Thanks to a $100,000 gift from the Fansler Foundation babies in Community Regional Medical Center’s Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) have a little more elbow room to help their healing.

The NICU expanded in 2011 – from 65- to 84-beds – making it one of the largest in California. Work completed on the expanded unit includes updated countertops, painting, flooring and equipment.

Registered Nurse Rod Freeland cares for a baby in the NICU.

Community Regional serves as the high-risk pregnancy and birthing center for a five-county region. The NICU, which opened in 2008, also has the most advanced technology for the most fragile newborns and babies with special needs.

The Fansler Foundation is a not for profit, public benefit corporation established in 1984, by its founder civic leader D. Paul Fansler. It focuses its charitable giving primarily on meeting the needs of children.

Jennifer Avila-Allen reported this story. She can be reached at MedWatchToday@CommunityMedical.org.