Group Blog :: The Preemie Project :: It's for the Babies!

TPP President, Founder

Announcing our New Quad Cities Chapter!

Jun 07, 2013

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new TPP chapter! Trisha Poole, has accepted the position of Quad Cities Director. We are so excited to have her on our team. The QC Chapter will be supporting Genesis Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Davenport, IA.

Trisha’s TPP Story
We are excited for you to get to know Trisha Poole, QC Chapter Director. Here is her story…

In March 2010 we had a 1 lb 15 oz miracle baby enter the world 12 weeks early due to Pre-eclampsia and HELLPS. It had been a very rough pregnancy and it was a very difficult time for our family. The doctors had originally put me in the hospital in Davenport but then transferred me to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The doctors at the UIHC hoped that strict bed rest and remaining in the hospital for 10 weeks would keep me stable enough to deliver at 37 weeks, but my body had different plans Four days later we faced a life and death decision for me and my unborn child. The only way they could TRY to save one or both of our lives was to deliver immediately.

Prematurity and delivery had not really been discussed up to that point because there hadn’t been any signs of needing to deliver. We didn’t know what to expect and I remained out of it for the next day or so. This left my husband facing the scary NICU admittance all by himself. I don’t remember anything from the first day, which is when my husband says we named our daughter, so I say HE named her. Once I was able to go see our daughter I didn’t know if she could even survive since she was so small. We had never heard of a baby being born so little.

As the first week went along and I began to feel more comfortable talking to the doctors and I started to learn how to bond with our baby. When babies are that little and sick you are only able to place your hands on them. We were not able to hold her for the first time until after she was two weeks old (when they did brain ultrasounds to check for brain bleeds). Unfortunately, in the NICU, holding your baby is not something you get to do every day. So, we made sure we kept the little blankets we first held her with because that was a HUGE milestone for us.

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Posted by Laura Pabich on 2013 06, 07 at 2:02 pm
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Posted in: General Blogging :: Michigan Chapter :: Volunteer Opportunities

Laura Pabich

TPP President, Founder

Measurements Guide Revision and Bereavement Program Update

Nov 26, 2012

We are constantly striving to ensure that we provide our volunteers with the best information and the hospitals we support with what really works best. Over the years we’ve wondered if our measurements for the items we donate are “just right”. When I started working as an NICU RN, I discovered that our measurements guide wasn’t quite right for our bereavement items. I found that the guide was giving our volunteers the measurements for the baby, but it didn’t give any insight as to what the garment itself should measure.

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Posted by Laura Pabich on 2012 11, 26 at 4:04 pm
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Posted in: Volunteer Opportunities

Laura Pabich

TPP President, Founder

Only Four Days Left!

Nov 20, 2011

Thanks to your support, we have reached 50% of our goal to raise $2,500 in honor of National Prematurity Awareness Month. We only have 4 days left to reach our goal! All funds raised will go towards fabric purchases on Black Friday to support our programs.

The Joyce family once shared their story of how TPP touched their lives:

“One of the hardest parts of having a baby in the NICU is having to leave. After all, the obligations of everyday life are still there. I remember going home one day and when I came back there was a small bag hanging on her crib. I noticed her crib had the cutest little blankets and not just the plain hospital one. I looked inside the bag and thought it was a mistake and that those things belonged to a different baby. Inside there was a knit hat, a blanket and a sleeper sack. There was a tag inside saying those things were from the preemie project. I felt like my baby was so loved and that somebody, who did not even know us, cared for the two of us. It was kind of poetic that it arrived when I was gone and it made everything all the more special.“

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Posted by Laura Pabich on 2011 11, 20 at 1:01 pm
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Posted in: Events & Announcements :: General Blogging :: Volunteer Opportunities

Laura Pabich

TPP President, Founder

Support Babies During Prematurity Awareness Month

Oct 31, 2011

November is National Prematurity Awareness Month. In honor of this National event, The Preemie Project is launching a campaign to raise $2,500 from November 1, 2011 to November 23, 2011.

All donations will go towards our “Black Friday Fabric Fund”. This fund has been set-up to purchase fabric during Black Friday sales (on the day after Thanksgiving) to support our programs. Last year we purchased over 3,000 yards of fabric in one day! We invite you to visit our Facebook Page to see more photos!