By Morning Sentinel staff

Doctors at Inland Hospital's Birthing Center at one time sent infants with jaundice to a larger hospital to get the special ultra-violet light treatment critical to addressing the problem.

But no longer.

Today the Birthing Center has its own bili-light, a device that helps to rid infants of the excess bilirubin that can lead to mental retardation if left untreated.

Birthing Center director Tina Quinn said acquiring that vital piece of equipment wouldn't have been possible without the Children's Miracle Network, a charity that helps fund equipment and therapeutic supplies.

"It is one of those pieces of equipment that we don't use every day," Quinn said of the Bili-Light, "but when a baby has a high level of jaundice, it is incredibly important that we treat it as soon as possible, so to have it here locally is awesome."

Mark Huard of Huard's Ju-Jitsu Karate Inc. realizes such critical needs exist in his community. That's why he and about 150 of his karate students annually play a big role in raising money for the Children's Miracle Network.

Last year Huard and his crew collected about $10,000 for the charity, part of the more than $641,000 raised for the Children's Miracle Network chapter that serves central, eastern and northern Maine, according to Nancy Dysart, a director of that program for Health Care Charities of Maine.

"I think that is the most wonderful part of this effort," Dysart said of Huard's students' fundraising. "Not only are these children participating in a healthy lifestyle activity, they are raising money for other kids. This is about kids helping kids. It is a really special effort."

Huard said credit, too, must go to the generosity of people throughout the greater Waterville area.

"What it has come down to," he said, "is that it has really come to be a community-type event where many businesses and business people are taking part in it."

Along with the bili-light, funds from the Children's Miracle Network have enabled Inland Hospital to purchase a fetal heart-monitor telemetry unit and an electronic digital scale, according to Quinn.

Quinn said the telemetry unit provides the ability to monitor the health of a mother and her unborn child without restricting the mother's movements.

The electronic digital scale is an important tool for a pediatrician, Quinn said, in that it measures an infant's weight down to grams -- detailed information that helps lead to a more accurate assessment of a child's health.

"This is what Children's Miracle Network allows us to do," she said. "Just getting by these days is not good enough. We want to deliver the best. Children's Miracle Network allows us to do that."

Colin Hickey -- 861-9205

chickey@centralmaine.com