Red Sky Foundation enables Sunderland Royal to add DR system for neonatal patients

In 2015, Sergio and Emma Petrucci faced every parent’s worst nightmare when their daughter Luna needed heart surgery just before her second birthday. Luna, now nine, was diagnosed with two holes in her heart during a routine check-up and cardiologists made the decision she would need surgery. The work performed by Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital has enabled Luna to live a normal life.

This led to the founding of the Red Sky Foundation, which is dedicated to raising funds to purchase medical equipment and provide facilities and aftercare at the Children’s Heart Unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, Sunderland Royal Hospital and the James Cook Hospital, Teesside. Raising well over £700,000 since its inception, the charity has purchased defibrillators for local communities and sports clubs as well as equipment such as the FDR nano digital x-ray system from Fujifilm.

Fujifilm’s relationship with the Red Sky Foundation continues to grow. “We are delighted to have got to know Sergio and Emma Petrucci through our local account manager John Casson,” the company says. “We look forward to continuing to work together for better healthcare for everyone and, ultimately, saving lives.”

The Red Sky Foundation started fund-raising for the FDR Nano to enable quicker and better care for babies in Sunderland Royal Hospital’s neonatal unit. It was purchased following a discussion with Dr Majd Abu-Harb, who originally diagnosed Luna’s heart condition.

Luna’s parents remained in contact with Dr Abu-Harb to understand how they could best provide support with the Red Sky Foundation. Sergio explained: “I’m immensely proud we’ve been able to do this for the unit; it’s something we’ve wanted to see happen and we hope it helps other children from South Tyneside and Sunderland like Luna, so they can get the treatment they need.”

The FDR Nano is said to be quieter, lighter and smaller than traditional mobile x-ray systems and the hospital has become one of the first in Europe to utilise the technology of the FDR D-Evo III C24 to help improve image quality for its smallest patients.

Fujifilm has worked with Red Sky on events such as its involvement in The Great North Run, the annual white party and a charity golf day. “We are delighted to be involved and are thankful to Sergio and the rest of the team at Red Sky Foundation for the incredible work they do, and we know that the money raised will continue to contribute to saving lives just like Luna’s,” the company says.

Donation of the device was also backed by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s own charity, STS Charity.

Picture: Sunderland Royal Hospital consultant neonatologist Dr Imran Ahmed, Red Sky Foundation founder Sergio Petrucci, Fujifilm senior account manager John Casson and Sunderland Royal Hospital radiology operational manager Dee Sixsmith.

Published on page 23 of the December 2022 issue of RAD Magazine.