Emi's Heart to Heart Book Collection

Emi's Heart to Heart Book Collection We started a book collection so every family that has a baby in the Nursery ICU at St. Joseph's in Phoenix receives a book to read to their newborn. Joseph’s.

On February 7, 2016 we met the love of our lives, our daughter, Emilia Rosalie Hall. She came to us 14 weeks earlier than expected, but exceeded our every expectation. We shared the most beautiful five days with our daughter before we lost her. Since before Emilia was born, and during her time with us, we bonded and connected as we read our favorite stories to her, including The Very Hungry Caterp

illar, Green Eggs and Ham, and our favorite, LOVE from the Very Hungry Caterpillar. These moments are special to us. In honor of our little girl, we would like to start a book program at St. Joseph’s Hospital, where she received the highest quality of care in the Nursery ICU (NYICU). The wonderful team that supported us during Emi’s time in the NYICU has agreed to help. We would love for every child that enters the NYICU at St. Joseph’s Hospital to receive a book that their family can read to their child. You can help by sending us books that we will then send to the NYICU at St. There is a high population of Spanish speakers in the area, so books in both Spanish and English would be appreciated. It is important that these books are new to reduce the risk of passing germs to the fragile babies in the NYICU. A sticker will be placed in each book in honor of Emilia. Please forward this information to anyone that you think may contribute to Emi’s book collection, so we can support as many families as possible. We will continue to keep you updated with our address. Books can be addressed to us or the hospital

St. Joseph’s Hospital Nursery ICU
Attn: Kristen Bayne
350 W. Thomas Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85013

OR

Amanda and Nathan Hall
2219 89th St
Lubbock, Texas 79423


Thank you for your support,

Amanda and Nathan Hall

Two years ago today, we loaded up our car with the last round of books before we moved to Texas. Seeing how full the car...
05/16/2018

Two years ago today, we loaded up our car with the last round of books before we moved to Texas. Seeing how full the car was... that filled some of the space in my heart. We collected over 1,000 books in just a few short months. That meant over 1,000 families received a book in Emi’s name.

We only spent 5 days in the Nursery ICU. Some families are there for months. It’s hard. I wasn’t able to hold my daughter until the day we lost her. You have to be creative to bond with your child. That’s where the books came in.

While we no longer live in the greater Phoenix area, we have made sure the book program continues. The program is always accepting books in both English and Spanish. Please make sure the books are new, as the NYICU is a fragile place. The address is in the ABOUT post.

Invite your friends to this group. Share this post. Please help our book program live on.

Almost 2 years ago, so many people generously donated over 1,000 books to our book program at the Nursery ICU at St. Jos...
01/17/2018

Almost 2 years ago, so many people generously donated over 1,000 books to our book program at the Nursery ICU at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. It was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever witnessed. It has taken 22 months for them to hand out the books to family after family. That’s over 1,000 families that have been affected by your generosity.

Each family that has an infant that enters the NYICU receives a story book to read to their child. During our time in the NYICU, reading books to Emi brought us comfort. You spend so much time at your child’s side in the hospital, it was nice to have something to help us pass the time as we bonded with our daughter. It was especially nice because, while you aren’t always able to touch your baby, they can hear your voice and know that you’re there. This is why we chose to start Emi’s Heart to Heart Book Collection.

The NYICU is now in need of books again. Please remember, due to the fragile immune systems of these babies, books should be new. They can be sent directly to the hospital, but we would love to know that you’ve sent books. You can post a photo or message in this group or on this post. You can also tag this page or use

Please feel free to share this post.

Send books to the following address:

St. Joseph’s Hospital Nursery ICU
Attn: Kristen Bayne
350 W. Thomas Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85013

12/16/2016

It can be tough to enter the holiday season knowing this would have been our daughter's first Christmas. I was originally going to ask people to send more books to the hospital this holiday season. I knew that would bring me some comfort.

I am not asking for books though, and that does bring great comfort to me. I am not asking for books because we had such a great response with people donating, that we do not need books yet.

I am not asking for books because the hospital has not had as many babies in the NYICU this year.

Both of those things warm my heart.

I visited the hospital in October for a memorial event. This hospital cares so much about the families that have and have had babies in the NYICU. They become a sort of family. I cannot tell you how beautiful the ceremony was.

We went up to the NYICU, which was difficult. It was the first time we went back since the day we lost our daughter, Emilia. The staff was so wonderful though. They showed us that a cabinet that they labeled "Emi's Heart to Heart". It was stuffed full of books, the books you donated. And that wasn't even all of them.

Seeing the book program in person was wonderful.

Thank you for being so generous that nearly a year later, we still have plenty of books to keep the program going.

08/30/2016

I have been in touch with the hospital. The book program is up and running. They have seen families reading the books to their little ones while in the NYICU.

I can't tell you how thankful we are, and the hospital too. When you are spending everyday in the hospital for days, weeks, or months, you run out of things to say. It was so nice just to crack open a book and still bond with your baby.

All of you that donated books made that possible for the families of every single baby that enters the NYICU at St. Joseph's in Phoenix this year. So many thank yous!

05/27/2016

Please invite others to this page as well! The more support we get, the more families we can reach

05/27/2016

Thanks to everyone's generous contributions, we met our goal of 950 books in less than 3 months! That means there are enough books for approximately every family that has a baby in the Nursery ICU in St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix will receive a book they can read to their baby! We want to keep this program going- forever. We will continue to accept books. Please note, we have updated the addresses that you can send books to, as we have moved. The addresses are in the "About' section for future reference.

St. Joseph’s Hospital Nursery ICU
Attn: Kristen Bayne
350 W. Thomas Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85013

OR

2219 89th Street
Lubbock, Texas 79423

Thank you!

Address

St. Joseph’s Hospital Nursery ICU Attn: Kristen Bayne 350 W. Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ
85013

Telephone

+13523634812

Website

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