Recently, we dropped off our biggest check yet ($6,322!) to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Due to COVID, our smiles are covered but you can feel the excitement and happiness to be giving back once again, and this time our son Luca joined us!
When we started our organization 4 years ago, we had a dream to help other HIE families through providing proper medical equipment and our Hugs & Hope care packages; getting to make another huge impact like this has turned our dream into a reality. This money will go towards helping the hospital NICU purchase mobile cooling equipment, which will allow HIE babies to be cooled during transport rather than waiting until they arrive at a NICU. Every month, approximately 2-3 babies are cooled at Lurie's. In order to be cooled, an HIE baby must be hooked up to a proper cooling apparatus within the first 6 hours of life. Transport medical equipment shortens that time frame, allowing for the brain to slow the degenerative process which gives them a better chance at positive outcomes.
This is our second check drop off to Luries allowing us to donate a total of $10,322 towards HIE cooling equipment.
A tradition every August, around Leah's birthday, is to drop off Stan's Donuts to all the NICU staff at Prentice Women's Hospital, where Leah was born. During our month-long stay, Stan's was a comfort food we had frequently. Leah was quite excited to give the donuts to the team that once cared for her. One of our greatest gifts running our organization provides is the opportunity to teach our children the importance of giving back, and she's beginning to understand what it means to be sick, that she needed help when she was a baby, and that showing gratitude is important.
We want to extend the hugest gratitude and thanks to all of our Leah's Polar Hugs community for helping us give back to those who need it most.
Lastly, we were excited and humbled to be featured on Lurie's IG for their Mood Board Monday series. Check it out here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFZhcZdg5BC/
