04/25/2026
This would be amazing to have everywhere !
🐻❄️ Why is there a polar bear in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)?
Children’s Nebraska is participating in the Polar Bear Care Hold-A-Thon, a global initiative that supports safe holding and touch for newborns receiving therapeutic hypothermia to treat Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
HIE occurs when a baby’s brain does not receive enough oxygen or blood flow around the time of birth. Treatment may include cooling the body to help protect the brain and support recovery.
Children’s Nebraska’s Level IV NICU is among the 38% nationwide that offer holding during this treatment. The approach supports both clinical care and family connection.
This HIE Awareness Month, we honor the babies and families touched by this condition and thank our team for advancing care and putting families at the center of every moment!
