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High Risk Hope is hiring a Program Coordinator

September 5, 2018 By Kerri Kibbey

High Risk Hope is hiring a new Program Coordinator.

Summary

Under the supervision of the Executive Director this position supports the development and implementation of informational, emotionally supportive, and inspirational High Risk Hope (HRH) programs for pregnant women on hospital bed rest and the families of babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Work with the Executive Director to identify new areas of program needs for the purpose of developing and implementing future programs responsive to those needs. Deals with a diverse group of important external callers and visitors as well as internal contacts at all levels of the organization. Independent judgment is required to plan, prioritize and organize diversified workload, including recommending changes in office practices or procedures.

Essential Functions

Coordinate the implementation and evaluation of direct service activities, such as assembly an delivery of Bed Rest Baskets, NICU Napsacks, Books For Babies, Bereavement Boxes, NICU Dinners and HRH Bundles.
Oversee inventory management of items included in Bed Rest Baskets, NICU Napsacks, and HRH Bundles for all hospital partners and HRH locations.
Coordinate the assembly, distribution and evaluation of hospital bed rest and NICU support materials.
Maintain active communication, including updates and information on Hospital Bed Rest support, NICU Support, with hospital staff, HRH families and HRH Executive Director.
Train and maintain working relationships with volunteers both in the Tampa Bay area and elsewhere that HRH operates regarding program implementation.
Coordinate inventory and volunteer needs with of HRH branch leaders (Sarasota, FL and Orange County, CA).
Coordinate active communications with volunteers.
Maintain volunteer and HRH family records in Donor Perfect Database.
Maintain strict confidentiality regarding personal health information and other sensitive information about parents and families, in accordance with applicable hospital policies and procedures.
Comply with HRH and hospital required screening protocols, such as criminal background check, HRH and hospital orientation and screening.
Participate as requested in HRH fundraising, media and publicity efforts and events.
Organize and prioritize large volumes of information, e-mails, and calls from hospital partners, volunteers, and HRH families.
Draft written responses or replies by phone or e-mail when necessary. Respond to regularly occurring requests through info@highriskhope.org for information from hospital partners, volunteers, and HRH families.
Act as a liaison with volunteers, HRH families, hospital partners, and outside agencies. Handle confidential and non-routine information and explain policies when necessary.
Oversee and maintain office and cleaning supply inventory.
Work independently and within a team on special nonrecurring and ongoing projects. Act as project manager for special projects at the request of the Executive Director, which may include: planning and coordinating multiple presentations and disseminating information.
Type and design general correspondence, memos, charts, tables, graphs, etc. Proofread copy for spelling, grammar and layout, making appropriate changes. Responsible for accuracy and clarity of final copy.
Submit social media content/photos to Director of Special Events, Marketing, and Public Relations.
Oversee coordination of and attend monthly recognition for volunteers (Hospital Hero) and hospital staff (Stork of the month).
Draft and mail birthday cards monthly to HRH babies.

Competencies

Technical Capacity.
Personal Effectiveness/Credibility.
Thoroughness.
Collaboration Skills.
Communication Proficiency.
Flexibility.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position works directly with HRH volunteers.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing and inventory stocking of items weighing less than 25 pounds is required. This would require the ability to lift items, open items and bend or stand as necessary.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a regular part time position (30 hours per week); some evening or weekend work may be required. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Travel

The position is primarily housed in the HRH Headquarters (Ybor City, Florida), but some time at hospital partners and other HRH offices (located in Tampa, Sarasota and St. Petersburg, Florida) will be required.

Required Education and Experience

Four-year degree from an accredited university preferred
One year of administrative experience.

Preferred Education and Experience

Non-profit experience
Three years of related experience.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

TO APPLY:

Please forward a resume and cover letter denoting the position of interest to the Human Resources Department at info@highriskhope.org. HRH is committed to building a culturally diverse staff and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.

Expecting a Second Child After a High Risk Pregnancy

September 4, 2018 By Kerri Kibbey

by Kari Adams, HRH Mom and Volunteer

It doesn’t take long after you have your first baby for friends, family, and even strangers to start asking you, “When are you going to have another?” After a tumultuous pregnancy resulting in a month of home bed rest, three weeks of hospital bed rest, our sweet boy being born at 34 weeks and a 25-day NICU stay, that simple inquiry was actually a very loaded question for us. My “canned answer” was that we were told to wait two years because of my first high risk pregnancy and we were going to talk about it at that point. The real answer was that I didn’t know if there’d be another. Preeclampsia was no joke. Getting pregnant again was (and still is!) a scary proposition.

