Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Donations in Action

As many of you may recall, when Annaleigh passed away we asked that friends and family send donations to the St. Peter's NICU via the St. Peter's Foundation in her memory. So many people showed their support with donations and the Foundation received $2,400 in Annaleigh's name. Yesterday I spoke with the Foundation director and learned that the funds had been used exactly as we had requested - to purchase web cams for the NICU. Eight web cams were recently purchased, and with them parents and family members will be able to check in on their babies when they can not make it to the NICU. The director said that the cameras are especially important right now, as H1N1 precautions are preventing many family members from entering the unit. We are so happy that thanks to Annaleigh families can stay more connected to their sweet babies as they travel through their NICU journey.

We speak very highly of St. Peter's on this blog, and we mean every word of it. I turned to St. Peter's when I was 21 weeks pregnant and my former OB and MFM had given me very grim odds that my pregnancy would last and my babies would survive. Thanks to the amazing doctors and nurses at St. Peter's, against all odds I left the hospital with two beautiful, perfect babies. St. Peter's will also forever hold a special place in our hearts because it is where Annaleigh called home. She never got to know a world outside of the NICU, but she was lucky enough to receive special love and care there during her short life, and for that we will always be grateful.

So thank you to all those who donated in honor of Annaleigh and helped make the web cam purchases possible. If you would still like to contribute to the St. Peter's NICU, please visit the Foundation website.

11 comments:

jeanna said...

I think the web cams are such an amazing idea! Just think of the legacy Annaleigh has left to all the parents who will be able to rest easier after checking on their little ones. We need more good in this world like this!!!

Sara B said...

Wow, Brooke. What an amazing idea! I would have loved that, especially since I was pretty immobile the first couple weeks after my son was born. What a wonderful way for Annaleigh to continue to make a difference to so many people!

Kara said...

What a great idea- I would have used them all the time when my son was in the NICU and I left at night!

Anonymous said...

What a special gift... Annaleigh has done more in her short life than many do in an entire lifetime. What a special little girl!

Anonymous said...

You are forever in my heart my sweetpea...

All My Love, Auntie :)

Unknown said...

What a great idea!!! When my daughter was in the NICU, I couldn't drive due to recovering from my c-section. Our families lived too far to shuttle me to see her and her daddy returned to work so he could be home when she came home. What a wonderful way to keep families connected. Thank you for thinking of the future NICU families during your time of immense grief.

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! I'm so glad you had a say in how the funds were used and were able to make such an immediate difference to the NICU families.

Soccerwife said...

Wow! What a great way to use the donation $. How thoughtful!

Jill said...

That was an awesome gift! That would've been perfect in my situation. The day I was discharged from the hospital and had to leave my triplets in the NICU, I developed a cold sore and was banned from the NICO for a week. About a week after I was able to visit the babies again, my oldest daughter, who was 15 months, developed RSV, so we had to stay away again. I think I was banned frm the NICU more than I was allowed to be there to see my babies. The web cams would've been so benefiial. What a great legacy for your sweet Annaleigh to leave. You guys continue to be in my thoughts and prayers

Anonymous said...

Wow that is an amazing gift to give other families who have to experience life inside the NICU. I am so happy the donations went towards something tangible. =)
~Daniela G

Kimberly said...

That's an amazing thing that you (and your sweet angel) did for other families. What a blessing.