A Father’s Emotional NICU Journey
Written by Parent Support Volunteer Celeste Bared
Greek mythology depicts Mother Earth as giving life and nourishment to our bodies and Father Sky as giving light and air to energize our bodies. The nurturing presence of the mother is undeniably necessary for the growth of a newborn, especially one in the NICU. However, a father’s presence, although often overlooked or second in line, is just as imperative. Father Sky was clearly present in the halls of South Miami Hospital during Mr. Godinez’s journey in the NICU.
Juan David was born on November 2, 2020, to Frances and Juan Godinez. Juan David is the couple’s fourth child. Although Frances and Juan were well experienced in the birthing process, they could never have expected what was to come. After a 911 call and rush to the hospital, Juan David was born at 26 weeks. Mr. Godinez remembers feeling shocked to learn that his baby only weighed one pound, three ounces. After extensive gastrointestinal surgeries, the path to getting home was long and difficult. Mr. Godinez’s presence, however, never wavered.
It was after two weeks when Mr. Godinez finally saw his son breathing that the rollercoaster of emotions finally caught up with him. “Seeing him breathe on his own, my spirits returned. I finally had hope. I couldn’t stop crying,” he said.
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A Mother’s Day Celebration
ICU baby celebrated dozens of NICU mothers and their families at Baptist Health’s South Miami Hospital and Holtz Children’s Hospital at UM/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. ICU baby staff, tele-support volunteers, and youth ambassadors greeted NICU families at COVID safe outdoor events, the day before Mother’s Day. All the mothers were showered with much-deserved love and joy, as well as spa gifts and Baby K’tans! ICU baby also honored NICU dads with an early Father’s Day gift mug filled with goodies and siblings and babies received books and diapers and food boxes for the whole family! It was very meaningful for the NICU families and tele-support volunteers to connect in person after weeks or months of sharing their personal stories and NICU journeys on the phone. ICU baby also had the opportunity to express love and gratitude to the NICU dads, siblings, and babies too. ICU baby is grateful for the unwavering commitment from the NICU staff and administration at both hospitals and is truly thankful for the generous support and collaboration from the Healthy Start Coalition. We also would like to thank our sponsors at Farm Share, Café La Llave/ Gaviña Cares, and Smarts Starts Day School for their tremendous contributions to our events.
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Directors Award Presented to CEO & Family Committee
The Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative (FPQC) presented their distinguished Director’s Award to ICU baby’s CEO, Elizabeth Simonton, and the PAIRED Advisory Committee Members. The team has served as active collaborators in the formulation of a Skin-to-Skin Care initiative across the State of Florida and has advised on suggested best practices for family centered NICU care from a parent perspective. ICU baby was honored to be invited to partner with the FPQC leaders and this critical work remains ongoing.
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ICU baby Builds Stronger Connections with Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade
Miami’s 10 Days of Connection initiative paved the way for ICU baby to partner with the Healthy Start Coalition of Miami (HSCMD) this May. The goals of 10 Days of Connection include uniting community partners to break barriers and close gaps. Many NICU families are not aware of the resources available in the community to them once their baby is discharged from the NICU. The Healthy Start Coalition’s collaboration with ICU baby provided current NICU families with some much needed baby supplies and served as a platform to provide information to families about Healthy Start services. Manuel Fermin, CEO of HSCMD, joined ICU baby for one of our Mother’s Day events, and Jeannette Torres, COFS of HSCMD, participated in an informative Instagram Live!
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Join ICU baby to Parade for HOPE
Mark your calendars for ICU baby’s HOPE Parade in honor of NICU families. ICU baby will host its first annual COVID-safe, fun walk Saturday, November 6, 2021, to kick off World Prematurity Awareness Month. The HOPE Parade will bring together our NICU community in celebration of miracle babies and in remembrance of those who didn’t survive their NICU journey. Former NICU babies are invited to join with their family, friends, health care teams, and community members. ICU baby has started to plan this event but we can use your help! If you are interested in joining our committee or learning about sponsorship opportunities, please email events@icubaby.org.
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ICU baby Plans to Launch the NEST Platform
This Summer ICU baby will launch its NICU Empowerment Support Tools (NEST) platform, designed to increase parents’ understanding of the NICU and facilitate their engagement in their NICU baby’s hospital care. The ICU baby Team has been hard at work crafting an integrative website, a journal, and videos that will form ICU baby’s NEST platform. The NEST will be digital, on-demand, culturally affirmative, and linguistically accessible.
