12/10/2023
4 days left 🩷🩵
Christmas 2020, my family and I came down with COVID. I was almost 8 months pregnant with our twins, Cole and Aspen. After being told to stay home and monitor my oxygen and all my weekly appointments being cancelled.. on January 7th I had to go to the hospital. After about 6 hours being at our local hospital I finally made it to OSU. As soon as I arrived, they delivered my sweet babies and I was instantly intubated and put on a ventilator. While this happened my husband had to learn by phone what was going on due to him having COVID too. Unfortunately, my preeclampsia was so bad it took the life of our little boy, Cole. Aspen was doing well for being 8 weeks early, just small. She was instantly isolated because at the time they did not know if she had COVID like I did. The OSU NICU was full and she was transferred to Nationwide Children’s around midnight that night. Although I was not awake and was unaware of anything that happened, my husband kept tabs on everything. The way they treated my husband and being so good with a father that just lost a child as well as gaining one was beyond amazing. They updated him on everything they were doing and called anytime Aspen met a goal set, even if it wasn’t the normal call time. They loved on and took exceptional care of our sweet girl! I could see that the moment I met her, on January 19. You could see how passionate they were about their patients and doing what was in their best interest. Because of the covid restrictions, they were doing a little more than normal because volunteers were unable to help at the hospital. Aspen ended up doing so well, she came home at 35 weeks verses having to wait until the full 40 week mark.
Many families find themselves in NICUs around the country, scared and facing the unknown, and a gift of BOOKS can give much needed hope and allow families to bond during such a difficult time.
During a newborn’s time in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), critical brain development is occurring, including the development of the pathways that control language skills. By reading to their babies, parents are not only bonding with them and reducing some of the stress of being in the NICU, but they’re also aiding in their children’s brain development.
Two ways to help:
•Order a box of cards - 30 cards for $30 ($13 from each box sponsors a family)!
Order here: https://form.jotform.com/233247811934155
•To Donate money directly for a book: Venmo -Fluent and list ELM Tree Project in the notes.
-$13 for one book
-$26 for two books
-$40 for three books
Huge thanks to our most recent donors:
Kait Henderson
Cassy Kellough
Aubrey Lane
Heather Johnson Buyer
Krissy Cooper
Marissa Tackett
Mills Sue Mike
You all are amazing and so appreciated!!
Thank you!! Sharing this Book Drive is welcomed and appreciated as well ❤️
