My name is Tracy B. 4 1/2 years ago, my world turned upside down. I was having a perfect pregnancy when after only 30 6/7 weeks, I delivered a premature baby boy named Andrew Jacob. Andy was born at 3 lbs 2 oz and lived the first month of his life at Magee-Women's NICU. I was very confident in his care here because I actually work at Magee as an RN. Having a baby in the NICU is exhausting, emotionally and physically. I woke up early every morning, traveled to the hospital, spent all day with Andy, came home at night, called the hospital once or twice overnight to check on my baby, and did it all again in the morning. This is what NICU moms do and we do it happily. In addition to all of that...some moms, myself included, also pumped every 3 hours around the clock to provide our babies with the vital breastmilk that they would need to grow.
Every morning, I would quickly grab all of the bottles I pumped overnight and rushed out the door. It just became routine to stuff them all in an old lunchbox with an ice pack and go. And then....4 years later, I had this awesome idea. Why not fundraise to provide pumping NICU moms with thermal totes that they can easily pack up and take to the NICU every day? They would be more fashionable than the Giant Eagle bag or old lunch bag that most Moms use and they would effectively keep the breastmilk chilled for traveling! And so Totes for Tots was born.
Because of the generosity of many, MANY friends and family last summer, we were able to donate 70+ totes to NICU families at Magee. These special totes from Thirty-One gifts (where I am a consultant) brightened the days of so many NICU moms who didn't have time to run to the store to buy a proper thermal tote for their breastmilk. Additionally, I donated 100% of the commission that I earned ($250.00) on the totes to Pittsburgh's Project Sweet Peas which is an organization that provides care packages and memory boxes to NICU families at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and Magee. With that money, they were able to provide 15 families with care packages.
Not convinced that this made a HUGE impact in NICU families lives? Here are 2 notes received by Tracy from families who received a tote:
"Tracy, Thank you so much for the beautiful breastmilk carrier! My daughter was born at 27 weeks and we are so grateful for the gift. I wanted to make a donation to the fundraising you do to give more people like us such nice things-as you know it is difficult having a child in the NICU and your kindness really brightened our day"
"My wife received one of the cooler bags after our daughter was born at Magee 8 weeks early. It was very comforting to see the bag with a nice little note from Tracy. My wife and I felt that we in a way had a friend who knew what we were going through and was there to lend a helping hand. Thank you for your generosity. Who knew that a small cooler bag could bring so much happiness to a couple in a time of stress and excitement"
So this year, let's make it even better! Together, let's provide over 100 families with a thermal tote for their breastmilk! The cost of 1 thermal tote is approximately $22 dollars. With your help, we can raise enough money to help these special families that are so full of hope that their child or children will grow to be healthy and strong.
Please use our donate button to make a secure donation today! We will be collecting donations until May 15th. The donations to the NICU will be made in honor of Andrew Jacob who will be entering Kindergarten this fall. He is a sweet boy who loves soccer, sloppy joes, and drawing pictures of dinosaurs.
As before, 100% of my commission earned from purchasing the totes will be donated to Project Sweet Peas. And also as before, all who donate will be placed in a drawing to win free Thirty-One products!
Any amount that you can donate is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you all, so much. Please share our page with your friends and family. To those 50+ donors from last year, THANK YOU.
If you would like to make a donation via check, you can send your payment to
Tracy Brnusak
370 Millet Lane
Pleasant Hills PA 15236. Please make the check payable to Tracy Brnusak
Many Blessings,
Tracy, Steve, Andy, and Ben
Here is a picture of Andy and I last year before delivering all of these thermal totes!
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