A Giraffe incubator is coming to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway

No, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital is not raising giraffes. The only hospital on the Rockaway Peninsula that also serves the Five Towns is purchasing what is a Giraffe® incubator care station, which is considered an “innovative piece of medical equipment that provides a state of the art, calm and quiet environment for premature babies to thrive,” hospital officials said.

The incubator monitors, assesses and treats newborns in their own environment, reducing unnecessary handling of fragile patients. It also offers parents and other family members access to babies so they can form those most important bonds.

Costing $20,000, the money for the incubator was raised by hospital staff and their families, a board member and his employer, frequent donors, a local charity and the community at large.

The fundraising began last November with a goal of $16,000. With just over $10,000 to raise, St. John’s approached Angels of the Bay, whose mission is to support the programs and facilities that provide quality health care and services to children. The organization’s board awarded the hospital a grant for the remaining money. It will be presented at the Oct. 15 Angels of the Bay gala.