Panthers Help Bring Families Closer at Memorial West NICU

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. - Like most parents, Amy Biamonte wishes she did not have to be far from her newborn.
After giving birth approximately six weeks early, Biamonte has spent countless hours watching over her son, Brandon, at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Memorial West Hospital.

"It's been hard, very emotional for the entire family," Biamonte told FloridaPanthers.com in late August. "We weren't expecting this, but he's in good hands right here… I pretty much live here, but my husband and my 10-year-old aren't able to be here all the time, especially the little one."
While they aren't always able to join her at the NICU, Biamonte has been using special cameras to keep her family up to date on Brandon's status. With each bed at the ward being fitted with a special "NICView" camera, everyone in her immediate family can easily check-in to a live feed.
"We love the camera," Biamonte said. "They don't miss those little moments when he's awake… Since I'm here, it's a lot easier for me. But for them, it's harder. With them being able to use the camera anytime they want, it helps create that bond… It's like they haven't missed anything."
In addition to emotional benefits, these cameras have also been proven to have physical perks.
"If their baby is here at the hospital, they're not producing any milk," said Maureen Laighold, who has worked as a nurse at Memorial West since 1992. "We give them a pump to go home and then they are able to use the 'NICView' to put their baby on their smart device. They're able to look and see their baby, and then that emotional connection kicks in. That sort of thing is immeasurable when it comes to breast milk production."
In order to access the camera, families like the Biamontes are provided with a unique login and password, which they can then share with other relatives. And although they have been in use at Memorial West since 2016, a donation from the Florida Panthers recently helped increased the amount of devices from 10 to 20, giving each bed its own camera.
"This is very near and dear to my heart because I had a baby that was here at the NICU and I was able to use the camera," said Lauren Simone, the executive director of the Florida Panthers Foundation. "I really know how firsthand how important it is for families to go home and rest, but also be able to see their baby and know that it's in good hands.
"They used to have some cameras here, but not enough for each bed. What that meant is that when mom and dad went home, not every mom and dad was able to see their child, and they had to take turns. Now they don't have to worry about that."
As part of the Community Champions Grant Program, which is presented by Moss Construction and the Moss Foundation, the Panthers donated $20,000 to the Memorial Foundation in April. In addition to members of the foundation, nurses and other employees from the hospital were also recognized on the jumbotron and celebrated during Florida's 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins.
"It was a great experience," said Don Eachus, who is the director of development for the Memorial Foundation. "We were at the game with a lot of nurses from Memorial West, cheering and having a great time. It was a celebration. The Panthers won, so it was even better."