Two years came and went. Three years passed. Earlier this year and well after Oliver was three and a half, I started to feel ready. It wasn’t until quite a few discussions with my OB/GYN, many open and honest conversations between my husband I and a lot of soul-searching, that we decided it was time to give Oliver a sibling.

I’m now 21 weeks pregnant with another baby boy and we are optimistically excited, yet anxious. Everything is going well and I’m feeling good (except for the typical first-trimester nausea and exhaustion). My doctors are closely monitoring me, already have a plan in place and have started some precautionary measures (i.e. a daily baby aspirin). They were amazing with all the challenges I experienced in the first go-around and are already proving their commitment to helping me have a successful second pregnancy. So far, they all seem very confident that there’s a chance I will not have as many issues as before. And if preeclampsia does rear its ugly head, it will be later in my pregnancy and not as severe.

My emotions have run the gamut since finding out I was pregnant again. The questions float through my mind frequently – sometimes just in the background and other times front and center. Will things get as bad? What will I do if I end up on bed rest again at home? Or in the hospital early? This time I have a four-year-old to worry about, not just myself. I’ve already run through the scenarios in my head over and over and have assembled my hypothetical support team. We are so lucky to have an amazing family who lives close by and wonderful friends who have already offered to help however they can should we need them.

I do feel better prepared and educated this time. Looking back I was pretty naive when things started to go awry during my pregnancy with Oliver. I am now more familiar with what to watch for with how I’m feeling and all the different tests and procedures along the way. I’m also ready to listen to doctors’ orders … admittedly, I wasn’t the best bed rest patient at home last time!

I have a few pieces of advice for those who have been through a high risk pregnancy and are thinking about another. First and foremost, talk to your doctor. I had a very open and honest conversation with mine at about six months postpartum. She told me to wait two years to let my body recover and that she didn’t see any problems with us having another baby. If she had told me differently, I would have definitely followed her advice! Of course, everyone is different. Based on the specific complications you experienced during your first pregnancy, your doctor may have a different directive.

Second, it has to be a joint decision with your partner. A high risk pregnancy affects both of you. My husband will be the first to tell you that all the challenges of my first pregnancy were also hard on him even though he wasn’t the one laying in the hospital bed. There are a lot of things to consider when growing your family in general (emotional, financially and health-wise), and even more so when your first pregnancy came with complications.

Lastly, be prepared and be patient. I have thought through many scenarios in my head. Even though you can’t foresee what lies ahead, I have created hypothetical plans should any of the past scenarios arise (i.e. bed rest at home, an extended hospital stay, NICU time, etc.). We’ve thought through how we might address any setbacks knowing what we know now. I am also more aware of resources like High Risk Hope. I had no idea such an organization existed until one day a Bed Rest Basket showed up in my hospital room. I recommend educating yourself on who can help you and how.

Despite the apprehension and underlying worry that is always with me, I remain optimistic that this will be a healthy pregnancy and a different experience than my first. I’m doing everything in my power to make that come true!

5 Tips to Help Breastmilk Production for NICU Moms

August 22, 2018 By Kerri Kibbey

By Brittany Elise Anderson RN-NICU, CLC

In my last post, I talked about the importance of breastmilk for premature babies because it boosts immunity and helps to prime the GI tract. However, producing breastmilk is not always easy when a baby arrives prematurely. Below are some great tips on how to promote breastmilk production for NICU moms.

1. Pumping early – the sooner the better
Premature babies are often admitted to the NICU while mom recovers from childbirth in a different area of the hospital. Without baby nearby to stimulate milk production, a mother separated from her baby must stimulate her body to produce milk by pumping. Milk production is demand and supply. Pumping every 2-3 hours helps to establish milk supply. The more a mom “demands” milk, the more she will supply.

2. Pumping every 2-3 hours to “place your order”
Infants eat every 2-3 hours, so a mother should pump every 2-3 hours as well. Electric breast pumps are vital for mom’s milk production when separated from her baby and there are many options available. Most insurance companies provide one breast pump every 36 months with a prescription from your OBGYN. Additionally, most hospitals offer hospital-grade pump rentals for a small fee. Many moms who have babies in the NICU qualify for a hospital-grade pump at no cost. The hospital social worker or lactation team can help moms get a home pump quickly after birth.

