Gracie's Gowns
Follow Gracie's Gowns on Facebook
  • Home
    • Our Story
    • Programs
    • Our Sponsors
    • Contact
    • In the News
  • Request a Gown
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • How to Help
    • Donate
    • Sewing Opportunities
    • Shop
    • Events >
      • Crawlin'4 Gracie's Gowns
  • Our Angels
  • Giving Back
    • Gown Donations
    • Hem/Onc Donations
    • Fabric Donations
    • Pampering Kits
  • Our Blog

Giving Back - Beyond our Surprise Boxes

7/27/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Throughout the year, Gracie's Gowns gives to other organizations as well. Whether it is extra fabric from gown requests, fabric that just isn't quite best for gown requests or even items we have made to be given to other organizations.

I always feel it is important to support other organizations, not only because they support our mission and endeavors, but because many times more than not, they work with a lot of the same children and families that we do...and that is one of the amazing blessings that has come from starting Gracie's Gowns.

So here is some of the places we have paid it forward to this year so far. 

The first one is Madelyn's Hats, which is operated by Melissa in honor and memory of her mother. Melissa makes chemotherapy hats for women battling cancer (and I believe she does make them for children too, though, please do not quote me 100% on that one). We met Melissa on our own Facebook page through a post and just love what she does, so in our donation to her, we included some of our leftover sports team fabrics, and many of the more adult oriented prints and some prints that were too small for gowns, but are the perfect size for her hats.

Picture
Another donation we sent out this year was to another organization called Socks 4 Surgery, which is operated by Ellen. Many of you have probably heard about Socks 4 Surgery if you've been on Facebook for a while and are in groups for parents of children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. 

Ellen makes amazing onesies, T-shirts, and of course socks, all themed around birth defects and medical conditions. When we moved last year, I packed up my sewing area for not only Gracie's Gowns, but all the years of sewing prior to that which was for business. While unpacking, I found these onesies and T-shirts and immediately thought of Ellen and wanted to send them to her. In that conversation we learned her family member had cancer and was a huge Cleveland Browns fan, so with the onesies, we made a chemo bag cover from remnant fabric from gowns and sent it as well. 

Picture
The other larger fabric donation we have made so far this year was to an organization we have supported several times of the last couple of years, Bee Brave. 

The majority of the time we are sending smaller scrap pieces, but this time we had several large pieces of fabric we had already cut into multiple gowns and then we had several pieces that were just too heavy of fabrics for gown requests, but would be perfect and durable enough for their Busy Buddies. 

Melissa (must be an awesome name for starting organizations), has just recently moved, so Bee Brave is taking a little break while they are getting settled and set back up, but they should be up and running soon! They make amazing activity trays for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. 

Picture
Lastly, we have a NICU Smock donation to add to the year. This is separate from our usual NICU surprise boxes because they are not only a part of another organization's care packages, they are for Christmas time. 

Handful of Hope puts together NICU care packages for different holidays throughout the year for Penn Highlands Healthcare in DuBois, Pennsylvania. We have sent them some Christmas gowns in the past and were more than honored to do so again this year. Each year they put together around twenty care packages, so we sent over a few more in case there are several being admitted and discharged from the NICU again this year, or even to go towards next year's care packages. 


No worries, we have been sending out NICU surprise boxes and I do have to get caught up on writing about them, but while I was going through pictures on the computer and updating the website I wanted to share some of the behind the scenes fun we've been having.

Hope everyone has been enjoying their summer so far!

Much Love and Many Blessings,
       Jessica

0 Comments

Operation NICU Surprise - Johns Hopkins Children's Center (Maryland)

7/11/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Our second NICU we chose to receive a box of NICU Smocks was Johns Hopkins Children's Center NICU located in Baltimore, Maryland. They have a state of the art NICU that was built in 2012 and it includes 45 private NICU beds. They services neonates with all sorts of complex congenital birth defects and disorders in addition to the little ones just born too soon. The thing I love the most about their new NICU is that each room has the ability for a parent to stay in the hospital with their baby, something most NICUs don't have, well many intensive care units don't have that, even the ones for adults. You can learn more about the NICU and what they offer through their website at: http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/neonatology/

Picture
Johns Hopkins Children Center's NICU was nominated by Adrianne in honor of her son Xavier who was cared for by the wonderful doctors and nurses in the NICU. Xavier was born with more complex issues than just premature delivery, but the doctors and nurses went the extra mile to care for him through it all. This was a few years before the new facility was built, but Adrianne was awesome in sharing with us some photos from and (and now). You can read their story below in her own words.

