Wherever You May Romy

Hi Everyone! 

We are Jessica & Kayla, two moms who have had NICU babes and understand the emotions that go along with the experience. In our rural communities, there are times when babies are born with or develop complications shortly after birth and need to be transferred to hospitals with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). As you can imagine, new parents are thrown into a whirlwind, and their only worry is being by their newborn’s side. In most instances, there isn’t a lot of time to prepare for the journey ahead. This is where Wherever You May Romy hopes to lend a helping hand. 

Our mission is to supply local hospitals in Southwest Wisconsin with Lands’ End totes and blankets to be given to families whose newborns are transferred to the NICU. On average, our hospitals transfer 10–15 newborns each year. We first strive to supply 3 hospitals (Southwest Health, Grant Regional, and Upland Hills) with enough totes and blankets to get them through 2024. If we find that your generous donations go beyond our goal, we will add other local hospitals to our list or add items, such as gas cards and other comforting gifts, to the tote. Our hopes are to continue this for many years to come. 

It is our projection that a $40 donation will cover one tote and a blanket, but any amount is greatly appreciated. 

A little about the two moms behind the cause:

In early July 2021, Kayla began having complications with her pregnancy and was soon transferred to Meriter Hospital in Madison, WI. Four days later she delivered Romy Mae, 14 weeks early. The survival rate at this prematurity is an amazing 90 percent! Unfortunately, Romy passed away unexpectedly after 23 days in the NICU, leaving a lot of people in our area with a hole in their hearts. During Romy's stay in the NICU, Kayla found the most comfort in bringing things from home. This included books to read, picture frames, and a big plush blanket to snuggle in. Kayla prayed for a way to keep Romy's memory alive in a long-term way—a way for family, friends, or anyone touched by Romy's story to help warm the souls of people in our communities. 

In August 2022, Jessica delivered sweet baby Jack on a Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning, Jack developed a spontaneous pneumothorax and was transferred to American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, WI. Jessica and Jared didn't have time to pack anything, but it didn’t matter because they were right by Jack’s side. During their stay, Kayla brought them a gift that would impact Jess for a lifetime. Jack was a warrior, and after 10 very uncertain and emotional days, he busted out of the hospital with a clean bill of health. 

Some stays in the NICU for newborns last a couple of days, while others last much longer. NICU healthcare professionals are truly one of a kind and do an amazing job at supporting families emotionally. However, there’s nothing quite like a friendly face or something to remind you of home. So, when Kayla's childhood friend, Jessica, found herself in the NICU just over a year after Romy’s passing, Kayla knew just how to comfort her. A big tote to carry all their stuff back and forth and a plush blanket to bring comfort to an otherwise uncomfortable situation were gifted. This gesture of kindness stuck with Jessica long after Jack was discharged. She too, wanted to take her family's experience and turn it into something amazing. 

And so, Wherever You May Romy came to life (with many mommy tears)! We are so excited for something so near and dear to us to blossom, and we cannot thank you enough in advance!