Dear NICU Mama & Daddy,
Happy Easter! I know this is not where you expected to be this Easter, but here you are. It’s hard having your baby in NICU, but particularly on a special day such as Easter. Perhaps this is the beginning of a long NICU journey, or perhaps your NICU journey is almost over and your baby is soon going home, or perhaps you are scared of so many unknowns. Whatever you are facing this day…fear, sadness, anxiety, weary exhaustion, joy, or hope…I pray that you don’t lose sight of Jesus, that you are fixing your eyes, your heart, your prayers on Him. He promises that He will never leave us or forsake us, and that He will be with us whatever we face, that He is near to the brokenhearted, and that we are His beloved. In Zephaniah 3:17, He says: “The Lord your God is with you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Wow! He is with you, He can bring peace, and He rejoices over you with singing!
Easter brings so much joy! New life, Spring, Easter bunnies and baskets, and Resurrection…specifically, the resurrection of Jesus, our Savior. The first Easter was over 2000 years ago and it changed everything!! In that moment of resurrection, He overcame the enemy of death! John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes on Him will not perish, but will have eternal life.” The entire Bible is a story of God’s plan of redemption; it is the story of Jesus. Jesus alone brings hope, salvation, and forgiveness.
But why Easter? Are you wondering why your baby is getting an Easter bag, and why from Ashley’s Legacy? I’d love to tell you! 1) I’m a NICU nurse. I see how hard this journey is. I love the babies and parents who I care for, and this is my way of blessing you, of telling you that you are seen and that I recognize how hard this can be; 2) As a Christian, this day is an integral part of my faith and my love for Christ, and I want to share His love; 3) My daughter, Ashley, passed on to heaven Easter Sunday, 2019. I have chosen to honor her life in a meaningful way…Ashley’s Legacy. On the day we celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead, she was resurrected into His presence. I can only imagine what that was like to close her eyes on this earth and open them to beauty unimaginable!! Because of that first Easter, I will see her again in heaven; 4) My son, Zach, was a NICU baby. He’s now 26 and doing well, but I still recall the many emotions, tears, and the specialness of gifts received. (Side note: Zach’s NICU stay is the reason I became a nurse!!)
Whatever you’re facing today, Jesus has got you. He is the answer to whatever this day holds. He is risen!! May that reality fill you with joy and peace and hope.
Many people graciously donate to Ashley’s Legacy from my Amazon wish list, so that I’m not doing it on my own. People who love me and who love Ashley make this possible. The bags contain: candy and treats, a small notebook, a pink Ashley’s Legacy pen (pink is Ashley’s favorite color), a $5 Starbucks gift card, a homemade burp cloth by a very special friend, a small bubble wand, a cute painted small maraca, a small Easter bunny, a heart touchstone, and an Easter rubber ducky.
Six years after Ashley’s death, Ashley’s Legacy is the ministry God has brought about through my heartache. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, I know that Ashley is with her beloved Savior and that we will one day be reunited…forever! In spite of the daily presence of her absence, I have peace in knowing that we will be together again. No more tears, no more pain, no more sadness…forever in the presence of our God and King. And that, well, that brings me such peace and yes, even joy. And I have learned that I can hold both grief and joy together, often at the same time. It is not an either/or, but a both/and, for they both now exist within my heart. Easter will likely always be a day of opposite emotions…both joy and pain. And yes, dwelling in the space of these two extremes is ok. As a NICU parent, you likely have days of both emotions (and every emotion in-between!) A NICU journey is often two steps forward and one step back. Hang on, sweet parents. Know that your baby is in an amazing place, and has so many compassionate people caring for him or her. And most importantly, they have you!!
Ashley’s Legacy is my way of ensuring that Ashley’s name is honored and that her name brings joy to families who may be struggling with their baby’s prematurity or disease, on a day of hope, the greatest Hope ever given…Easter, a Savior…Jesus! He is risen!!
If you are or have been one of my NICU families, thank you for allowing me to be part of your baby’s first Easter. Wherever you are as you receive this Easter gift, I pray this this day is one of blessing and that this bag or basket will hold a small part of making memories with your precious baby. Each bag was created with much love and prayer.
This is my sixth year of making Ashley’s Legacy NICU Easter baskets (my NICU, approximately 30) and Easter bags (San Antonio x 2, Tulsa, Ft. Smith, Arkansas – 200+). A lot of amazing people give to allow me to have this ministry. If you would like to donate for next year’s bags, here is my Amazon wish list:
If you would like to donate, here is an Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1TN06DTFZ1E7D?ref_=wl_share (Some items are not yet listed as I don’t want them to expire within a year, so if you don’t see something, check back in about six months when I’ll be adding these items.)
Here are a couple of other links, should you like to read further.
Post from Easter 2020:
https://gaylaslife.com/easterhome-april-12-2020/
The story of Ashley’s last day:
