Hello to my Alden community, my name is Alannah Pionessa and I will be 8 on June 8, 2017. My mom asked me last week what I wanted for my birthday and I told her that I wanted to give every baby born in June in the NICU at Womans and Childrens Hospital of Buffalo a brand new soft snuggle blanket, and a brand new story book. You see on June 8, 2009 I was born at Children’s Hospital 9 weeks early with a rare birth defect that effects many of my internal organs. I spent 11.5 weeks in the NICU before I came home to join my family. I was so sick with many tubes and wires that my parents and grandparents could not hold me until I was a month old. All they could do for me was read to me because even touching my hands or head made me very upset. My mom read to me every one of the 80 days I was in the NICU. I also could not wear any clothes for the first few weeks until all my tubes came out, but the hospital blankets were scratchy and I didn’t like the feel of them. My parents were able to bring in some nice soft blankets that my nurses laid me on top of to make me comfortable which made me relaxed so I could grow and get healthy. I want to help the babies and parents in the NICU because the NICU holds a special place in my family’s heart and they helped me get heathy. I want to bring smiles to the mommies and daddies faces because my mom tells me that sometimes the NICU can be a sad place for parents.
My mom said the we can definitely help out a few babies, but we couldn’t afford to give every baby a blanket and a book, but that she would help me find a way to reach my goal. So I am asking my family, friends and my community to help me reach my goal to give a brand new book and a brand new soft blanket to every NICU baby born in June (my mom says there are around 70 beds in the NICU) .
I am collecting donations of new blankets, new children’s books or if you don’t want to shop, money donations and gift cards that I can go out and shop with my mom for blankets and books from May 1, 2017 to June 1, 2017. Donations can be dropped off at Pautler Chiropractic and Wellness at 13305 Broadway St, hours are Monday 1:00- 7:00 pm, Wednesday 10:00 am-6:00 pm, and Friday 10:00 am- 3:00 pm or at the Alden Advertiser at 13200 Broadway, Mon., Tues., Thurs. and Fri. 8 am-5:00 pm and Wed. 8:00 am-3:00 pm. If you have any questions you can call my mom, Heather Rust at 716-803-9914.
My goal is to deliver the books and blankets on or near my birthday on June 8, 2017.
Blankets & Books for Babies
