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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Help us Help Babies this Christmas


After reading Anne's post (see link on last post) I have been thinking what we can do for the NICU that cared for Elizabeth. Every year as Elizabeth''s birthday approaches I want to do something for the NICU but life never seems to slow down for us. Elizabeth still averages 2-3 appointments weekly for therapy (speech, PT, OT), her medical appointments and with her gymanastics, hippotherapy and dance we are always on the go. So 6 years later I am now determined that we will finally help the babies and their families who will spend their first Christmas in NICU.
Elizabeth was born December 17 and as you know it was 3 1/2 months too soon as she was due March 29. Elizabeth's first Christmas was not one I want to relive, Christmas Eve she became very unstable and the Doctors and Nurses were quite concerned about her. I sobbed to her Dad that I hated Christmas and I never wanted to see another Christmas. As we did not anticipate a Christmas baby we also had not bought one present for her 1st Christmas and I was upset that she would not have anything on such an important day.
On Christmas day 2 cherished moments happened; when we arrived at her bedside she had gifts to open and I held her for the first time. I was so touched that complete strangers had bought her gifts and we continue to cherish these gifts each Christmas.
This year we would like to make Christmas day a little better for babies who are spending their 1st or even their 2nd Christmas in the hospital and for their parents who are spending Christmas day not with their families having turkey dinner but with their sick infant in the hospital.
The NICU that Elizabeth was at is a large facility with almost 50 beds so this is a huge undertaking that is why we are asking for your help. We would love to have donations of babies first Christmas ornaments, blankets, a cherished book, Christmas stockings or small bright baby toys (please no stuffed animals as they can carry germs). We will deliver these gifts Christmas Eve and Santa's Elves (the NICU Nurses)will deliver them Christmas morning.
We hope to put a smile on a parents face and let have a little bit of normalcy on their baby's first Christmas. If you would like to contribute please e-mail me or leave a comment here.

4 comments:

Anne said...

I would love to help. Email me the details at elizagracesmom@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I have tears in my eyes reading this post. My girls were in the same NICU, and while we were lucky enough to leave on Halloween (after 5 long months), I have always felt for the families who had to spend holidays in hospital. I would LOVE to help you with this! I have also been wondering how to give back, now that my twins are 5 and we have some semblance of normalcy in our lives. Please email me at adj1647 at gmail dot com.
Thanks!
Angela

Sherry C said...

Wonderful idea email me to I can help your too sherry_whittaker at hotmail dot com

Kara Melissa said...

This post brought tears to my eyes too. I would love to be involved/support this project next year and I'm sorry I missed it this year. What a wonderful idea and so precious that Elizabeth could deliver the gifts to the NICU. I do imagine it was difficult to be back there.