From a young age, Noah has understood the importance of giving back to the community. This year, he traded gifts for donations to the NICU at Winnie Palmer Hospital, raising $7,000 for our tiniest patients.

For the past three years, seven-year-old Noah has requested donations instead of toys for his birthday. For his fifth birthday, he raised money for the local fire department, raising more than $1,200. The following year, he chose to help the police department, raising more than $1,800.

This year, Noah decided to support the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies to honor a special little girl, Stella. Stella was the daughter of close family friends who’d been born earlier than expected, spending a total of 96 days in the NICU at another hospital in Central Florida. Despite every effort made by doctors and nurses, unfortunately, Stella passed away.

After being connected with team members from the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, Noah and his mom enjoyed a tour of Winnie Palmer Hospital, where he met neonatologist Dr. Gregor Alexander, and learned about how his donation would help some of our tiniest patients.

Although Noah had been born at Winnie Palmer Hospital, he had never visited the NICU before, and said that his favorite part of the tour was seeing “the babies that were born a little too early.” He also commented that it felt good to know he would be helping these babies receive excellent care.

With a goal of $2,000, Noah set off to raise money for the tiny babies who receive care in the NICU at Winnie Palmer Hospital. Little did he know that he would exceed that goal, and not by a little.

The week of his birthday, Noah visited the hospital and presented what he had raised — more than $7,000 for his seventh birthday — to Dr. Alexander and team. We are so honored that Noah chose to raise money for the NICU. Noah’s generosity will impact the lives of many families who receive care each and every day.