Brooks’ Boxes of Hope

On February 15, 2021, I delivered our firstborn son, Brooks Preston, at 31 weeks gestation via emergency C-section. Everything was going great in my pregnancy up until I got covid at 28 weeks and we were referred to MFM for follow-ups. Upon seeing MFM, there was fluid accumulation around Brooks’ heart and lungs and after being closely monitored, two hospitalizations, and multiple tests, it was determined Brooks was in distress and I needed to deliver asap. We spent three weeks at two different NICUs and our sweet baby boy gained his angel wings on March 7, 2021.

This tragedy turned our lives upside down and we experienced what no parent should ever have to. During our time in the NICU and afterward, we felt isolated, lonely, and shattered. We didn’t even know where to turn to as far as resources for infant loss and if there was such a community for support.

While being in the NICU is anything but easy, we found several items to be useful and of comfort during our time there. Some of these items were simply practical such as a reusable water bottle & gas gift cards. Other items provided us the opportunity to bond with Brooks which included the NICU bonding hearts and our journal to him. One way we want to celebrate our Brooks’ life & honor his memory is to help fragile families and their babies in the NICU and beyond by providing such resources. We decided to call these care packages "Brooks' Boxes of Hope" and one of our long-term goals is to officially obtain status as a non-profit organization.

Our goal is to deliver 15 care packages quarterly to three different NICUs which include CHOA, Northside Forsyth, & NMGC~Gainseville (each NICU receiving 5 care packages). Each of these locations holds a unique & special place in our hearts. Your generous donation will go towards purchasing these much-needed items to create the care packages which we are titling “Brooks’ Boxes of Hope”. Michael & I will be assembling the boxes within our home & delivering them to each NICU once they are assembled.

You can access the list of our medium-size and large-size box options on our website in addition to our Amazon Wishlist which has items specifically requested by CHOA. There is no donation too small and we truly appreciate your generosity and support in our mission while also honoring our baby Brooks in Heaven.