Stuck during delivery and deprived of oxygen for a few minutes, he was resuscitated and medevaced from the Riverland to Flinders Medical Centre for specialist care in the Neonatal Unit.

There, he was placed on new advanced cooling equipment, which administers life-saving ‘hypothermia treatment’ to newborns affected by lack of oxygen during birth.

The machine – called the Arctic Sun – swaddles the baby in cooling pads to ‘cool’ their core body temperature at a continuous 33.5 degrees for 72 hours, before ‘warming’ them for 12 hours in a process designed to reduce the likelihood of brain damage.

The machine, which is expected to be used on between 15 and 20 babies at Flinders each year, is the first of its kind in South Australia, and with its continuous temperature monitoring and adjusting, and easy set up and use for staff, it supersedes previous cooling technology used in the unit.

While being cared for in the Neonatal Unit, Arthur also used the ‘Babyroo’ - a new state-of-the art ‘open air’ neonatal intensive care cot which is also the first of its kind in South Australia and only the second in Australia.

With an in-built ventilator, heating, display screens and weight scales, the cot has everything required to care for the unit’s tiniest and sickest babies, whilst also being light and compact allowing for easy transport and emergency resuscitation.

Importantly, parents can also bond with their baby during a challenging time, with the cot’s open top allowing for precious contact and memorable first touches - something which was incredibly special to Arthur’s parents Dajana and Tom.

Neonatal Associate Nurse Unit Manager Jacqui Glazbrook said neonatal staff were excited by the arrival of both pieces of advanced technology to help some of the 1,300 babies cared for in the unit each year.

“By giving babies access to the best technology, it gives them the best chance for the best start in life,”
Jacquie says.

Funds used to purchase this vital equipment were raised by the friends, family and generous community of Arthur McConachy, and Maria and Leong Foong in memory of baby Melisa.