My son, Xavier (now 5), was born 4 weeks early due to low amniotic fluid. I had a normal pregnancy and didn't expect anything different despite his late prematurity. Little did my husband and I know that on Friday March 13, 2009 things were about to change dramatically. When Xavier was born (at 4lbs) there were immediate signs of distress...he had difficulty breathing as well showing signs of seizures. He also looked different than typical children. He was born at a hospital close to our home that had wonderful OB/GYN and infant care. But despite their best care we were told they were unable to provide enough support for Xavier in their NICU. We were told on his fourth day of life that he had to be transferred to Johns Hopkins in order to undergo further testing and access to doctors skilled in more complex cases. We were in shock to say the least. We were not expecting any of this and suddenly our lives were turned upside down. Getting to the NICU at Hopkins was a whirlwind of nurses, doctors, and tests. I have to admit I was bitter and just wanted to bring my son home and not have him poked and prodded. We were told that Xavier likely had a genetic syndrome and he was, in fact, experiencing seizures. He also had to learn to breathe and eat on his own. It was noted that he also had a number of congenital anomalies. Xavier spent a total of 32 days in the NICU and in that time my husband and I created relationships with doctors, nurses, and even other families that last until this day. They rallied in our highs and supported us in our lows. Xavier's nurses gloated at the fact that I was able to provide him solely with enough fresh breast milk and at the skill of his dad as he was the only one Xavier would drink from a bottle for. They called us immediately with good test results and sat with us to understand more difficult ones. In that time out dread and fear were able to be calmed by simply talking with the nurses about "normal" things. We joked, talked about the weather, and we brought them food (a fed nurse is a happy nurse lol). When the day came for X to come home our doctor met us in the hallway singing the Rocky anthem as we strolled X's stroller into the NICU. You never want to see your child go through such difficult things but I know our son was in the best hands. 2 years after his birth Xavier was finally diagnosed with a rare genetic syndrome called Schinzel-Giedion syndrome. He's one of approximately 12 kids worldwide. We would have never gotten this diagnosis had it not been for our geneticist and genetic counselor...providers who have been with us since the NICU. We have been with our different specialists through surgeries and hospitalizations. Each year we attend the NICU reunion to see the nurses and other babies who were with us from the beginning. Xavier has even attended daycare and now school with the little girl who was next to him in the NICU. We never expected to have a child with special needs but we are fortunate and forever thankful to the staff at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center NICU.
Picture
Picture
Thank you so much Adrianne for nominating Johns Hopkins Children's Center and for sharing your story with us and our followers as well - the NICU Smocks have already made their way to Johns Hopkins Children's Center (they were mailed the first week of this month) and we hope they bring many smiles to the facility, but even more so to the families that receive one of them for their little one. Here are a few pictures of the gowns and because my oldest colored the box so pretty, she insisted I share a photo of that as well.
Picture
Picture
Picture
When we have more sewn and ready, we will work on pulling some more NICU nominations and dispersing them to other hospital around the United States and the world. It is such a blessing to send these everywhere we can, but even more so to wrap the littlest miracles in something comfy of their own.

Have a beautiful weekend!
Gracie's Gowns
0 Comments

Operation NICU Surprise - Tripler Army Medical Center (Hawaii)

5/20/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Earlier in the month we asked everyone on our Facebook page to nominate a NICU and/or Hematology/Oncology unit or clinic that was there favorite to receive a special surprise from Gracie's Gowns!

We are choosing two NICUs and two Hematology/Oncology units from those nominated to receive a special box from us. The first NICU was chosen - and it is going to Tripler Army Medical Center's NICU in Honolulu, Hawaii! Jennifer nominated the hospital after her son Colton (who is also a Gracie's Gowns recipient) was born and cared for by the NICU staff. She was awesome enough to include a story of his stay and just how wonderful the staff was - and some sweet photos to share as well!

Picture
Here is her precious Colton when he was born and cared for back in August of 2011. She includes the following about the hospital and staff at Tripler Army Medical Center's NICU.


"Our son was in the NICU for 12 days in August 2011. Our pregnancy with my son was very rough. Not many doctors believed he would make it or he wouldn't live long after brith. The NICU was just very amazing with him. They did everything they could to help him and it was so nice to finally have someone believe in him. They felt like family to us when we were there. And they just went above and beyond for my son. The NICU staff was just amazing! My son had an MRI when he was 1 1/2 months old and they let my son back into the NICU to be observed overnight bc they knew I was very uncomfortable with him going to the PICU with a bunch of sick kids. They were very understanding and cared very much for my son! And being a Military Hospital a lot of kids are in there with just one parent and no other family members to help them out during a stressful time in life and they could use a little a cute hospital gown!"

The photo above on the left is Colton in his gown from us back in September of last year (2013) and the photo on the right is him today at 2.5 years old! Look how much he has grown and how precious that smile is!! Way to go Colton - you've come so far and we have no doubt it was because of the fabulous start and care you have received since coming into this world! 
Picture
So what's the surprise we're sending to Tripler Army Medical Center's NICU?

Well, we are sending them thirty NICU smocks to be distributed to the babies they care for! We know it doesn't remotely even make a dent into the 1,100 babies they serve annually, but at least there will be thirty styling babies this year!

These will be sent out this week to Hawaii and we hope they are received with much love and bring many smiles to the families that receive on of the gowns!

