Greetings Family and Friends!

Boy, a year goes by quickly, doesn't it?  It is time for the 3rd Annual Totes for Tots Fundraiser!  Last year due to your generosity, we were able to donate 78 thermal totes to Magee-Womens NICU and 78 thermal totes to Ruby Memorial NICU.  For those that may not know, my oldest son Andrew was born at 30 6/7 weeks gestation and spent 1 month in the NICU.  When he was 4 I decided that I wanted to do something to give back to the many wonderful doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, etc who grabbed him up and took him to the NICU immediately after delivery and saved his little 3 lb life.  I decided that rather than give a one time gift to the staff, I would do something to help current NICU parents who are facing the same worry and stress that I faced 6 years ago.  Unless you go through it, you can not possibly begin to understand the helplessness that parents feel staring into an isolette at a baby that they can not hold, feed, or bring home.  One of the ways that moms can feel like they are a mom and not a spectator is to pump breast milk and bring it in for the nurses to feed the baby.  But to keep the breast milk safe, they must keep it chilled or frozen until they reach the hospital.  Many parents travel quite a distance to visit their little ones in the NICU and keeping the breast milk chilled can be tricky, especially since they aren't normally expecting to have a premie and do not have small coolers to transport their milk in....
And that is how my idea was born.  I take your donations and purchase Thirty-One thermal totes in colorful and cheerful prints.  With Andy's help, I attach a personal note to the tote for the NICU parents explaining our cause and letting them know that I understand their fears and frustrations.  NICU nurses hand out the totes to pumping moms.  The response has been overwhelming.  I have received many notes of thanks from the parents (see the most recent one below) and even several large donations from the recipients to purchase more totes for other parents like them.  Now that I am a NICU nurse, this is even more dear to my heart because I see the struggles that the parents face every night that I work.  So please, find it in your hearts to donate again!  Last year was such a success!  Over 70 of you donated and it was such a great feeling to deliver those totes!  The unit director at Ruby Memorial was extremely excited as they were working on a project to increase the amount of moms who were breastfeeding. 
To donate, please hit the "donate" button and go to our PayPal website.  Your donation will be secure.  The approximate cost of 1 tote is $22 but we will happily and gratefully take donations of any amount, big or small!  You do not need a PayPal account to donate.  If you would prefer to mail your donation, you can mail them to my house.  The address is:
Tracy Brnusak
370 Millet Lane
Pleasant Hills, PA 15236

The deadline for donations will be April 15th.  I am doing it a month early this year because Andy is a busy kid and our May is jam packed!  He loves soccer, Tball, and is taking swim lessons, too!  He is a very bright Kindergarten student and just won first prize for writing and illustrating his own 5 page book!  He is kind, loving, and generous and I am so proud of him. ** If you donate and have had or have known a NICU baby, please message me with their name and totes will be donated in their name to make it extra special for you!!!**
Please share this page with your own family and friends!  Last year, our fundraiser was featured in a UPMC system-wide email which prompted employees from other hospitals to do their own similar fundraisers.  It was also featured in a Magee publication.  You really make a difference!!!  Thank you and I am looking forward to reaching our goal again this year and donating 150 thermal totes!!!
***Also of note, 100% of the commission I make on the purchase of these totes is donated to Pittsburgh's Project Sweet Peas which provides  care packages, memory boxes, Halloween costumes, Christmas gifts, etc to the NICU babies!! ***
Many blessings xoxo,
Tracy