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ICU baby Youth Ambassadors Making a Difference
Written by Stella Bilirakis
The first inaugural term of the ICU baby Ambassador Program has proven to be extremely successful in its initiative to aid the ICU baby organization in their goal to support NICU babies and their families. Over the course of the 2020-2021 term, the ambassadors created their own t-shirts and organized and participated in the World Prematurity Day Parade, Project in a Box (the assembly of NICU Packs and Healthy at Home Care Kits), and the Virtual Storytime on Instagram during March in honor of Siblings Month. Moreover, the Youth Ambassadors developed their own individual projects such as NICU Awareness Day and Siblings Gifts. Most recently, the Youth Ambassadors organized the first Socks of Support Fundraiser, a project led by youth ambassador, Ila Urquidi, and her mother. Not only did this project raise over $4300 to be donated to the organization, but also provided an amazing platform to promote the awareness of ICU Baby on fun socks! Although this is the end of the first term for the Youth Ambassador Program, this is only the beginning of their impact on making a change.
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ICU baby thanks our Youth Ambassadors for their time, commitment, and passion in supporting our NICU families!
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ICU baby Spotlights Tele-Support Volunteers
April is National Volunteer Month! ICU baby held a special virtual celebration in honor of our tele-support volunteers. Although COVID health restrictions have kept our volunteers from visiting the NICU, our parent-to-parent volunteers continue making a difference in the lives of NICU families by offering tele-support. Despite the complexities of this past year, our team of tele-support volunteers have made the time to connect with NICU families and offer them much needed support during their NICU journey. ICU baby is forever grateful to our volunteers for their time, support, and dedication.
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Gratitude for Our Grant Awards and Foundation Support
ICU baby is a proud recipient of the Ocean Reef Community Foundation’s 2021 Community Grant award in the area of Health and Family Services. The Ocean Reef Community Foundation (ORCF) funds organizations that serve neighboring areas including the Upper Keys, Homestead, and Florida City. Many families that have a baby admitted to the NICUs that ICU baby serves reside in these areas and participate in ICU baby’s programming. The ORCF funds are specifically targeted to provide transportation support to families from this area who otherwise could not afford to visit their baby in the NICU without the additional burden of undue financial stress.
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Gratitude for Our Givers
ICU baby thanks all of the individuals, foundations, and companies who made monetary and in-kind contributions. We especially appreciate your support during this pandemic.
Marianella Pacanins Aranda
Nathalia Ashworth
Lisa Banegas
Nikki Baron
Marjory Bohlin
Claudia Lovera Deen
Mike De Palma
Haviva Gelman
James Herrick
Leah Jayanetti
Alissa Landin
Lori Maltz
Alicia Moraitis
Alex Rodriguez
Alexandra Rokaw
Teresa Salcedo
Carol Smith
Nancy Stuart
Ebony Ward
Donors that contributed $50 or more in March, April, and May are listed above. All donations, no matter the amount, are needed and appreciated.
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Can you help NICU families too?
Click on the link below to donate to our programs.
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ICU baby's Teammate of the Quarter
Ila Urquidi was born at 32 weeks weighing only 3 lbs 14 oz. After spending 6 long weeks in the NICU, Ila finally reached 5 lbs and was able to go home with her parents.
Ila is now a beautiful and inspiring 12 year old. She is a rising 7th grader at Westminster Christian School and a competitive dancer with The Living Dolls Dance Factory. She is proud to be a NICU graduate and loves sharing her story to offer hope to families with a baby in the NICU.
Ila joined ICU baby’s Youth Ambassador Committee as a Junior Ambassador. As our youngest Ambassador, she always brings forward creative and innovative ideas. Ila presented to her fellow Ambassadors the idea of having a sock fundraiser to raise funds to support NICU families. Ila alongside her mother spearheaded the Ambassador’s incredibly successful Socks of Support fundraiser. Furthermore, Ila was the top fundraiser, personally raising over $800! ICU baby is eternally grateful for Ila’s drive to help NICU families and honored to have her on our Youth Ambassador Committee.
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HELP WANTED
Are you interested in giving back to help future NICU parents?
ICU baby is currently looking for:
(1) parents with a baby born in the last 5 years to conduct a 20-minute interview about their Kangaroo Care experience.
(2) parents who are interested in helping us plan our NICU HOPE Parade - 5k friendship walk - scheduled for November 6th.
Contact elizabeth@icubaby.org for more information.
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Calling Former NICU Parents to Join Our Team
ICU baby is expanding its Bereavement Program and is looking for former NICU parents who are interested in joining our team and giving back in a meaningful way. Volunteers will provide grief support to NICU parents whose baby doesn’t survive. We welcome volunteers who speak English, Spanish, and Creole. Please email vanesa@icubaby.org for more information.
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ICU Angels
Even the smallest of feet have the power to leave everlasting footprints.
We, at ICU baby, remember our NICU families who have lost their babies this year. They will forever be in our hearts.
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Photos for ICU Hope
Calling all NICU families … we need your HOPE! … Please send media@icubaby.org a picture of your baby from the NICU and now! Please include the gestational age when born, birth weight, length of NICU stay, and how he or she is doing now. Please also include your social media information if you would like ICU baby to tag you. We will feature your baby on our social media to give current NICU the HOPE they need during their toughest NICU days!
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