Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Offering Support To NICU Families During Christmas

Christmastime is an especially hard time for families to face the NICU journey. It's a time when they long to be home snuggling with their newborn baby and instead the realization of a cold hospital stay rings true. Although they know it's exactly where they need and have to be - every family is longing to be home with their baby. It's a time when bringing warmth to NICU families - even in a small way - is all the more needed.

Christmas In The NICU
A plate of cookies
a cake
a card to show you care
an ornament
an extra prayer
or just a listening ear. 
A handmade item
a photograph
any gesture you can do 
to share your love this Christmas
with someone in the NICU.  



The joy of brightening other lives,
bearing each others' burdens, 
easing others' loads and 
supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts 
becomes for us the magic of Christmas.

Every year we do something special for NICU families. Two years ago we donated special handmade quilts last year we sewed specialty NICU positioners with Christmas fabric and this year we sewed special NICU outfits with Christmas fabric. We also hosted a holiday get together for families, volunteers, and friends. We had an ornament exchange, and shared a festive potluck meal. Together we packaged up all of the Christmas NICU Gift Bundles and got them ready to donate to our three local NICUs. 

Over the next week we dropped off a donation to St. Joseph's Health System, The College Station Medical Center, and Scott & White Healthcare NICUs. We know these special outfits, giraffes, burp cloths, and cards will share hope with families this holiday season. 

Please join Preemie Prints on Thursday December 4th from 6:30-8 for our annual NICU family pot-luck get together at Scott & White Hospital in Bryan College Station.


Christmas donation drop off to St. Joseph's Hospital in Bryan TX

Christmas donation drop off to The College Station Medical Center





My Gift by Alice Porembski

I am a stranger to you now, but let me walk with you for awhile. Because I have been where you are, and where you are about to go.

I have no answers. I offer instead my hand, my heart, my listening ear, my time, and my experience... so that one day, you can turn to another and say:

I am a stranger to you now, but let me walk with you for awhile. Because I have been where you are, and where you are about to go. I have no answers. I offer instead my hand, my heart, my listening ear, my time, and my experience... so that one day you can turn to another and say........






Little Miracle 

As I love you through the glass, the hours seem slow to pass.

I stroke your skin and hold your hand, this isn't exactly what I had planned. 

I cast my eyes up to the sky and say a little prayer...
that the Lord will hold you up in His arms and keep you in His care. 

So sleep and grow my baby, and dream of clouds of foam, and I will love you 
though the glass until you can come home. 




Ashley Diamond Siegert of Fig Mint Photography hosted a picture with Santa even last year. Here are a few adorable pictures of Santa with a few Preemie Prints NICU Graduates!





 Please remember to think about & pray for the families in your local NICU.

If you can offer up a few minutes and do something small for a family know that it will be appreciated. 

If you are a family in the NICU...

We're praying for you. 

Take as many pictures as you can - this is your baby's 1st Christmas  :) 

Take some time for yourself to spend with family

Read The Night Before Christmas to your baby 

..............


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