Saving babies’ lives at the annual Z99 radiothon

For 32 years, they have been saving babies’ lives — and CC and Lorie are rallying once again.

The annual Z99 radiothon is underway at the Cornwall Centre in Regina.

Each year, CC and Lorie stay awake for 36 hours to raise funds for the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Regina’s General Hospital.

Ryker Brooks is one of the babies who has been treated in the neonatal intensive care unit.

In partnership with the Hospitals of Regina Foundation (HRF), the money raised goes towards buying vital, leading-edge equipment that enhances the staff’s ability to care for fragile newborns.

Little Dallas Crisman is benefitting from such technology. Born Jan. 21 with his bowels outside his body, he has spent 53 days at the NICU.

“I am surrounded by beeps and equipment and lines and I don’t know what it all is,” Amanda Crisman, Dallas’s mom, said through tears. “But I know because of this equipment my son has a chance at life.”

Dallas has been through four surgeries already.

“Each time he comes out of surgery, I just can’t help but be grateful,” Crisman said.

Since its inception, the Z99 radiothon has raised $9.5 million for the HRF. The NICU is located in the Rawlco Centre for Mother Baby Care at the General Hospital.