Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital will hold the CCIRH Auxiliary’s Florence Booms Celebration of Lights ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. on the hospital grounds.
Please join Chaplain Robert Bremer and Rabbi Michael Birnholz as they welcome the holiday season at the 29th annual event. The Vero Beach Ambassador Choir from Vero Beach High School will perform some songs of the season, and refreshments will be available in the Ambulatory Services Center lobby following the Christmas tree and Chanukah menorah lighting.
The Celebration of Lights plays a dual role, as it rings in the holidays while also raising money for worthwhile projects. Those who wish to honor or memorialize a family member, friend, teacher or other special person can add a light to the tree through donations ranging from $10 to $250.
Proceeds from the event are used to purchase unbudgeted items for the CCIRH Women’s Services department in order to enhance its women’s and children’s programs.
Past purchases include the Hugs and Kisses security system; newborn cardiac monitors; birthing beds; infant warmers; fetal monitors; apnea monitors; the overhead lullaby system; thermometers; otoscopes; ophthalmoscopes; BiliBlanket; jaundice meters; and infant hearing screening equipment.
A portion of this year‘s funds will be used to define and carry out a program of modeling safe sleep practices for all mothers and families who come into the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital delivery room.
Each year, there are more than 3,500 sleep-related deaths among babies born in the United States. Research has shown that 22 percent of mothers reported not following recommendations of placing their baby on its back for sleep.
Additionally, 39 percent of mothers reported using soft bedding for sleep, another non-safe practice. We have the opportunity to model safe sleep practices in our hospital, and proceeds from the Celebration of Lights event will support that endeavor.
For more information about the Celebration of Lights, contact Volunteer Services at (772) 563-4533.
