Jackie's 24-Hour Tiniest Tot Trot
Tax deductible
Giving back in the only way I know how: with my feet.
On July 7, 2019, at 30 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy, my life changed forever. Ava Jane, Erika Margaret and Luciana Marie decided they wanted to come into the world, and despite the doctors and nurses' best efforts to keep them inside, they got their wish. At just 2lbs 13 oz, 2 lbs 5 oz and 2 lbs 4 oz, we all knew they had a tough road ahead of them, but little did I know how much love and amazing care they would receive from the staff of the Golisano NICU.
Those nine weeks in the NICU taught me uncountable lessons, but one is how babies can end up there for so many different reasons -- and how much of a trauma and shock it is to most parents. I was fortunate in a sense that with triplets, I knew this was probably going to be part of the process. I also learned how much the little things count in those nerve-wracking and yet monotonous days hovering over your naked baby in a medical-grade fishbowl.
I can only imagine, though, how much more stressful it is for parents right now in the age of COVID.
To get through the stress of it all, I did the one thing I know I can rely on for stress relief: moving my body. First it was walking, then walk-running and eventually it was 5am runs around the parking lot and then walking into the girls room soaked in south Florida summer sweat (sorry for those who had to deal with me in that state!) I dreamed of what it would be like to have the girls home on those runs and our life as a family of five.
I've been running fairly consistently ever since. Now a year later, I was given the opportunity to join in a virtual race series that culminates in a 24 hour challenge to run a set amount of miles ever four hours (six runs in total.) There was no charity component, but when I saw that the race was the weekend following the Nov. 17 World Prematurity Day, I knew it was a sign to transform the project into something that can help other preemies and little ones at Golisano.
The wonderful folks at Lee Health Foundation are helping provide the charitable link between my efforts and the NICU. I am not sure how the funds will be used, but I know that all the little things that we benefited from (preemie clothes for when they were big enough to wear them, blankets and covers for their isolettes, baby books, all of the Parent Club activities) are not free. As I get more information, I will pass it along.
As for the running, I have selected the option to run 5 miles each round, which brings me to 30 miles total. I will add an extra 6/7 of a mile to get me to just about 50k, and also a mile for each week of my pregnancy. I plan on starting each run at my house, running down Bass Road past Golisano and then back to the house. I hope to bring the girls along with me for some of the runs, and I want to integrate as many preemie and NICU graduates or residents as possible in my challenge. Pro athletes make a big deal of decorating the water bottles they have made for them on the marathon course, so maybe I can do something similar.
Every little bit matters. If it's a dollar or a dollar per mile or more or even just a text message during that looong day (the girls won't know to let me rest during the down time, I'm sure) it would be appreciated. They may be small, but every child in that NICU is a miracle and a future waiting to be realized.
Thanks for your support.
-Jackie
On July 7, 2019, at 30 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy, my life changed forever. Ava Jane, Erika Margaret and Luciana Marie decided they wanted to come into the world, and despite the doctors and nurses' best efforts to keep them inside, they got their wish. At just 2lbs 13 oz, 2 lbs 5 oz and 2 lbs 4 oz, we all knew they had a tough road ahead of them, but little did I know how much love and amazing care they would receive from the staff of the Golisano NICU.
Those nine weeks in the NICU taught me uncountable lessons, but one is how babies can end up there for so many different reasons -- and how much of a trauma and shock it is to most parents. I was fortunate in a sense that with triplets, I knew this was probably going to be part of the process. I also learned how much the little things count in those nerve-wracking and yet monotonous days hovering over your naked baby in a medical-grade fishbowl.
I can only imagine, though, how much more stressful it is for parents right now in the age of COVID.
To get through the stress of it all, I did the one thing I know I can rely on for stress relief: moving my body. First it was walking, then walk-running and eventually it was 5am runs around the parking lot and then walking into the girls room soaked in south Florida summer sweat (sorry for those who had to deal with me in that state!) I dreamed of what it would be like to have the girls home on those runs and our life as a family of five.
I've been running fairly consistently ever since. Now a year later, I was given the opportunity to join in a virtual race series that culminates in a 24 hour challenge to run a set amount of miles ever four hours (six runs in total.) There was no charity component, but when I saw that the race was the weekend following the Nov. 17 World Prematurity Day, I knew it was a sign to transform the project into something that can help other preemies and little ones at Golisano.
The wonderful folks at Lee Health Foundation are helping provide the charitable link between my efforts and the NICU. I am not sure how the funds will be used, but I know that all the little things that we benefited from (preemie clothes for when they were big enough to wear them, blankets and covers for their isolettes, baby books, all of the Parent Club activities) are not free. As I get more information, I will pass it along.
As for the running, I have selected the option to run 5 miles each round, which brings me to 30 miles total. I will add an extra 6/7 of a mile to get me to just about 50k, and also a mile for each week of my pregnancy. I plan on starting each run at my house, running down Bass Road past Golisano and then back to the house. I hope to bring the girls along with me for some of the runs, and I want to integrate as many preemie and NICU graduates or residents as possible in my challenge. Pro athletes make a big deal of decorating the water bottles they have made for them on the marathon course, so maybe I can do something similar.
Every little bit matters. If it's a dollar or a dollar per mile or more or even just a text message during that looong day (the girls won't know to let me rest during the down time, I'm sure) it would be appreciated. They may be small, but every child in that NICU is a miracle and a future waiting to be realized.
Thanks for your support.
-Jackie
Organizer
Jackie Noblett
Organizer
Fort Myers, FL
Lee Memorial Health System Foundation
Beneficiary