THE FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER | FALL 2016 grow with us! DIRECTOR’S LETTER s we move into our second from those we serve and from our sions in which TTMF has responded. Adecade of services and programs community partners, there are now a With a view towards formalizing for premature babies and their families, number of exciting actions being put and enriching our current programs TTMF is poised for growth. We are into place. TTMF has added a part-time and services, TTMF is reviewing the seeing an increase in the number Director of Family Services to its staff. logistics of adding an additional of premature births and with this This professional will thus extend our hospital to our network. We are also a growing need for our unique and looking at ways to add to our already compassionate support. Touching the extensive continuum of services. The lives of more than 1,200 premature “As long as there are preemies and Tiny Miracles Foundation is not about babies and families each year, we have parents who need our support, to rest on a decade of accomplish- learned that we are making a profound programs, and assistance The Tiny ments. Rather, TTMF will grow. As difference in the lives of the most Miracles Foundation will be there long as there are preemies and vulnerable in our community. parents who need to offer a hand and hope.” With a firm commitment to those our support, who need us most, we are now programs, and expanding and enriching all that we services to parents and preemies. In assistance The do. There is no doubt that TTMF will our tradition of responding to the needs Tiny Miracles be there for these very special infants and concerns of parents, this addition Foundation and families. Looking to the future, further advances our mission. TTMF will be there the Board of Directors has reaffirmed is frequently approached by other to offer its mission, and with a long-range plan hospitals, parents, and community a hand developed we are moving forward. organizations throughout the region. and hope. George Colabella Based upon experience and feedback To date there have been many occa- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS NEWS he success of The Tiny Miracles We are very blessed by a Board recruitment of our current Executive T Foundation is the direct result of Directors who show unwavering Director and Program Manager. Terri of the time, energy, and commitment volunteerism and dedication for all also helped bring awareness and of our dynamic Board of Directors. future families of premature babies in support for TTMF in the Westport TTMF is fortunate to have a diverse our community. community. We are grateful for her Board which includes men and Board Members Teresa Dusch and time and accomplishments. women with many varied skills, Rich Goldman recently stepped down Rich Goldman was our first male professions, and expertise. What this year. Terri served on our board board member. Happily, we added a they all have in common is their for 3 years, and was a leader from the few males in the past few years. He dedication to the TTMF mission. As beginning. Terri began helping TTMF began on our board in 2007, and was parents of preemies they bring with by leading the first “After the NICU” the leader of our strategic planning them a unique understanding of the program, creating a category of each year. Rich’s vision, strength, and needs of preemies and families plus specialists. Terri coordinated the Tiny BOARD PRESIDENT LEELEE KLEIN WAS a view to ensuring the excellence of Treasures Program in 2012, and led the RECOGNIZED WITH THE WOMAN OF our programs, services, and assistance way to the packing of 1600 bags that DISTINCTION AWARD BY DARIEN/NORWALK YWCA, FOR HER OUTSTANDING EFFORTS to the most vulnerable members of year! More recently, Terri served as HELPING HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES IN LOWER the community. We salute them all our Board Secretary and was heavily FAIRFIELD COUNTY WELCOME PREMATURE and say thank you for their service. involved in strategic planning and the BABIES INTO THEIR LIVES 2 THE TINY MIRACLES FOUNDATION | WWW.TTMF.ORG | grow with us! BOARD OF DIRECTORS NEWS, CON’T tenacity helped us push forward to new and fresh, which means new each stage of our growth, and was a leadership. I have been the President key advisor to me and Gwen. Rich for 7 years, and it is time to open pushed us to believe in the ability doors for new leadership and vision. to be who we are today. We are I am happy to say the wonderful and forever indebted to Rich for his huge dedicated Marisela “Sela” Esposito impact on the future of all families of has