3. Skin to skin to make those awesome antibodies and bond with baby
Skin to skin allows a mommy to bond with her baby and helps her body to produce those amazing antibodies that help protect her baby from infection. These antibodies are better than any medicine, helping to prevent infection and promote immune development.

4. Hydration and balanced diet
It is important to eat a balanced diet and stay well-hydrated to produce adequate amounts of milk. Avoiding caffeinated beverages like coffee, coke, and tea will help moms stay hydrated. Moms should carry a bottle of water and make sure to refill it several times a day.

5. Support system
This might be the most important tip of them all. A pumping mother needs a strong support system cheering her on to keep up with pumping. She needs help with cleaning pump supplies and advocating for her to have time to pump while away from her baby. Most states have laws that help protect pumping moms’ rights to adequate break times to produce milk.

The Power of Breastmilk for a Premature Baby: The Physiological Benefits

August 7, 2018 By Kerri Kibbey

By Brittany Elise Anderson RN-NICU, CLC

As a NICU nurse, newborn photographer, lactation consultant, and mother of two I have always been an advocate for mother and baby connections. The act of producing and providing breastmilk to our new little babies is one of our most precious roles as moms. It is often our first “challenge” as new mothers (and yes, it is a huge challenge) and many of us enter into it with fears, anxiety, questions, and doubts. It is my hope, that after reading this post, you will feel educated, but also empowered, as we are uniquely built for this task and opportunity in our babies’ lives.

Breastmilk is quite possibly the most powerful medicine a baby can receive while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). It is one of the most calorically dense liquids produced in the human body. In the first few days following birth, the milk produced by mom is extremely thick and rich. Not only is breastmilk a rich nutritional staple, but also the first line of defense for a new little one. More important than nutrition, are breastmilk’s germ-fighting antibodies, helping to build babies’ immune systems. This is the main reason why it is so important for moms to try and produce milk early post-partum and why those first few drops are called “liquid gold” by NICU staff.

At birth, a premature baby’s immune system is undeveloped and extremely vulnerable. They haven’t had the exposure to bacteria, viruses, and fungi necessary for developing their own immunity, but a mom’s exposure to these “bugs” over her lifetime has left her body packed full of immensely powerful immune cells. To use a simple analogy, it is almost like a mom giving her child a cheatsheet of every test she ever took in school so they have a head start in life. Breastmilk can serve as a baby’s first round of immunizations and gives them a substantial head start in the immunity department. But the more amazing part of this whole process is the uniquely created antibodies that are custom built exclusively for her baby. When a mother touches and exposes her body to the same germs and bacteria that her baby is being exposed to, she begins to produce “custom-made” milk just for her baby!

Not only is the immune system underdeveloped in premature babies, but the respiratory, gastric and intestinal systems (GI) are too. When a baby has immature lungs they will frequently drop their blood oxygen levels. When this happens the body shunts blood to the most important organs including the brain. Even just a few drops of a mothers breastmilk can help to coat and protect the lining of the GI system and reduce the occurrence of these problems.

In extreme prematurity (less than 28 weeks) a baby may not be able to even digest food. Doctors will begin to introduce milk by swabbing the babies mouth with the mother’s breast milk. This allows for the body to begin receiving those amazing germ-fighting antibodies and also “prime” the GI tract for digestion. Breastmilk helps with GI motility and digestion and data shows that very premature babies have better outcomes when breastmilk is introduced early on, specifically outcomes related to nutrition and GI function.

I know this is a ton of science but hopefully, this helps you to better understand just how amazing breastmilk is and why it is so important for a premature baby or ANY baby for that matter.

5 Reasons Why Therapy Animals Make the World a Better Place, by Claire Barrow

July 18, 2018 By Kerri Kibbey

Therapy animals have always had a big impact in my life. It began when I was 2 years old and my mom was in the hospital with my brother Hill. I visited her every day, but Wednesday was the day the therapy dog came. It was always the highlight of my day! It was an amazing experience because I had a connection with animals, especially when I was little. The dog made me feel better in tough times.

About a year and a half ago I decided I wanted to do the same when we got our pigs, Thunder and Bolt. One day I heard about a therapy pig on the news and I thought, “We could do this with the pigs.” I researched pigs and found out they are much smarter than dogs. I began preparing them for their certification test. After they passed we started visiting the kids and adults receiving treatment at Tampa General Hospital. There are so many amazing things about therapy animals, but here are 5 reasons why therapy animals make the world a better place.

