Foundation provides specialized car seats for babies born at Condell

Parents of children born premature or with other medical problems deal with dozens of unexpected issues.

When it's finally time to leave the hospital, some may be surprised to learn they need a special car seat designed for infants with breathing problems.

A Vernon Hills-based organization is working to help.

The Lexi Kazian Foundation, along with the Knights of Columbus, has donated four car beds to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

The safety seats allow infants to be positioned securely on their stomach, back or side, reducing breathing difficulty they might have while sitting upright.

The safety beds cost around $100. They allow low-birthweight babies to be able to travel safely and comfortably.

"We are finding more evidence that premature babies have greater needs," Condell's head of pediatrics Dr. David Oppenheim said in a statement. "Our partnership with The Lexi Kazian Foundation will help Advocate Condell give newborns a healthy start to life."

Kris Kazian is the co-president of the foundation. He said having some of these beds available takes a big item off the mom and dad's to-do list.

"This is one less thing parents have to worry about on top of everything else," Kazian said. "Where to find a car bed, how much does it cost, that kind of thing."

The foundation is a nonprofit group dedicated to improving the comfort and quality of life for children with special needs, according to its Web site.

Started in 2005, it was named after Kazian's special needs daughter Lexi, who died when she was just 28 months old.

The organization provides education, playground equipment, therapy toys, resources and scholarships for families and therapists in need of financial assistance or community support. The Web site is HelpingFromHeaven.org.

Kazian is the deputy fire chief for the Countryside Fire Protection District. He said selecting Condell as the recipient of the beds was a natural choice.

"The hospital is near and dear to my heart," he said. "As a paramedic, I obviously work closely with Condell. We live close to the hospital and three of our four kids were born there. I can't say enough about the place."