Who We Are
SARAH’S SUNSHINE FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED OUT OF A DEEPLY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND A PROFOUND DESIRE TO MAKEA DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF FAMILIES FACING THE CHALLENGES OF A NEWBORN IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT(NICU).
ON FEBRUARY 29, 2024, OUR DAUGHTER SARAH WAS BORN PREMATURELY AT JUST 32 WEEKS GESTATION. HER EARLY ARRIVAL BROUGHT BOTH IMMENSE JOY AND SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, INCLUDING A 39-DAY STAY IN THE NICU. DURING THIS CRITICAL TIME, I FOUND SOLACE IN DECORATING SARAH’S NICU ROOM WITH HANDMADE CRAFTS. THESE SMALL, PERSONAL TOUCHES PROVIDED A SENSE OF COMFORT AND NORMALCY AMIDST THE OVERWHELMING HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT. IT WAS DURING THESE MOMENTS THAT I RECOGNIZED THE PROFOUND IMPACT THAT EVEN THE SMALLEST GESTURES OF SUPPORT COULD HAVE ON FAMILIES NAVIGATING SIMILAR JOURNEYS.
THERE IS NO WAY WE WOULD HAVE MADE IT THROUGH OUR NICU EXPERIENCE WITHOUT GOD’S GRACE AND THE BLESSING OF OUR COMMUNITY. THEIR PRAYERS, LOVE, AND SUPPORT CARRIED US THROUGH THE DARKEST DAYS, REMINDING US THAT WE WERE NOT ALONE.
THIS EXPERIENCE SPARKED A REALIZATION OF THE ESSENTIAL NEED FOR SUPPORT AND COMFORT FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES ENDURING THE STRESS OF A NICU STAY. DRIVEN BY THIS NEWFOUND AWARENESS AND INSPIRED BY THE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE OF FAMILIES LIKE MINE, I DECIDED TO CREATE A MEANINGFUL INITIATIVE TO EXTEND THIS COMFORT TO OTHERS.
IN AUGUST, 2024, I FOUNDED SARAH’S SUNSHINE FOUNDATION WITH A MISSION TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN THE NICU. OUR FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO OFFERING CARE PACKAGES, SUNSHINE BLANKETS, AND CLOTHING DONATIONS FOR NEWBORNS AND PREEMIES. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE AIM TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE BURDENS FACED BY FAMILIES AND BRING A TOUCH OF SUNSHINE INTO THEIR LIVES DURING THEIR TIME OF NEED.