Picture
Thank you Jennifer for nominating Triple Army Medical Center's NICU and sharing Colton's NICU story with us and allowing us to share it with all that may read our posting!

Thank you as well to Kim for sewing pretty much every single one of these thirty gowns going to the NICU (after we drew the name - we learned Kim's granddaughter was born at this hospital as well, but fortunately did not need to be admitted to the NICU). 

Stay tuned for our second NICU to be drawn once we have the items completed - but also for our Hematology and Oncology units/clinics to be chosen!

Lots of Gracie's Gowns cuteness to come!
0 Comments

Donation to the Little and Dependent

1/25/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Eastern Tennessee Children's Hospital is one of the most amazing children's hospital in the country. Not only do they care for a variety of pediatric illnesses and needs, but they have a super special NICU. 

The reason their NICU is so special is because they are one of the hospitals that treat the highest number of drug-dependent newborns in the United States. And we aren't talking street or illegal drugs...these are prescription pain medications and most obtained under normal circumstance.

These babies are weaned off prescription medication, by being given doses of morphine until they are able to tolerate being completely off any kind of opiate. This process can take days and week to accomplish. The unit can hold 49 infants and over half of them are born with neonate abstinence syndrome (drug-dependent), these babies have to be watched around the clock for seizures and even worse, in case they stop breathing.

Picture
When I was in college, this was a topic I was starting to write a research paper on...it is a personal subject as my youngest was born drug-dependent and not because I misused my pain medication, but because I was given excessive amounts of pain medication between all of our admission during pregnancy for pre-term labor and for the amount of pain I was in throughout the entire pregnancy because of the amount of scar tissue I had and two pregnancies very close together and severe anemia issues as well. 

Only problem was, when she was born, we didn't know what was the cause of all the problems we had in the first two months of her life, until I happened to read a forum on drug-dependent babies and all the pieces fell into place. It was scary.

Picture
So when Ellen from Socks 4 Surgery posted the articles published in 2013 about Eastern Tennessee Children's Hospital and what their NICU was doing - we decided that some extra comfort needed to be sent to these precious little ones as well.

Ellen sent out socks and hair bows and in her awesomeness asked if we had any gowns that we could send their way as well. I had to wait until I got back to the house and went through what we already had sewn NICU Smock wise and put together a box that we will be sending out the the hospital this Monday.

Picture
So in total we have twenty-eight gowns headed to the hospital's volunteer services and some of our brochures to be used throughout the hospital for other children that may want a gown of their own as well.

We will keep praying for the hospital's staff and volunteers that are working with and caring for these precious babies and their families. We pray for the babies and their families as well through this rocky start to their journey and lives. 

We hope these gowns find each little doing the best they can and provide them with a little extra comfort.

Picture
Clicking on the picture above will take you to a brochure (PDF Format) the hospital has created on Drug Use during Pregnancy and about Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.
0 Comments

    Archives

    October 2020
    January 2020
    May 2019
    March 2019
    August 2018
    July 2018
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012

    Categories

    All
    Angel Love Boxes
    Autism
    Awareness
    Bake Sale
    Bead
    Beads Of Courage
    Bee Brave
    Big Latch On
    Blanket
    Brain
    Brayden
    Breastfeeding
    Build A Bear
    Build-a-Bear
    Busy Buddy
    Butterfly
    Caringbridge
    Cathedral
    Chartres
    Chd
    Christmas Box Project
    Cope
    Cure
    Daysforgirlsinternational
    Donations
    Dreams
    Drug Dependent
    Drug-Dependent
    Event
    Fabric
    Facebook
    Faith
    Family
    Fear
    Feeding Tube
    Fingers
    France
    Fundraiser
    Goals
    God
    Gracie's Gowns
    Gracie's Gowns
    Handful Of Hope
    Harley
    Healing Helpers
    Healing Helpers
    Heart
    Hope
    Inspire
    Invisible
    Juvenile Dermatomyositis
    Kamsnaps
    Karingforkyler
    Lia Sophia
    Lilahroo's
    Loss
    Love Monster
    Madelyn's Hats
    Maggie's Sticker Box
    Mothers
    Mps
    Mucopolysaccharidosis
    Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
    Neuroblastoma
    Neuropathy
    NICU Smock
    Nursing
    Nursing Cover
    Nursing Pad
    Pampered Chef
    Payitforward
    Pediatric Cancer
    Pink Cocoon
    Prayer
    Pregnancy
    Promise
    Quilt
    Raffle
    Record
    Remembrance
    Scentsy
    Selvage
    Sensory
    Siblings
    Socks4Surgery
    Special Needs
    Special Needs
    Sponsor
    St. Jude
    Sugarbooger
    Surgery
    The Gocf
    Timbuk2
    Toes
    TPN/Tube Feed
    Travel
    Treatment
    Tubies
    Weighted Blanket
    World
    Worry
    Yard Sale
    Yowell Meadow Park

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly