NICU & PICU Needs!!!

https://www.facebook.com/HobsonStrong/ ‌I was recently able to visit the beautiful brand new NICU at our newly opened Children's Hospital, during my son Bryer's, hospital stay for a surgery. While I was talking to the Family Advisory Council a nurse approached and asked if there was anything that could be done for the baby she was caring for that day. He had just turned 8 months old, she explained, and has spent his entire life in the NICU. She explained how frustrated and sad he was to have to lay in his crib most of the day, since developmentally, he is at an age where he should be active and learning. She said when she would get him up to do his routine care, and interact with him he would smile and giggle and it was obvious he just wanted to do more, but unfortunately she had other babies to care for (like all the nurses) and couldn't spend much time with him. She asked if they could get some toys for older, able-bodied kiddos, like a jumper or exersaucer just so he doesn't have to lay in bed all day. Unfortunately his family doesn't come often to visit and hasn't even brought any clothes for him. Hearing this absolutely broke my heart!!! To hear of this little baby that knows nothing besides a hospital room, with little to no family or parental support makes me sick to think about. Right away I wanted to run out to the store and bring him toys and bouncers to improve his quality of life. This made me start to brainstorm and I reached out to the woman who is in charge of the Family Advisory Council, and I also contacted some NICU nurses who we came to know and love during our son's 109 day NICU stay. I asked what they needed and were lacking for the NICU babies. As it turns out, during the move from the old hospital to the new, in November 2017, they were unable to take any of their supplies. All the donated clothing, toys, crib mobiles, soothers, blankets, etc had to be left behind for sanitary precautions. They are in desperate need of receiving blankets, crib soothers, mobiles, and many more items to help make each baby and child's NICU and PICU stays as pleasant as possible, and help older babies with development. I set up this gofundme account to try and raise money to be used to purchase appropriate toys and items to be donated to our NICU & PICU in memory of our daughter, Ember Hobson.
If you don't follow our Facebook page I will give you a little of our backstory. On March 14, 2016 I gave birth to twins at only 23 weeks gestation. They each weighed 1 pound 3 ounces and fit in the palm of your hand. It was the scariest time of my husband and my life. Our babies were in a fight for their lives and given a 5% chance of survival. Tragically, we lost our daughter, Ember, at 15 days old due to a blood infection. We were absolutely devastated and heartbroken. However, we knew we had to stay as strong as we could for our son Bryer, who was still fighting for his life. He suffered brain bleeds at birth and required emergency surgery at 3 weeks old to have a shunt put in his brain to release the pressure. He remained on ventilators and breathing machines until 6 weeks old, due to his underdeveloped lungs, and needed to be on oxygen until 7 months old. He kept up the fight to live and, against all odds, was able to come home after a lengthy 109 day NICU stay. Because we were there so long we became very close with many of our nurses and doctors and became accustomed to the rollercoaster that is the NICU life. Our son is a living miracle, born 1 week before they even consider babies viable outside the womb. He has had a long hard road but he has far surpassed every prognosis from every doctor. He still has challenges and recently had surgery to get a feeding tube put in because he is labelled as "failure to thrive" because he is still so little and has eating troubles. But he has come so so far and his twin sister is his constant guardian angel. It would be wonderful to be able to give back to other babies and children that are trying to make it through the NICU and PICU right now. If you have new or gently used toys or items that you would like to donate we would be happy to accept those, too. Even if they aren't appropriate for NICU babies there are lots of other kids in the hospital that could use them. Thank you to everyone in advance for your help
https://www.facebook.com/HobsonStrong/