Fundraising Program Page

My family started Sam’s Fund to help the hospital build a high-quality NICU to serve the families of northern New Jersey. We pledged $1.5 million to name Sam’s NICU in memory of our daughter, Samantha Marie Salzberg. This amazing facility opened in 2009. If Sam’s NICU was operating in 1987, we believe Samantha would be alive today. (Click here for more info on the NICU.)

Today, Morristown Medical Center (MMC) is a designated Level III Regional Perinatal Center and Sam's is the only NICU in New Jersey that offers 34 private and semi-private rooms. Sam’s NICU provides care for the highest risk babies in the metropolitan area and is the small NICU model for the nation. Each year, more than 4,600 babies are born at Morristown Medical Center, and 450-500 infants are admitted to Sam’s NICU. Approximately 50-75 of those infants are transferred in from regional hospitals.
 
Here's a story about how Sam’s NICU saved a fragile, young life…

After a relaxing vacation in Bermuda, the Bravo family was excited to return home and welcome the arrival of a new family member. Bonnie Bravo – pregnant at 32 weeks – relished the time spent on the island with her husband and 2-year-old son and looked forward to the birth of her second son in about eight weeks.

Things didn’t go as planned. During the return flight, Mrs. Bravo’s water broke unexpectedly, triggering a medical emergency for her unborn son.

Back in New Jersey, Mrs. Bravo was admitted to MMC. After an ultrasound, the expectant parents learned that their baby had hydrops fetalis, a condition that affects 1 out of every 1,000 births and is characterized by an accumulation of fluid. Doctors from MMC’s Maternal Fetal Medicine found that Baby Bravo had excessive fluid in his stomach, kidneys and lungs. The next six days saw numerous ultrasounds, echocardiograms and blood work.

On August 10, 2018, Max Bravo was born via emergency C-section. He was welcomed into a crowded delivery room by a slew of neonatologists. Immediately, Max was whisked to Sam’s NICU and doctors there worked valiantly to keep him alive. He spent the next 50 days there, hooked up to breathing machines, feeding tubes and a chest tube and underwent blood transfusions, fluid drainage procedures and a surgery.  Although the reason for his condition was never determined, Max became better with each passing day. Mrs. Bravo credits MMC physicians from Maternal Fetal Medicine and the NICU team – both doctors and nurses – for Max’s remarkable recovery:
 
"Without our faith in God and all the people that played a part in our son’s treatment, our son would not be here today, and our 2-year-old son would not be a big brother. Our son, Max is a miracle and we can’t thank the NICU enough.  We are forever grateful for what the Morristown NICU has done for our family."

We hope you can support this very worthy cause by donating today through the Make a Contribution link above the thermometer to the right. Babies are a blessing, and sick infants need the best care.

Your donations are 100% tax deductible. The Foundation for Morristown Medical Center will provide a receipt for your records.

Thanks so much for your support!

Steve and Doris Salzberg

Pictured: Max Bravo and his parents with Sam’s NICU Nurse Denice Muller, RN, on the day of Max’s discharge; Dr. Gaines Mimms with one of Sam's tiny patients; and Drs. Larry Skolnick and Andrew Schenkman during the dedication of the unit.