MercyOne Children’s Hospital’s Largest Donation names Downtown Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

MercyOne Des Moines Foundation is very pleased to announce that Norkaitis Family Charities has gifted $1 million to benefit MercyOne Children’s Hospital services, especially infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The downtown Des Moines NICU has been named the MercyOne Children’s Hospital William and Josephine Norkaitis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in honor of this transformational gift, which is the largest single private donation in MercyOne Children’s Hospital’s history.

The donation has funded vital equipment, including a RetCam, Giraffe Omnibeds, a full-term infant simulator doll, a blanket warming cabinet, a transport bassinet and a birthing simulator doll.

“Norkaitis Family Charities is saving the lives of fragile infants every day,” said Cary Murphy, M.D., Norkaitis NICU Medical Director. “The lifesaving equipment they have funded supports our tiniest patients as our expert team of clinicians cares for them and their families.”

The Norkaitis NICU (Downtown) is a Level III NICU and serves 700 fragile infants in 62 beds annually. This kind of nursery has teams of health care providers who take care of babies as young as 22 weeks and as little as 1,500 mg who are critically-ill or babies who need equipment to help them breathe to stay alive. An on-site Ronald McDonald House – one of only a handful in the country within a hospital – ensures that parents can stay close to their babies as they heal.

“We are deeply thankful to Norkaitis Family Charities, which has held a deep, generational commitment to MercyOne. The late William and Josephine Norkaitis were committed to serving others; they always gave to those in need in the community long before they became successful through their hard work. Their generosity was an inspiring outpouring of their deep Catholic faith and beautifully exemplified the caring ministry of the Sisters of Mercy,” said Shannon Cofield, MercyOne Des Moines Foundation President.

The Norkaitis’ commitment to MercyOne began through William and Josephine’s connection to the Sisters of Mercy at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. Their generosity was an inspiring outpouring of their deep faith and desire to help those in need.

Upon Josephine’s passing in 2014, it became their daughter and only child’s increasing desire to honor her parents through philanthropic legacy gifts. In 2017, the Josephine Norkaitis Student Success Center at Mercy College of Health Sciences was made possible through the family's generosity.

“MercyOne meant so much to my parents [William and Josephine] and it is an honor to continue their legacy of philanthropy through this gift,” said Florence Burch, daughter of William and Josephine Norkiatis. “We are pleased to help these tiny babies and their families get the care they need to go on to have successful lives and create their own legacy.”

“This is a significant day in our community.” Mike Wegner, Interim President of MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center said. “This generous gift from Norkaitis Family Charities will continue to strengthen our compassionate, patient-centered care of the most vulnerable and fragile infants that we are privileged to serve.”

For more information on the Norkaitis NICU please visit MercyOne.org.