Jacob and Joshua are turning 9 on July 27th and need your help!  Due to the current pandemic both their birthday party and the NICU golf outing that they were so eager to volunteer at have been cancelled, but that's not stopping them!  In leiu of birthday gifts they are asking for their friends and family to make a donation to the NICU so babies just like them can have future birthdays too.  

Jacob and Joshua were born 3 months early at 28 weeks.  Tiny and fragile they weighed 2lbs 1 oz and 2 lbs 10oz respectively.  They spent a total of 180 days combined in the NICU.  If they had been anywhere else, with any other team, I do not believe they would have become the healthy,  vibrant and strong boys they are today.  Scroll through the photo gallery to see just how far they've come.  These 2 boys love life and are so thankful to the doctors and nurses who became their second family.  They are proud to do all they can to help and love giving back.  It would mean so much to them to have your support, no amount is too small!

And to make this even more special, their little sister Elizabeth is also turning 1 on July 26th.  Her birthday is the day before their's and since she loves her brothers more than anyone else, we know she'd love to do her part to help too.  Thankfully she did not need to go to the NICU when she was born.  Instead the NICU team got to come up to the mom and baby unit to visit her instead, what a welcomed change.  They made our delivery so special and we are forever grateful they are a part of our family.  Please help these kiddos celebrate these special birthdays despite this pandemic!  We are beyond blessed by these 3 and want to do our part to give back so other families can bring home their own blessings.  Joshua and Jacob cannot wait to see the fundraiser total rise, giving back is so much better than any gift they could ever receive!

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at The Childrens Hospital at Saint Peters University Hospital is a 54 bassinet, Level III unit that is part of New Jerseys first state-designated Regional Perinatal Center. More than 800 newborns are cared for by the NICU each year, with length of stay ranging from 1 to over 200 days. No matter the number of days in the unit, the impact is lasting. The NICU team provides the most comprehensive neonatal care in the state for newborns and infants with medical or surgical problems and are continually recognized for the expert patient care provided. In 2019 and 2020, Saint Peters was the only hospital in New Jersey to be ranked in the top 50 in Neonatology by U.S. News & World Report. The NICU has also been awarded the gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence, a national three-year award that marks a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and achieving a healthy work environment.