When our daughter was born on 15th November last year, she arrived much earlier than expected and spent the first 45 days of her life in NICU.

Those 45 days were the hardest days of our lives. Life became hospital corridors, monitors, alarms, and learning to take everything one hour at a time. Anyone who has been through NICU will understand how completely your world narrows down to your baby. Nothing else matters in the same way anymore.

During that time, me and my husband stayed at the Ronald McDonald House.

It’s hard to explain just how important that place becomes when you’re living through something like that. It wasn’t just somewhere to sleep. It was somewhere we could step away for a moment, have a shower, make a cup of tea, sit in silence, cry when we needed to, and try to gather enough strength to go back into the hospital and do it all again. It gave us comfort, stability, and a sense of community with other families who truly understood what we was going through. We will never forget the kindness and support we experienced there.

This year feels incredibly special for us.

On 15th November, our little girl will turn one. A milestone we were once unsure we’d ever reach. Just two days later, on 17th November, it is World Prematurity Day, a day that means so much to families like ours.

To mark both of these moments, we would love to give something back.

We are putting together seven care packages, one for each room in the Ronald McDonald House at the time, with enough items for both parents staying in each room. These will be filled with snacks, toiletries, and small comfort items designed to make long, exhausting days just a little bit easier.

From our own experience, we remember how easy it was to forget about ourselves. There were days we didn’t eat properly, didn’t drink enough, and didn’t stop to think about anything other than our baby. We know so many NICU parents go through exactly the same thing. These care packages are a small way of saying: you matter too.

If you are able to contribute, no matter how small, we would be so grateful. Every donation will go directly towards creating these care packages and hopefully bringing a small moment of comfort to families who are currently going through what we once did.

A year ago, we were the parents relying on the kindness of others. This year, because of how far our daughter has come, we’re lucky enough to be able to give a little of that kindness back.

We hope these care packages remind parents that they are not alone, and that even in the hardest moments, there is still care, understanding, and kindness around them.

Thank you so much for reading, supporting, and helping us make this happen ❤️