Former Miller Children’s NICU Respiratory Therapist’s Legacy Lives On To Support Future NICU Babies & Their Families

Long Beach, Calif., May 31, 2011 - More than 60 friends and family members came together for an intimate reception and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) family room dedication to celebrate former NICU respiratory therapist, Linda Magennis. Magennis worked tirelessly for 15 years at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, to comfort and support NICU families during, what for most, is seemingly one of the most overwhelming times in their life. She quietly endured her very own health problems, while loudly advocating for critically ill and extremely premature babies and their families

Although Linda has since passed away due to health complications, at what many would say is at too young of an age, her family and friends wanted a way to keep Linda’s voice for these babies alive. Just as their name suggests, neonatal intensive care units can feel “intense” to families. There are wires, alarms and monitors all attached to a baby—who could weigh as little as 1 pound—in incubators in a small amount of space. There was a need to have a place of calm and privacy for the health team members to meet with families.

So Linda’s friends and family went to work, including members of the NICU health care team, raising money to create a “family room.” A quiet, peaceful place where families can go to spend some alone time with their baby – a place where a family waits for their neonate to get out of surgery or a place where a mom gets to hold her baby for the first time are months of hospitalization.

“These babies and their families deserve a place that is more than four walls,” says Lupe Padilla, M.D., neonatologist, Miller Children’s. “This room is about giving families the privacy and dignity they deserve, while embodying Linda’s spirit of comfort, consolation and hope.”

This safe haven has a glider chair for moms to rock their babies, a sleeper sofa, TV, linens, baby blankets and disposable cameras for families to use in a very tranquil, peaceful motif. A quilt hangs on the wall here, sewn by Linda’s family and friends, each patch representing a symbol of Linda’s life and legacy.

“A friend of mine used to say, today at this moment in time is the most important moment in your life – try to always do something with it and enjoy it, “says Steve Magennis, Linda’s husband. “That was Linda. A big part of her life was right here under this roof, helping these critically ill babies and their families. She’s smiling from ear to ear now knowing that they will have a place all for themselves and their family.”

This room dedication is part of the giveLove philanthropic initiative, which supports the phase II expansion of the NICU in the Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach pavilion. When complete the expanded NICU, will continue to provide the most advanced level III care, with leading technology, in an environment that is family centered. Love beings in a moment – a breath, a cry a touch. Love makes a difference in a child’s life everyday. Love is the reason Miller Children’s continues to grow. Join our giveLove philanthropy efforts today.

Visit www.mchlb.org/love or call Jeri Stathis at (562) 933-1661.