After losing 9-day-old daughter, New York couple's charity trained 6,500 doctors
Following the tragic death of their newborn daughter due to a misdiagnosed infection, a New York couple founded the R Baby Foundation. Over two decades, the organization has raised $18 million and trained thousands of physicians to improve pediatric emergency care.
Why it matters
The foundation's work addresses critical gaps in pediatric medical training, potentially saving lives by improving diagnostic accuracy in emergency settings.
In July 2006, Phyllis and Andrew Rabinowitz took their newborn daughter, Rebecca, to doctors and an emergency department because she was congested, feeding slowly and having difficulty breathing. Her symptoms were repeatedly diagnosed as a common cold, according to the family’s account published by the R Baby Foundation. Rebecca died on July 21, nine days after her birth. The couple later learned that their daughter had contracted an enteroviral infection, which can be life-threatening in newborns. Her death led them to establish the R Baby Foundation, with the aim of improving emergency medical care for babies and children.Twenty years later, the organisation says it has raised $18 million and trained more than 6,500 physicians across over 1,000 hospitals.
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