Every January, Joe and Amanda Pilger hold a fundraiser for the OSF St. Francis NICU in honor of their daughter Amelia’s stay back in 2010 where she spent 27 days in the NICU after having surgery for duodenal atresia. In the midst of their 5th annual fundraiser, Amanda shares that in addition to sending Family Care Thermal totes; they also provide gifts for the NICU nurses:
“In addition to the thermals that we deliver, that are filled with a handmade blanket, a handmade hat or bow, which a lot of hands make and donate. We put snacks in the pass, but right now I don’t think they are taking snacks because of COVID. We are doing this year a ChapStick, a tissue, hand sanitizer, a toothbrush, and face makeup remover. A lot of these women are going directly from the hospital that they gave birth in to the NICU, so they really are not prepared with these little extras that they might need. With the order we place for these thermals, we are able to get gifts for NICU nurses as well. It is able to make such a big impact not just on families, but on nurses and those people who are really loving on your baby when you are not able to be there with them.”
Thus far, the Pilger family has delivered over 500 Family Care Thermal totes.