1. They brighten people’s day

To me, nothing is better than seeing a patient smile when they see the pigs. When we visit Tampa General Hospital the patients and nurses have these huge smiles on their faces as soon as they see the pigs! Therapy animals have a positive impact on people. They make people smile even when they have not smiled in a while. Thunder and Bolt have made people smile around the world. On their Instagram @Thunderboltpigs, we receive direct messages from people that are struggling. They say stuff like, “I have been going through a hard time and when I see your pigs my whole day turns around!” And those types of messages make me smile!!

2. They bring a positive impact for hospital visits

When I was little I used to dread going to the hospital because it just reminded me of how sick my mom was, but when the therapy dog started to come I loved it! He made me feel better during those tough times. Thunder and Bolt have had that impact on people too. I remember one time we were visiting with the pigs this little kid came up to me and said, “I wish they could come every day!” That’s when I knew they were bringing a positive impact on kids.

3. They make the hospital a less scary place for kids

The hospital can be a scary place, especially for kids. Tampa General Hospital has done many things to help kids feel better about their stay. Many kids have a love for animals like I do. When a therapy animal comes they light up. Frowns turn to smiles, and they run to them. There are many different types of therapy animals that kids connect to. The little girls connect with the “unicorn” and the boys love the dogs. It makes them feel happy during a hard time.

4. They teach people compassion for animals.

When you think of a pig the first thing that may come to mind is bacon. Many people think that before meeting the pigs. After they meet them and play with them for a little it’s hard to for them to eat bacon. It teaches a lot of people that pigs are friends, not food. I have one friend that stopped eating pork products because of the pigs.

5. They inspire people.

Therapy animals are an inspiration to everyone. They show people that an ordinary dog or horse can make a difference and that inspires people to do their own type of good. Even though it’s hard to train a therapy animal, people are taking what therapy animals do and doing it themselves. Which I think is amazing!

Therapy animals are so amazing in many ways! They make people smile and they inspire others! Those are my top 5 reasons therapy animals make the world a better place.

High Risk Hope in Orange County has new leadership

July 2, 2018 By Kerri Kibbey

Founding Board Member Susie Bray established a High Risk Hope Branch in Orange County in 2017 and will be moving back to Tampa this summer. What Susie has been able to accomplish in Orange County is incredible.

Some of the highlights since establishing the Southern California HRH branch in 2017 include:

• Over $40,000 raised in donations
• Securing a partnership with Hoag Hospital Presbyterian Newport Beach
• Delivering NICU Napsacks to Children’s Hospital of Orange County’s Small Baby Unit (infants born under 24 weeks gestation)
• Serving 70 women and families on hospital bed rest due to a high risk pregnancy
• Serving over 67 families with a premature infant in the NICU
• Bag stuffing parties
• Fundraising events at Trina Turk Fashion Island, Sage Hill High School and Mariners Christian School

Susie says, “It has been a tremendous blessing for me to have had a front row seat to see High Risk Hope’s formation in 2011, growth and trajectory for the future. While I will continue to volunteer with High Risk Hope and remain on the Board of Directors, I won’t physically be in Orange County so I am excited to pass the torch to Anna Jeffers and Kimi McDonough.”

Kimi McDonough will be taking on the role as Orange County Branch Leader. She says, “I am so excited to be a part of the High Risk Hope Orange County division. This organization holds a special place in my heart. I have been on both the receiving and volunteering side of support this organization offers. I hope to continue to support and encourage families who are experiencing a high risk pregnancy.”

Anna Jeffers will be taking on the role of Orange County Books for Babies Coordinator. She says, “I feel that God has led me to HRH at the right time in my life. My daughters are 8 and 9 years old and I’m ready to volunteer outside our girls’ school. I was on bed rest when I was pregnant with my first daughter. I never had to stay at the hospital, but I understand the stress and fears that come with not knowing if everything is going to be ok. I’m excited to be part of spreading joy to all the families that are going through this stressful time in their lives. I’m also excited for my daughters to learn how we can help others.” Anna’s sweet daughter Maja collected money and books for HRH this year at her birthday party!

We are incredibly grateful to Susie for establishing the Orange County Branch. We are confident that Kimi and Anna will continue our mission to provide support and encouragement to the families in Orange County. We look forward to seeing what their new leadership will bring.