been elected as the next Presi- premature babies in our community. dent, and will take on her new role We cannot forget Jami, Rich’s wife, in January 2017. She has been working BOARD who also dedicated many years to side by side with me all year. She PRESIDENT Elizabeth (Leelee) Klein PRESIDENT ELECT Marisela Esposito our programs. We have been blessed will fuel the TTMF family for the VICE PRESIDENT Christine Yang by the Goldman family. coming years. I plan to remain on SECRETARY Robin Black Executive Board changes and elec- the Board and will remain as the TREASURER Ashley Dineen tions include our new Vice President Program Committee CO FOUNDER Gwendoyn Noto Christine Yang who is taking over Chair. Eric Broder, Esq., Lori Church, Patricia Cunningham, Leigh Elle for Patty Cunningham. Robin Black We also D’Andrea, Kristie Godina, was elected as our new Corporate plan to add Karen Green, PJ Marcella, Secretary. new Board Peter Olson, Peggy Sawala The biggest announcement this members in STAFF year is from me! I have been asking January, and PROGRAM COORDINATOR the Board for many years to look for we will make Jennifer Johnson a new leader. TTMF has grown to be those announce- FAMILY SERVICES DIRECTOR a very strong and significant organi- ments Leelee Klein Elisabeth Schneider FINANCE DIRECTOR Kerry Wagner zation. It is important to keep things in the New Year! PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR George Colabella STAMFORD FAMILY RESOURCE ROOM his past year the Stamford Re- place where moms, dads, and families Tsource Room was given a com- can go and find respite and tranquility plete facelift. Spearheaded by TTMF away from the glare of the Neonatal Lead Mentor, Peggy Sawala, and An- Intensive Care Unit. Here they can gela Lowy of Grace HomeStyleDesign, put up their feet, have a snack, watch the Stamford Resource Room is now tv, search the internet, or just close a warm and inviting sanctuary for their eyes for a few valuable minutes. families. These two dynamic ladies Not only did Peggy and Angela turn committed themselves to transforming a dream into a reality, they secured a waiting room area into a safe, warm, numerous donors to ensure that this welcoming Family Room. Peggy Sawala would be a true and lasting Family and Angela Lowy The Stamford Resource Room is a Room. “Thank you for all of the emails, phone calls, and visits we received while “I just wanted to thank Tiny Miracles during in the hospital. While we never thought we’d ever have a preemie, we feel my triplets stay at Bridgeport Hospital. Everyone was wonderful Things like the fortunate to have met an organization like Tiny Miracles.” fleece blankets are keepsakes I will cherish KAREN AND RYAN (BRIDGEPORT) forever.” CHRISTINE (BRIDGEPORT) THE TINY MIRACLES FOUNDATION | WWW.TTMF.ORG | grow with us! 3 MIR ACLE STORY BURKE FAMILY n the spring of 2015 my husband across Tiny Miracles online and with- ILiam and I were thrilled and ner- in 30 mins I was sharing my story vous to be expecting twin boys due at with the incredible Leelee Klein. She the end of the summer. My pregnancy was an invaluable resource and sup- was going extremely well, I was active port to me and my husband over the and feeling good. Then our appoint- next 7 weeks. ment for the anatomy ultrasound at On the morning of June 16th I 20 weeks changed everything. The ex- was bleeding and in a lot of pain. I pression on our doctor’s face changed knew we needed to get to the hospital to one of immediate concern and they quickly. Shepard Whitwell & Griffin informed us that I was showing signs Scott arrived at 27 weeks. of preterm labor. My cervix length was My emergency C-section happened alarmingly short. Thankfully, we were so fast that my husband wasn’t able to told the boys were healthy and grow- make it into the OR. Shep and Griff ing appropriately. Our doctor instruct- were so tiny and vulnerable. Griff ed me to stop working and put me on weighed only 1 lb., 15 oz., and Shep bed rest immediately. I was prescribed weighed only 2 lbs., 3 oz. The doctors medication that would hopefully slow the onset of preterm labor. I’ll never forget, shortly after being put on bed- “Throughout it all we were so rest, when one of my OBs said, “we’re grateful to Tiny Miracles and Leelee all very worried about you making it for the constant support, during to viability”. Having to stop teaching the whole process.” was depressing and isolating and, of course, I blamed myself. Next were weekly visits with our immediately whisked them away to Griffin and Shepard today doctors at Bridgeport Hospital. Some the NICU, where they would stay for weeks I appeared stable, and other the next three months.