On June 1, 2017, I gave birth to a very special little girl, Lucy. She was only 26 weeks gestation, and weighed 1 lb 10 oz. We spent 148 days in the NICU, and it was one of the hardest things I have ever gone through. Some of you may be quite familiar with our story and witnessed the weight that prematurity has had on us.
Everyone may not understand the profound effect having a baby in the NICU can have on a person. But many of us do.... Pierce’s Project is made up of such individuals. We understand the trauma of witnessing the fragility and mortality of our tiny babies, and continue to live with the aftermath of the NICU.
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to join Pierce’s Project so that I can give back to NICU families. Our newest initiative is to provide free professional counseling so that families can cope with the mental health issues related to having a traumatic birth and NICU stay. Studies show that 10-15% of all mothers will experience depression and other mental health issues, but this number jumps to 45-75% when talking about mothers in the NICU. Shocking as that is, it is a reality for many of us NICU parents.
All proceeds to Pierce’s Project goes back to NICU families, and every bit helps....it helps to provide the parking subsidiaries so that parents can stay by their babies’ sides, care packages so that parents can have a bit of comfort in their darkest hours, and dinners so that these parents can eat without wondering where the meal was going to come from. And now, counseling so that these parents can cope with the trauma and emotional roller coaster of the NICU.
I hope you consider donating to Pierce’s Project and become one of Lucy’s Groupies! She would LOVE it. No donation is too small. Every bit helps and all of it goes back to the families of these tiny miracles, like Lucy.