Postpartum Preeclampsia: My Personal Experience

May 22, 2018 By Kerri Kibbey

Postpartum preeclampsia was not a term Katie Rehberg had heard in a long time.

Most moms have heard of the dangerous pregnancy complication called preeclampsia which causes elevated blood pressure, protein in your urine, headaches, and potentially seizures, organ failure, and death. It is commonly said that the cure is to have your baby! Then everything is supposed to regulate back to normal. But postpartum preeclampsia can come out of the blue. I’d heard of it because of my occupation as a Physician Assistant but didn’t really know that much about it, ie. the cause, what puts you at risk, and what you can do to prevent it. However, neither does anyone else really. Which is the super scary part!

I had been home for about 2 days after my son Davis had been delivered late on a Thursday night. I was still in a fog on Monday but everything was going well. My husband, Blake, and I were hanging out on the couch watching a movie. I decided to check my blood pressure because I hadn’t checked it since I’d been home. Side note, I had prenatal hypertension during my pregnancy with my first son, Jack, and again with Davis. Overall I had felt fine since I had been home, slightly anxious (but what mom isn’t when coming home with a newborn) and something just didn’t feel right. However, no headaches, no blurry vision, no right upper abdomen pain…just hanging out on the couch after a long day of pumping and taking care of a newborn and a 5-year-old.

My blood pressure was 180/110 at 11 pm on Monday night.

So I’m a Physician Assistant (Dermatology) and, of course, realize that I’ve got a problem. But because of my profession, I know the long list of things that can potentially happen, too. My parents raced over to watch the boys while my husband and I headed to the emergency room at St. Joseph’s Hospital North. I had already contacted my OB and let her know what was going on. She said she would notify the women’s unit that I was on the way.

That night was a bit of a whirlwind, with an IV started and magnesium drip for 24 hours to prevent seizures and constant monitoring of my blood pressure. It didn’t go down and stay down like it should so I continued to have IV blood pressure medication. Thankfully the elevated pressure did not cause my liver enzymes to elevate, HELLP syndrome or any other complications.

I was so fortunate and had amazing support while I was in the hospital. With my blood pressure being taken every couple hours, I would become anxious just knowing it was almost time to take it. Between my amazing husband, parents, mother-in-law, and best friends they stayed positive and tried to distract me so I would relax. Finally, 6 days later my blood pressure was under control with two oral blood pressure medications taken multiple times a day, along with hydroxyzine which can be used for anxiety and sertraline for the actual anxiety.

Coccia Family

April 20, 2018 By Kerri Kibbey

Full Name: Maisyn and Madisyn Coccia
Birthdate: 02/02/2018
Gestational Age at Birth: 32 weeks
Hospital: Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
Favorite Book or Toy: Penguins Can’t Fly

When my husband and I met, it was a type of love I can’t explain. We married and decided we wanted to expand our family. In August of 2017, our lives were changed forever when we found out we were pregnant with mono/mono twin girls. Mono/Mono twins are extremely rare. They share the same sac and placenta, which causes extreme concern for doctors and patients. There is a greater risk of cords tangling and the babies not equally sharing nutrients. For the next six months, we were in constant worry for our baby girls.

That October, I was at work and experienced an extremely high heart rate and blood pressure. I was sent to the ER, and I remember crying the entire way, not knowing what was happening. The doctors determined that the babies were not in danger. They placed me on modified bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy. I was overwhelmed with emotions.

We began seeing a high-risk doctor and learned that I would need to be inpatient in the hospital beginning at 24-28 weeks pregnant. If all continued well, we would be admitted at 27 weeks. Our baby girls were little rock stars and at each bi-weekly check up they continued to do great.

On January 1st, 2018, my husband and I left our 8 and 5-year-old daughters at home with their grandparents as we drove the hour from our home to St. Petersburg to begin our inpatient stay. My amazing husband stayed with me every night in the hospital on a pull-out chair for 33 days of inpatient monitoring. I was extremely nervous during this stay. I only saw my older girls a handful of times, because at any moment I feared I’d be rushed to labor and delivery. Some days I spent the entire day hooked up to monitors for the protection of our babies. We ended up making it to our scheduled C-section date on February 2, 2018. Mono/mono twins are required to be delivered at 32 weeks regardless. I remember walking myself into the operating room not believing we had made it to this day. Twenty minutes later, at 12:29 pm we heard our first cry from Maisyn Olivia Coccia (Baby A, 4.14lbs) and twenty seconds after that, from Madisyn Grace Coccia (Baby B, 4.12lbs). Watching not 1 but 5 nurses, doctors, and neonatologists around each of our girls was one of the scariest moments. Minutes later they were whisked away to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Nine hours after delivery, I officially met our twin girls for the first time. Seeing both girls hooked up to monitors and intubated was something you cannot prepare for. Our journey in the NICU was stressful with its ups and downs. I sat in the hospital bed three floors away in tears, with a feeling of hopelessness. We spent the entire next day in the NICU just staring and praying. There are terms we now know that we never thought we would need to know–ventilators, CPAP, PICC lines, bradycardia events, apnea events, etc. Each milestone was amazing, from getting to hold them, wearing a shirt, meeting their big sisters, getting their PICC lines removed, to breathing on their own. It is an incredible feeling that rolls over your body when your tiny little miracles make progress.

