Mira's Books for CHOP

While I was pregnant with Mira, Joe and I read her books almost every day.  This was such a special way to bond with her and make the short time we had with her meaningful.  We wanted her to hear the books we would have read to her throughout her childhood.  We wanted her to hear our voices.  She loved it!  I felt her move while we read (which was rare due to her condition), especially when Joe read!  During our short, but beautiful 53 minutes with Mira after she was born, I asked her, "Do you recognize our voices?"  and she coo'd in response, something we didn't think she would even be able to do.  I know she heard all those stories! 

With Mira's First Heavenly Birthday approaching on December 18th, Joe and I want to be sure to honor her and her meaningful life.  We thought the best way to do this is to bring comfort to others.  We would like to donate books to CHOP Perinatal Palliative Care Program. This is the program that supported Joe and I through my pregnancy, during, and after Mira's birth.  Learn more about them here: https://www.chop.edu/services/perinatal-palliative-care-and-bereavement

We are respectfully asking anyone who would like to acknowledge Mira's life and help other families in circumstances similar to ours, to donate towards the cost of the books.  Our goal is to purchase enough books so that each family the Perinatal Pallative Care Program serves over the next year is given a meaningful book to read to their unborn baby.  These books can then become invaluable keepsakes to take the the hospital for delivery and home afterwards.  Having a special items to transition with is vital when you leave the hospital with empty arms.

We also would like to purchase children's books about grief for the babies' siblings that will be facing the pain and confusing having a baby brother or sister who will not becoming home from the hospital.  This need has been identified by the team's Child Life Specialist.   

We are hoping to purchase about 50 books (30 for the infants and 20 for siblings).  Joe and I are unable to meet this goal on our own and ask anyone who is able and feels lead to donate even a small amount.  If we do not meet our goal of $500, Joe and I will make up the difference!  If we are blown away and have extra funds, we will purchase additional books.

All books will be prayed over and delivered to CHOP on Mira's first birthday.

Books we plan to purchase:

For Babies:
Love you Forever- Robert Munsch
I Love You Through and Through- Bernadette Rossetti Shustak
Guess How Much I Love You- Sam McBratney
I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love- Nancy Tillman
Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You- Nancy Tillman
Heaven is for Real for Little Ones- Todd Burpo

For Siblings:
We Were Gonna Have a Baby, But We Had an Angel Instead- Pat Schwiebert
Heaven is for Real for Kids- Todd Burpo
Tear Soup- Pat Schwiebert
Where Are You?- Laura Olivieri
The Memory Box- Joanna Rowland
I Miss You- Pat Thomas