21 GIFTS

Help us celebrate life with a little extra! 

We know from our own experience that the beginning of a child's disability diagnosis can be a lonely rollercoaster of raw emotions. In those early days, we were so in love with our darling Maia that we couldn’t breathe and so scared by the negative medical discourse that we couldn’t sleep…And that is why we started 21 Gifts!

About 21 Gifts: A suitcase for a new adventure

21 Gifts is a kindness project to rewrite the opening act of a child disability story through the symbolic power of a "welcome-to-the-world" suitcase. What started as a passion project has turned into a movement, with hundreds of health professionals in more than 120 hospitals across Australia and New Zealand delivering our free suitcase to new families at point of a Down syndrome diagnosis. From 2023, by popular demand from hospitals and families, we are also delivering suitcases to babies diagnosed with Cerebral palsy.

The "suitcase for a new adventure" is packed to the rims with love, inspiration, gifts, helpful information and all the things you didn't know about the joys of life with an x-factor of opportunities.

We dream big: A future where every hospital in Australia and New Zealand have partnered with us, and where the medical community understands that while this is a time of confusion for new parents, it should also be a time for celebration of the little baby in front of them. We work to create systemic change, where every baby born with a disability is welcomed, not with sorrys, but with kindness, wonder and a focus on all the opportunities ahead.

How can your donation help? 

Each suitcase is valued at around $100. When we started this project, we aimed to send out 200 suitcases in the first year. But - thanks to the amazing health professionals who jumped onboard faster than we ever imagined - we have already distributed more than 700 suitcases! With the demand soaring from all the wonderful health professionals who want to spread hope at time of diagnosis... Well, we need your help! 

Any contribution is welcome, and if you'd rather donate specific gifts or want to contribute with handmade love, please get in touch directly. 

By popular demand from the hospitals, we are also developing "A health professional's guide to talk about a child diagnosis" that will be distributed to all our hospital partners and beyond via a medical outreach campaign. 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts - we cannot wait to spread kindness like confetti with you! 

Daniel, Ingerlise, Mel & Sarah

https://www.twentyonegifts.com/