Our girls were in separate rooms for the first three weeks they were in the NICU. I could feel that Maisyn wasn’t doing as well as Madisyn and needed her sister to make progress. They moved them to the twin room and both girls made tremendous progress. At day 32, Madisyn Grace was able to come home. This was another hurdle we had to overcome, bringing one baby home without the other. Since it was flu season no siblings under five were allowed to visit the NICU. The rule prevented Madisyn from visiting Maisyn, which in turn prevented me from seeing Maisyn as often as I liked. Maisyn truly needed her sister there to continue progressing. After a few days of feeling terrible about not seeing Maisyn as often, my husband called the hospital and within two hours, we were walking through the NICU doors with Madisyn to visit her sister. They had been apart for eight days. When we arrived, Maisyn’s heart rate was very high and as we placed Madisyn in bed with her, it immediately slowed down as she turned towards Madisyn and calmed down. It was one of the most memorable moments of our NICU experience. Five days later, Maisyn Olivia came home! Madisyn spent 32 days in the NICU and Maisyn spent 45 days in the NICU.

Since having our family home together, our girls have been thriving and doing wonderfully. We are truly blessed to have our girls home as we begin the next chapter.

When Mom and Baby are Patients: A Dad’s Point of View

February 19, 2018 By Kerri Kibbey

Adams Family

HRH Child: Perry James Adams
Parents: James and Jessica
Birthdate: March 1st, 2012 at 4:20pm
Gestational Age at Birth: 34 weeks

Jessica Adams did not plan to give birth early, but at 34 weeks she was going to have a c-section to give birth to her daughter. Jessica suffered from a pregnancy complication called Preeclampsia. Almost 6 years old now (Happy March Birthday!), Perry is a thriving, smart, fun, and independent little lady. Her parents say she is “petite, but mighty. When this girl puts her mind to something she makes it happen.”

When we asked Jessica about her support during this difficult time, she told us her husband, James, was her rock! “He totally stepped up and was there no matter what I needed.” But what is it like on the other side? To be the one to hold it all together at home when your journey to parenthood takes a turn you did not expect. We asked James a few questions in the hope to empower other family members that find themselves in a similar situation.

Do you have any advice you would like to pass along to other partners whose spouse is on bed rest or has a baby in the NICU?
If there’s one thing that I could pass along to others, it would be for them to be ready and more than willing to get involved. Also, be conscious of the role you play when it comes to not only the physical things but just as much to the emotional support. The partner needs to recognize the most natural experience for mankind (pregnancy) can also be the most stressful. But only if you let it. Lastly, let them know to see the big picture, relish in the experience and put momma and baby first.

What would you say surprised you most about your personal experience?
The most surprising thing that I recall is the overall physical toll this process can have on a woman. Bed rest is stressful but the anticipation keeps the excitement in the room. The recovery post-delivery was eye-opening to me. I believe living through this as a couple brought us closer. If there’s a NICU experience, there’s a great toll of pressure placed on moms to perform motherly duties in this environment. Again, I would go back to the statement that the partner needs to be willing and able to jump in and assist and put the mother’s needs first.

As a spouse, did you feel personally benefited from any of the items that were delivered in your partner’s HRH Bed Rest Basket and/or NICU Napsack?
I remember that just receiving a gift during this time brought joy to us. It was nice to be thought of and to know that there were strangers who cared about making sure our family got started on the right track. Lastly, it brought us closer to the experience but also reminds us that it takes people to give back to the next lucky person(s) so that they too can have the same great experience.

