her son Benjamin to raise money for hospital equipment and raise awareness of illnesses in babies, has donated its first piece of equipment.
Samantha told The Resident: “I handed over an Oximeter, which monitors the heart beat and oxygen levels of a baby, to the day hospital in Faro on August 21. This is a very small room next to the pediatric emergency room that treats children during the day, avoiding them having to stay in hospital at night.”
The piece of equipment, which is similar to one used on Benjamin 24 hours a day, cost 1,071 euros. “I hope it will be the first of many donations,” said Samantha.
She has set a target of 55,000 euros for the project to buy ultrasound equipment for the neonatal department, which will help to diagnose problems that could occur with babies after birth.
As well as this, nurses at Faro´s day hospital have asked Samantha to help supply fun printed nurse uniforms.
Special uniforms
“The hospital does not have a budget for this and many children are scared of staff wearing white uniforms, so I am looking now to try and purchase these special uniforms,” said Samantha. “As Baby Braveheart is still in its early stages, we are currently still going through the paperwork involved in registering it as a charity or foundation,” she said, adding: “We are currently looking for venues to hold fund raising events such as a teddy bears picnic and a mad hatters tea party in the autumn.”
Samantha started the Baby Braveheart project after her son Benjamin died on June 2 from the very rare syndrome Pallister-Hall at the age of just eight months.
“I want to help Faro Hospital and other parents who are going through what we went through with Benjamin as in Portugal there is very little support. I hope to change that with Baby Braveheart.”
For more information, please contact Samantha Rafael by email at babybraveheart@hotmail.com or visit the websitewww.babybraveheart.com. The website, which is under construction, contains details of the account which has been set up for donations.
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