Support a Family in Need this Holiday Season {URGENT}
I wouldn’t be where I am in my life without the support and generosity of others. At 19 I found myself frozen staring down a positive pregnancy test. I was sure I couldn’t support a child, I had no money, no real plans for the future and an unstable relationship. The odds weren’t in my favor. I didn’t have money for much of anything and went on public assistance so I could afford a few things for my unborn child, but I knew it wouldn’t be enough. I was surprised with a baby shower from an organization that provided me emotional support during my pregnancy. I walked into a room full of smiling women all ready to shower me with gifts and love. I’ll never forget their generosity and I’ve been wanting to support a teen mom in need ever since that day.
I couldn’t think of a better way to pay it forward than by throwing Carrie and William, a baby shower for their son Warren. This holiday season I am asking you to support these new teen parents who have faced incredible love, joy and loss this year after the birth of their twin boys at just 24 weeks. After with talking with Carrie, 18, this week I realized we had a lot in common. The youngest of four, estranged from our biological parents and a strained childhood. When I think about resilience, Carrie absolutely embodies it. She was taken away from her home at 14 and raised herself and her older siblings. I can’t fathom that she spend part of her pregnancy homeless and sometimes living in a tent. The many stressors of her life caused her premature labor, and they welcomed their boys on September 2, three months before their due date.
They knew they were in for an uphill battle, as the twins weighed just 1-pound at birth, but didn’t expect to lose one of their sons. At just six weeks old, little William Jr. passed away. A loss that is absolutely indescribable.
Carrie and William now live at Boston Children’s Hospital full-time spending every waking moment looking over Warren who grows stronger by the day. He is expected to be released this month after spending three months in the hospital.
The young family knows that the road ahead will be difficult, but they are motivated by the love of their young son. Though they are in a place where they cannot afford many of items that they will need once they leave the hospital, and they need your help. We need your help.
Later this month, I’ll be throwing a baby shower for the family, as they weren’t able to have one before the twin’s birth. It’s my hope that together we can shower this family with much needed support and encouragement and make things a little easier for them.
How You Can Help:
Your help is critical and I hope you can join us as we prepare to give Warren a happy homecoming. Through the generosity of Sili of MyMamihood and her connection with Pampers the family will be receiving a “gift of sleep” package, but there is still a need. If you want to support the family in any way please consider getting involved in one or more of the following ways:
- Purchase an item for Warren through their Amazon Wish list
- Donate gently used baby boy clothing and gear
- Attend Carrie’s baby shower in December near Boston (Date TBD)
- Donate gift-cards to the family (Target, Amazon, Babies-R-US)
- Donate money to help with funeral costs for William Jr.
- Send an encouraging card to the family
If it’s possible please send any gifts wrapped, ready for the new parents to open. Warren is currently wearing size preemie and Carrie is breastfeeding. A gift of any size and any support of any kind is most welcome and very very appreciated.
I hope you’ll join us as we join together to give Warren a fighting chance by supporting him this holiday season. To pledge your support or for more information please email me at alexandra@alexandra-elizabeth.com.
I hope you will share the following image with friends, family and on your social networks. Let’s really shower Carrie, William and Warren.
Thank you!