Jessica remembers how sweet it was to watch her husband step up as a new dad. He hadn’t spent much time with newborns and especially not a teeny tiny little 4-pound baby. He spent time with the NICU nurses and doctors to learn about Perry’s schedule, what to expect and asked all the right questions. The bond between Perry and him instantly grew strong and I was so proud of the amazing daddy that I knew he was! He would take sweet pictures and videos of her and bring them to me so I could see her. Then a LONG 36 hours after delivering her, he was able to take me to see her. I remember it was so late, close to 11:30 pm when he took me to the NICU. Seeing Perry and holding her for the first time was nothing short of amazing! It’s a moment that was so special and I will cherish forever! (good things are worth the wait!)

Wood-Mkandawire Family

January 16, 2018 By Kerri Kibbey

Wood-Mkandawire Family
Full Name: Remi Wood-Mkandawire
Nickname: Remster
Birthdate: July 1, 2016
Gestational Age at Birth: 34 Weeks
Favorite Book or Toy: Rubber Duckier Toy

Following a visit home to London (which I deliberated for months about taking while pregnant), I arrived home feeling jet lagged and decided to reschedule my 20-week ultrasound for 4 days until after the weekend. During the ultrasound, I was informed that I was in preterm labor and was sent directly to St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital for admission. My 2-year-old daughter Noémie, whom I had never left even for 15 minutes, was screaming in the corridor of my OBGYN’s office because “Mummy had gone into a room without her” (despite being with my visiting mother-in-law) to speak with the doctor about my results. The awful news, backed by the screams of my daughter, will stay with me forever!

My husband collected my daughter while I went alone to St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital, where I sat completely confused and upset. This is when I first met the amazing Dr. Karlter who introduced me to the unknown world of pre term labor. He informed me that my cervix was at just 0.9 (compared to an average healthy 4-4.5). I was in complete shock, but after some discussion, he agreed to send me home on strict bedrest with a re-scan 5 days later. No lifting, running, walking, exercise or movement at all. Basically, all the things I had been doing over the weekend, which I would not have done had I not rescheduled my appointment! I was so angry and upset with myself, despite the doctors telling me it wasn’t caused by something I did.

Bedrest at home with my 2-year-old was difficult and frustrating for her, but it gave me time to fly my mother out to care for her over the next 13 weeks. Nothing could prepare me, however, for the mental stress of the coming weeks.

On admission to St Joseph’s, I felt so alone, my world had blown apart. I felt so much sadness for my unborn baby and unbelievably devastated for my daughter. I also punished myself for flying long haul and overdoing it in previous weeks and worst of all feeling I had let my healthy baby down.

In the morning, one of my amazing nurses brought me a High Risk Hope (HRH) goody bag. It was so uplifting. I read all the stories of other women who had similar experiences which really helped change my mindset. It was a complete emotional rollercoaster and setbacks were tough, but my nurses and doctors were amazing. I stayed positive, kept myself occupied with a daily routine and ticked off the days on my calendar.

Missing my daughter’s milestones was so hard and feeling distant from my husband whom could only visit a couple of times a week was tough, but my nurses and techs were amazing and kept me going.

There were days when the contractions kicked in and filled me with dread, then the panic and fear that swept over me when I realized 28 weeks was a realistic birth gestation expectation based on my cervix length and the shocking reality of the statistics. However, after a few near misses, the doctors let me go home on bed rest at 33 weeks. 5 days later at 34 weeks, Remi Gabriel Wood-Mkandawire was born on July 1st, 2016 weighing 6lbs.

Remi was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and required assistance with his breathing and jaundice. He did great, came off C-Pap after 2 days, and we took him home 4 days later.

I cannot thank all the staff at St. Joseph’s enough. The fetal medicine doctors were fantastic, I am eternally grateful to you. A huge thank you to the OBGYN’s, the nurses, NICU nurses, techs, cleaning girls, and canteen staff, all of which made an impact on our journey.

The HRH bag is so much more than a bag of goodies. It was knowledge, which helped me process information that frightened me. It was hope through the stories of other women who had experienced preterm labor. It was comforting to see the pictures of other babies that were happy and healthy against the odds and inspiring to assist me to remain positive and structured. HRH knew what I needed before I did. The supply bag reminded me of Mary Poppin’s magical bag of everything “Practically perfect in every way”. Regularly if I needed something I would find myself wondering if “the bag has it” and sure enough it would!! It gave me a smile every time. I thank HRH from the bottom of my heart for all your amazing work, the small difference you’re making is so HUGE!