April Showers 2013

I am so excited about April Showers this year!! As many of you know, this is April Showers' second year.  However, this is the first year that all proceeds from this month-long drive will benefit the March of Dimes and the March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program.

The March of Dimes is an organization that is near and dear to my heart and the hearts of my family because of our sweet Caroline who was born 14 years ago weighing only 2.5 pounds and 6 weeks early. My mom developed toxemia while she was pregnant with Caroline for some unknown reason. The March of Dimes is working everyday to put an end to premature births and birth defects, and for that the Bagwells are eternally grateful for an organization like this one.

We were among the luckiest of the families because both Caroline and my mom recovered and are doing wonderfully today, but everyday so many families find themselves in a place of complete desperation because their baby will not be able to come home yet.

The NICU Family Support Program was designed to provide personal support and encouragement to the families in the hospital. This month, every donated item will be sent to the NICU Family Support Program at UAB. Also, this month I will be providing, via this blog, testimonials from families currently at UAB and those families who have been in the NICU.  Whether it is a one-day stay in the NICU or many months, each experience is just as terrifying and hits each family just as hard.

It is easy to donate items or dollar amounts and not truly be able to see who or what it is benefitting. I am hoping to provide that visual with each testimony. This is not to say that every donated item will go directly to the family that is mentioned in this blog, but my hope is that it will give a clearer picture of the families we are supporting this month.

Someone may look at this calendar and not understand why such simple, everyday items are being requested. However, these items are for families, parents and siblings in the NICU who might be far from home; families who were not planning on an extended stay in the hospital; or families who may not be able to get away to the local convenient store for fear of leaving their child in the NICU. These items are to help ease a family's mind, bring them comfort or joy, or just to make each day a bit easier.

Below is the calendar for the month of April.