LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kosair for Kids is giving Baptist Health Lexington $5 million for the hospital’s mother and baby unit.
Kosair for Kids is one of Kentucky’s largest children’s charities and a long-time supporter of children’s health and social services. Barry Dunn, Kosair for Kids president and CEO, said the organization’s goal is to work with professionals who want to form full, bright futures for kids.
Baptist Health Lexington’s neonatal intensive care unit has 32 beds; that’s the second largest Level II NICU in the state.
The hospital recently delivered its 4,073 baby.
One family said they’ve been touched by Baptist Health Lexington’s care.
Sam Leslie’s son, James, is almost two years old now. He was born at Baptist Health Lexington and had to spend several weeks in the NICU.
Leslie said her pregnancy was full of inexplicable challenges. After her son was born, doctors still had medical concerns. Yet, she said the maternity center not only conquered those challenges, but did it with care.
“I would watch them at the camera at home and make sure he was doing OK,” Leslie said. “They stepped in and they would say, ‘You can never bother us. [We] will call you and give you updates.’”
Leslie said she hopes the record-breaking funding will serve other families in their critical times of need.
“They can figure out more about unexplained fertility losses and then go to the NICU and help these moms and babies and we want them to see that there are real faces behind this hospital,” she explained. And those people working together, she said, is why she and her family can share their story today.