Support UH Rainbow NICU Families
Grace Evans came into the world on May 5, 2011, weighing only 1 lb. 13 oz. She battled several complications common to premature birth, but her biggest obstacle was severely underdeveloped lungs. During her stay in the Quentin & Elisabeth Alexander Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Grace received ongoing rounds of therapy to help treat her respiratory distress syndrome.
“We were surrounded by a dedicated team of nurses and doctors that became like family,” said Alex, Grace’s father. “The warmth of her NICU room, decorated with pink butterflies, was made even brighter by the kind little acts of caregivers, friends and family that often came in and out.”
Sadly, Grace lost her battle with lung disease on September 1, 2011. Inspired by Grace’s fight and in honor of what would have been her 10th birthday, her family created Little Acts of Grace, a fundraiser to support the UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital NICU Family Focused Care Fund. “As we reflect back on Grace’s NICU journey ten years later, it’s those kind little acts – those acts of grace – that bring us the most joy,” explained Alex.
UH Rainbow Babies & Children's is dedicated to patient and family-centered care. A NICU Care Journal was created for parents to capture their thoughts and emotions during their stay and help them engage in their child’s care. It allows them to note special milestones, clinical information regarding their baby and helps them feel empowered as an important part of the care team.
In addition to the journals, mobiles and musical equipment provide auditory, visual stimulation, and soothing sounds for infants in the Quentin & Elisabeth Alexander NICU at UH Rainbow.
“Every inch of the NICU supports a critical mission: giving each baby the best fighting chance to thrive while offering comfort and care for families,” said Patti M. DePompei, RN, MSN, President, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s and MacDonald Women’s hospitals and the Rainbow Babies & Children's Foundation Chair in Leadership and Innovation. “As the former NICU nurse manager, I know how stressful this experience can be on families. I’d like to thank Grace’s family for choosing to honor their daughter’s memory and also support the needs of our NICU babies and their families.”
Help Grace's family celebrate her life by making a gift to the UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital NICU Family Focused Care Fund.