Bringing holiday cheer to families with babies in intensive care

IOWA CITY - When Ali Holt's newborn son had to spend two days in the hospital to recover from an emergency surgery, she got just a small glimpse of what parents go through when their babies are sick.

'You feel very alone, your emotions are high, you've just had a baby, so there are hormones,” she said. 'And it's the unknown, you don't know how long you're going to be there.”

As president of Iowa Medical Partners, an organization of spouses and partners of medical fellows and residents, she's found a way to help those parents this holiday season.

Modeled on a similar project Holt's friend organized in Salt Lake City, Utah, Iowa Medical Partners is creating 85 care packages for mothers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. For many, the NICU can become a home base for weeks or months.

With everything from onesies and diaper bags for the babies and nail polish and Java House gift card for their moms, the baskets are designed to offer a little spot of brightness during that stressful time. Group members also made homemade baby blankets and cards.

It's about more than the physical items - the baskets are meant to be a reminder to their recipients that they're not alone, said Iowa Medical Partners Vice President Emily Miska.

'We just really want people to know they're not forgotten,” she said. 'They see everybody else enjoying the holiday season, and they can't leave the hospital. We just want people to know there are people who are thinking about them.”

Most of the items for the care packages have been donated by businesses such as 4 Moms, Boppy, Little Painted Polka Dots and others, as well as by Iowa Medical Partners 90-some members. To supplement the donated items, the group is trying to raise money to buy gas and restaurant gift cards to include in the baskets. Many families drive long distances to receive treatment in Iowa City, and costs of food and gas add up.

A restaurant gift card can also help parents take some time for themselves away from the hospital, Holt said.

'Even the smallest bit of hope and happiness in their experience in the NICU makes a difference,” she said.

The group's 'Bring Some Merry to the Mommies” campaign is trying to raise $1,500 through a crowdsource fundraising page on Fundly.com.

They will deliver the finished packages to families in the NICU on Dec. 23.

'We cannot wait to surprise these families with the care packages,” Holt said, 'We hope that the gifts inside will help bring a bit of joy and happiness to their holiday, and will help to lessen the pain and stress they are experiencing in the NICU.”