Do you remember the first time you held your child immediately after they were born?  The feeling is almost indescribable…they joy, the pride, the emotion as the nurse places your sweet baby on your chest and you look into those eyes for the first time…it is a moment that you will never forget as a parent.  For many parents, they don’t get to experience this moment as their newborn baby is being attended to by the nurses and doctors and rushed to the NICU.  It could be hours before you get to see your baby.  I never in a million years thought I would personally experience this, and I know firsthand how heart wrenching this is for families.  Our son, Wyatt, continued to be in the NICU for 31 days, and I experienced emotions and feelings I never felt before at a time that was supposed to be joyful and happy as we had planned on bringing home healthy twin boys.  The plan changed drastically when I went into labor at 31 weeks and 5 days.  Garrett was stillborn and Wyatt was fighting for his life.  I remember feeling almost numb… helpless, lonely, overwhelmed, terrified and much more.

So that brings us back to the question, why should you donate to Garrett’s Gift, Inc.?  Almost all of us know someone who has experienced a premature birth, still birth or maybe someone who had a baby in the NICU for some other reason.  It is so important that we support these families while they are experiencing these very difficult times with their newborn babies.  Our care packages help families by providing them water, snacks, a blanket, premature clothes, premature diapers, pen and paper for doctor or nurse notes, activity book to help pass the time while they are sitting by their baby’s side, hand sanitizer and Kleenex.  Most of all, parents just appreciate the care package because they know the love that was put into making it with donated items from the community and they feel supported.  Donations will also be used to purchase CuddleCots for surrounding hospitals to help families experiencing a still birth.  It is a device that will give families more precious time with their child as they are saying their goodbyes.  It is very important that you know that 100% of the donations received will go into these mentioned programs directly in our Southern Indiana communities.   Many people donate to this cause as a way to pay it forward or donate in honor or memory of a child in their life.

Sandi Brinson

Co-Founder