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parents who have RECEIVED kits:

Chance's wife received a kit in 2023...

“I wanted to thank you. My son was sent on life flight on Tuesday (November 21). My wife received your NICU survival kit this Friday. It absolutely meant the world to us to receive such a gift from strangers. After reading your story I felt so grateful that you were able to turn your grief into compassion and generosity.

You all seriously made my wife's day. Our son has a cardiac defect and it's the scariest thing either of us have been through. It has been extremely hard but you helped lift a burden. Thank you.”

justin received a dad kit in the middle of the night..

“You don’t know what you need until you receive it. A lot of times in life, you can ask for help for things, but you already know you need it.

Here you are in a hospital, alone, two hours away from home and it’s midnight, and you don’t think much of it. I didn’t realize I needed help.

I thought I was just going to sit there, I didn’t know what I was going to do.

To be able to to clean myself and feel human was really nice and it meant a lot to me to be able to just feel like a person rather than the guy in the corner watching his child go through a nightmare.”

Ciera recieved a mom kit and a crochet octopi...

“I can’t say thank you enough! My son was born at 25 weeks and 6 days and was placed in the NICU at Sacred Heart. I didn’t know what to expect being a NICU parent. Definitely wasn’t the birthing experience I had dreamt of. But I received a mom’s NICU Survival Kit and a cute green octopi and that just brightened my day and made the days I spent in the NICU visiting my son a ton easier. I don’t know how many times I had forgotten to apply deodorant or didn’t have nail clippers etc. This NICU Survival Kit really came in handy and meant a lot to me being a NICU momma !”

jessica recieved a kit in 2019....

"We are so grateful for the NICU kits my husband and I received. When my husband arrived to the hospital at 3am - he didn’t have anything but the clothes he was wearing. With his wife hours away in another hospital, just having a major surgery - leaving her, and the other twin behind and flying with the other twin who was fighting for his life he had plenty to worry about. The box had some basic hygiene items and coffee that helped ease his NICU stay.

When I was released from the hospital and arrived to the NICU, my brain was a whirlwind. Although I had time to go home and grab things before leaving home I had forgot so much! I couldn’t believe the thought that went into the NICU kit. Things like breast pads, deodorant, toothbrush and menstrual pads- and the sweet note in the box from Jackson’s parents.

In a time when your world is flipped upside down and you feel so alone. It was nice to know we were thought of and not alone. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!"

Kyla's twins recieved our octopi in june of 2019...

"You have touched my life, and I don't even personally know you, although somehow feel like I do. My twins were in the NICU in June 2019. At some point mid-way through our month-long stay, we received two octopi, one teal and one blue (which have now become beloved keepsakes.) On the back was a stitched label: "In Memory of Jackson Peter Ward" My heart was crushed for his family, and I set about finding out more information on your story. The thought that someone in grief would take the time to comfort others, especially so soon after a loss, was so touching that I just had to learn more. After a couple of days, I learned who you were. I'm heart warmed that you have a sibling for Jackson and you are endeared to me for your continual effort to bring attention to HIE and other NICU issues."

NICU TEAM SUCCESS STORIES:

nORA; JACKSON'S RN

I was working the night that Jackson was life-flighted to our unit. Jackson's dad came with him on the flight, as his mom had to stay behind since she had just had a baby. At the time we didn't have anything to offer Shelby as far as toiletries or snacks - just a room to lay down in. We couldn't even give him a phone charger to charge his phone enough to let Codi know they had landed in Spokane. Jackson lived for 10 days and passed away peacefully in his parent's arms in a room full of love. Codi and Shelby wanted to turn Jackson's death into something positive which seemed impossible - but they did it! They put together NICU Survival Kits to be handed out to parents who showed up in the middle of the night or day with nothing because all they could focus on was their sick infant. I am always excited to give the parents a box full of snacks, water bottles and water flavoring, coffee, toothbrushes and toothpaste and so much more - it makes me SO proud to hand them a box full of comfort and love. Thank you Jackson, Codi and Shelby - you're all SO loved!

KATHY; JACKSON'S RN

The NICU survival kits that the Jackson Peter Ward Strong Foundation provides are a life-saver for families in crisis. Most NICU admissions are unplanned. Nobody puts the NICU in their birth plan. They're often life flighted into us, and they leave with just themselves and a very sick baby. They are shell shocked as they enter a very busy NICU unit, and are without many of the basic daily essentials and limited means to obtain them easily. These kits help fill that gap - and they are a warm hug in the middle of crisis. They are a blessing to the nursing staff to have something to give these terrified parents.