“I was going to be induced, so I knew she would be born early and that she would be in a preemie size clothing. My husband and I had a really hard time finding outfits in preemie sizes and that was a big reason we wanted to donate,” Anna Rudicel said of her one-year-old daughter, Eden, and their recent gift to Parkview Regional Medical Center NICU patients.
Although still a little “peanut,” Eden is strong and healthy thanks to Judith Kennedy, MD, PPG – OB/GYN, and her team. As a gesture of appreciation and an understanding for what NICU parents are experiencing, Anna and her husband wanted to do more.
So, for Eden’s first birthday, instead of presents, Anna asked that party guests bring a preemie onesie or outfit. Those who attended the gathering were also encouraged to bring an assortment of outfits for both genders. With around 60 people on her guest list, sweet little Eden collected more than 100 outfits for NICU patients, in both preemie and newborn sizes.
“The Rudicel family did not only partake in a selfless act of kindness, they also were able to give their daughter, Eden, a gift in itself. Eden will not remember the fact that she did not receive toys or presents, but she will always be reminded of how, on her first birthday, she celebrated her life and fight in the NICU by giving back,” Molly Gerke, child life specialist, said.
The gesture is a perfect example of how no act of generosity is ever too small.
