Sandra Schmirler Foundation

Welcoming a new baby is a time for celebration. Most parents are able to bring their newborn home within just a few days. For some, the journey is longer.

When complications arise, families depend on our dedicated hospital team for days or even weeks. That is why it is critical to provide our experts with the advanced technology they need to care for our tiniest patients right here in our community.

“If it wasn’t for donor support, we couldn’t provide the care we do,” explains Lyna, a Registered Nurse in Oshawa’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). “It just isn’t possible.”

In 2024, 4,662 babies were born across all Lakeridge Health Hospital Sites. That includes 2,660 at Lakeridge Health Oshawa. Donors and community partners play a key role in ensuring vital equipment for departments throughout our Hospital, including our NICU is available to our medical experts. In 2025, The Sandra Schmirler Foundation awarded a grant of $48,000 to Lakeridge Health Foundation to fund the arrival of a new Panda Infant Warmer. “To be a Level 2 NICU, we have to have these (Infant Warmers),” says Lyna. “Otherwise, we’re a Level 1. We would have to send a lot of babies to other hospitals, farther away.”

Lakeridge Health Oshawa can hold up to 12 newborns at one time, with the capability to surge to 15. Approximately 32 babies receive care from Oshawa’s NICU each month. Ensuring infants can receive comprehensive care in their own communities is one of The Sandra Schmirler Foundation’s goals.

“Babies born too far from life-saving care often endure long and stressful journeys to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs),” explains Sara Miller, Sandra’s daughter, in a statement on the Foundation’s website. “It’s heartbreaking to see families separated during such a critical time.” Lakeridge Health Oshawa is home to a Level 2C NICU, a step below SickKids (Level 3). Oshawa’s NICU is able to support infants born as early as 30 weeks and weighing more than 1200 grams. The Infant Warmers play an essential role in caring for these babies.

“The unit keeps the baby’s temperature constant,” says Katelyn, a Registered Nurse in Lakeridge Health Oshawa’s NICU. “If we need to intubate, the top comes off so we can do it on the spot. We can do everything we need in one place, which is so important because it allows us to move faster. There are a lot of situations where time is of the essence.”

“There’s also a scale in them so we can monitor the weight,” Lyna adds. “I know to the general population it may not seem like a big deal, but for a 1500-gram baby to be taken out and put on a cold scale, it protects them from the shock and pain.”

The Infant Warmer also gives parents easier access to their new bundle of joy, as they can reach through the side or the top to interact with their baby. The height of the Infant Warmer is also adjustable.

“If mom is still in a wheelchair, we can bring the bed down to meet her,” explains Katelyn. “That way she can be face-to-face with her baby, which is so important at this stage. The warmers are great for us, but they’re great for parents too. They spend so much time in this room visiting with their child. The closer they can get, the more connected they feel at a really difficult time.”

This year, The Sandra Schmirler Foundation is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. The Foundation raises support for NICUs across Canada in a variety of ways, including their annual telethon that took place during the Scotties Tournament of Hearts on Sunday, January 25, 2026. They once again broke their previous year's fundraising record, raising $1,176,758 for babies that were born too soon, too small, too sick or too far, across Canada.

Lakeridge Health Foundation is grateful to The Sandra Schmirler Foundation for their incredible support and for bringing a new Panda Infant Warmer to Lakeridge Health Oshawa. Together, we’re keeping our tiniest patients close to home.