Paying it forward

Holly Natale, left, and Jacqueline Fox, right, donate gifts to
NICU manager Michelle Kelly  for Moms at Texas Health Plano .

Jacqueline Fox knows how tough it is to be a pregnant Mom on bedrest or to have a preemie in the neonatal intensive care unit.

That’s why this Mother’s Day, instead of getting pampered, she organized a mom-to-mom gift exchange at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano – for Moms facing those medical challenges this holiday, from Moms who have previously been in their place. A total of 16 Moms donated 37 gifts for Moms spending part or all of Mother’s Day in the hospital.

“We wanted to do something to make these moms feel supported,” Fox said of the first Adopt-A-Mom event. Fox organized the event through an organization she founded called Dallas Preemie Parents.

Fox’s oldest son was born at 30 weeks and spent two months in the NICU at Texas Health Plano when he was born in 2010.

Then in June last year, Fox was admitted to the High Risk Obstetrical unit at the hospital when she was pregnant with her second son.

“During this time I looked forward to the Antepartum support groups but still felt alone,” Fox said. “I searched for groups online and other Moms to connect with but did not feel supported. I knew that Moms both in Antepartum and in the NICU would need an extra push this Mother's Day to remind themselves that they are Moms and they are important.”

While most people understand how tough weeks on bedrest or visiting your baby in the NICU is tough, Moms who experience either also face losing their ideal birthing plan, Fox said. “We want to support all of our Moms and allowing former Moms to give back is one way we are supporting them.”