Women Helping Women!

Denise Bentley is in one of my networking groups and is a beautiful person with a beautiful story about her premature twins. She needs some help reaching out to local businesses for silent auction items for a fundraiser coming up for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Please read her story below. Her email is dbentley@sbconsultants.biz

Donations are ranging from $100 in value on up, so get creative and donate something for the auction and/or spread the word to your friends and colleagues.

Blessings,
Kelli Grant
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Dear Friend,

In December 2004, after many years of trying and losing the battle to get pregnant, after numerous miscarriages and many tears, my husband Rob and I were delighted to discover we were successfully pregnant with twin daughters.

It was a rough pregnancy that included 6 weeks hospital bed rest for me. I never left the hospital until the girls were born and, most difficult of all, I left the hospital without my new precious baby girls.

Ashton Reese and Sydney Monet entered the world June 30, 2005, a full 10 weeks before they were due to have been born. They came into the world weighing less than 3 pounds each and were so fragile that I was not even able to hold them or look at them until after they had been rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to save their tiny, underdeveloped lungs.

Over the next two months, the girls battled blood transfusions, brain bleeds, treatments for pneumonia and other respiratory complications. They had other complications such as trouble maintaining their body temperatures as well as difficulty sucking, breathing, and swallowing. The girls had to learn how to breathe while eating; eat enough to gain a healthy weight and many other obstacles. Over time, the girls slowly grew and gained strength. After a 2 and half month stay in the NICU, the girls finally came home at just 6 pounds each.

The doctors, nurses and support staff at Scottsdale Shea NICU were our biggest cheering squad and still check in on our progress from time to time.

Ashton and Sydney had a tough start in life, but thanks to the NICU, most of that is now forgotten.

Many other preemie babies have a similar, if not more challenging beginning. Some preemies make it and, unfortunately, some are now angels hoping for a second chance for their parents.

Seconds count in responding to a premature baby in distress and the Scottsdale Shea NICU was created with a uniquely built design that unfortunately requires the staff to leave the bedside of an infant if they need to race for help.

We, the parents of the NICU, are helping the unit to raise $50,000 for a new emergency response unit similar to what your local firefighters and police use today to respond in an emergency.

We, Ashton, Sydney as well as their mom and dad, are hoping you can offer any assistance to help us with our NICU fundraiser event being held March 17, 2007 at the DC Ranch Country Club.

We are looking for auction items that can be donated to the event to help raise money and/or sponsorships to help meet our goal.

Please see the attached donation request letter, if you choose to donate, feel free to call me and I will pick up any donated items.

Thank you for your generosity and the chance for other preemies to come home and smile for their parents too.

With love and tiny hugs,

The Bentley family

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A fundraising dinner will be held on March 17, 2007. The dinner will be held at Country Club at DC Ranch. You can help by donating a prize for the silent auction that will be held that evening!

The Bowe Special Care Nursery is a designated Level 2 Enhanced Qualifications neonatal intensive care unit. Located within the Family Birthing Center at Scottsdale Healthcare Shea, the nursery cares for infants and families who require services that are more advanced.

Scottsdale Healthcare is a non-profit comminity hospital system. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Denise at dbentley@sbconsultants.biz, or call Joanne Gain, Vice-President, Annual & Major Gifts at 480-882-4541