As many of you know, HOPE provides roughly 50 to 60 baby showers every single year. These showers are a consistent highlight to our year as we get to experience the love of a mother for her child, the outpouring of support from our community, and the impact love has on broken situations.
We recently hosted seven of these baby showers at HOPE. Local groups showed up, decorated, and prepared food as we celebrated the gift of life. It was truly an amazing couple of days to share these wonderful moments with our patients. One of these patients, however, was unable to make it to her shower because her water broke. This patient actually took the time to call us in the middle of going into labor to let us know that she would not be able to make it.
This news did not stop our staff as one of our Nurse Practitioners, Christy, loaded up her car and took the gifts to the hospital so this patient could experience her baby shower. Upon arriving at the hospital, Christy noticed that the patient was all alone. This is when Christy realized that her work wasn’t done. She wasn’t going to just quickly stop by and drop off gifts. She was prepared to be there for this young mom and her baby.
Christy did, in fact, stay for the delivery, but she wasn’t the only HOPE representative in the room. This baby was actually delivered by one of our Medical Executive Committee members!
Some of the nurses at the hospital were unaware of HOPE and the work we do. They didn’t understand who these strangers were caring for this patient in her time of need. This gave Christy an opportunity to share our story and love for our patients.
One of the nurses asked this new mom if she had a car seat. Christy was able to speak up and say, “We have that taken care of along with a pack-n-play, a stocked diaper bag, and some clothes!”
This makeshift baby shower inside the delivery room was made possible because of churches and organizations made up of people like you. This young mom felt love during a very stressful time. This young mom felt encouraged and supported because we took the time to notice her, not just her baby, but her. She is just as much an image-bearer as her baby.
HOPE’s story was further impacted in that hospital room a few weeks ago. We had no ulterior motive. We had a patient in need and we, just like we have for 20 years, desired to meet that need. This young mom was scared and alone, but someone showed up in that darkness and fear to bring HOPE.
We had a few representatives in that hospital room a couple of weeks ago, but that was made possible by thousands of people that stand with us. This young mom might have only seen the faces of a few, but the reality is far greater than that. Thousands of strangers stood with her on that day and continue to stand with her today.
Your prayers, gifts, and volunteer hours continue to transform and save lives. I do not say that in a pandering tone. I mean that from the deepest parts of my heart. Our partnering with you to serve this city brings us to tears on a regular basis. For it is your love and support that allows us to see the light in some of the darkest of places. There are families here today because of you. It is my honor to make that statement and to serve alongside each of you.
posted by Andrew Wood, Executive Director of Hope Resource Center
