Fragile Beginnings Book Drive for NICU Families

So many of you already know that Taishi was born 3 months premature (yes, that's the whole third trimester!) and spent over 2 months in the NICU.  Here are a few things you may not know:

*One in 10 babies is born premature in Massachusetts
*Prematurity is the number one cause of death in children under age 5
*Prematurity is a significant cause of disability in children
* You also may not know of the amazing  support my family received from the clinicians at Fragile Beginnings, a program of Jewish Family & Children's Service. 


While Taishi was still in the NICU in Georgia, we stayed in touch with a clinician here in Massachusetts who then regularly came to our home to follow up with us in the months after he was discharged.  As a new mom of a medically fragile infant, I felt very isolated and anxious, and Wendy's visits were a lifeline.  If we needed something, Wendy helped us find it, even loaning us hard to find items that the organization had available to share.  Even after the home visits ended, the organization offered support in the form of online and in-person support groups, and Wendy was always just an email away, providing helpful resources as my son grew. 

I am so grateful for everything this organization has done for my family, and I have been looking for a meaningful way to give back. As an Usborne consultant, I learned about Usborne Book Drives and decided this was the perfect opportunity for me to show my appreciation to this wonderful organization while supporting the families currently in their program. 

Here's where you come in: I am asking for donations of any size to go toward the purchase of books.  These books will be given to the parents and siblings of infants currently in local NICUs.  Usborne Books & More will give a 50% match for all donations, meaning any gift you give will be incredibly beneficial in helping me reach my goal.  For example, a gift of just $10 will allow me to donate $15 worth of books with the Usborne match program.

I have selected books that will meet the needs of families in three different categories:

1) The book drive will provide families with books to read to their infant while in the NICU. While some infants may not be able to be rocked or held while receiving certain treatments, the sound of a parent's voice has been found to be very calming and therapeutic.  I personally found reading to be an easy way to bond with my infant and a good way to pass the long hours in the hospital.

2) Infant books will be provided for families who have recently been discharged to continue to support the therapeutic benefits of reading to a slightly older infant.

3) I also hope to donate books for the older siblings of infants in the NICU. 

*In each of these three categories, I have selected books in English, Spanish, and limited text to ensure that parents of different background can comfortably enjoy these books with their little ones.

Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me!

For more about my family's story, check out Sara Sniderman's blog about our NICU experience: https://sarasnidermanphotography.com/2021/02/19/nicu-experience-series-7th-guest/

"The Oliver, Ian, and Serenity Wolk Fragile Beginnings program is committed to improving the lives of parents of premature infants and other infants who have had a stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). We provide direct support services, educational materials, and connections to community resources and other families. We are guided by the principle that the families of fragile babies strongly benefit from parenting support beginning in the hospital, during their transition home, and throughout their child’s developmental years."

More information about Fragile Beginnings

More information about Jewish Family & Children's Service: Jewish Family & Children's Service cares for individuals and families by providing exceptional human service and health promotion programs guided by Jewish traditions of social responsibility, compassion, and respect for all members of the community.