Christine Yang with children Sofia and Daniel.
The Tiny Miracles Foundation, Inc. (TTMF) hosted its third annual family friendly gathering, a Wild Family Event, at The Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport on Sept. 27, to support its programs and services helping premature babies and their families throughout Fairfield County. The event was attended by over 300 parents and children. All event proceeds benefitted The Tiny Miracles Foundation.
For New Canaan’s Christine Yang, it was a joy to be involved as a volunteer. Seven years ago she experienced first-hand a preterm birth, which is having a baby at less than 37 weeks gestational age. These babies are known as preemies.
Yang had triplets at 24 weeks and five days. Tragically, one died, but the other two, Daniel and Sofia, survived and are now healthy and happy. When Christine became aware of TTMF, she knew she had to help.
“We didn’t have benefit of Tiny Miracles at the time,” she said. “I know how important it is for parents and families to get support. I experienced that lack, and wanted to get involved.”
TTMF is a volunteer-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive support and assistance to families with premature infants in the greater Fairfield County area, and to helping local neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) provide the best possible care for premature patients and their families.
TTMF strives to improve the lives and outcomes of preterm babies and their families, and addresses a community need that is virtually unmet by any other local, regional or national organization.
TTMF assists over 1,000 local families per year throughout Fairfield County through programs at its four partner hospitals in Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and Danbury, and services to the community at large. These services are delivered by over 100 dedicated volunteers and a small support staff.
Support provided by TTMF volunteers who have personally experienced the premature birth of a baby, the complications that arise, the challenges families face, and in sad cases, the loss of a precious tiny miracle, is invaluable to these families and is one of the many things that makes TTMF so special.
Yang is one of those volunteers.
“I started to volunteer in 2011 when my kids were three,” she said. “Parents of preemies go through a lot of challenges. I got more and more involved in organization. I think one of the key things is TTMF has mentors right in the hospitals. When you’re a parent of a preemie, you don’t have a lot of time to think, to reach out for resources. Your life is turned upside down. Everything is minute to minute, day to day.
“It can be so important to have other parents to talk to who have been there, who can offer bereavement support. I know I would have benefitted. Programming, mentoring and hospital support is key.”
Yang notes that TTMF is evolving, as are the medical methods to save preterm children.
“My kids were on the edge of viability when they were born,” she said. “Medical advances have come a long way. But it’s still a roller-coaster ride.”
The Beardsley Zoo event for parents and children included private access to the zoo, carousel rides, face painting and specialty food trucks – MeltMobile, Taco Loco, Hot off the Grill and Mister Softee of CT. Music was performed by Madison School of Rock. Sponsors included Milford Pediatrics, Broder & Orland, LLC, Green’s Baby Nurses, Bluff Point, Titus Cain’s Jamaican Cuisine, Pediatric Healthcare Associates and the Fernández-Geddes Family.
“I’m very excited about the organization, and want to help it continue its growth,” said Yang. “A lot of the volunteers like me have lost children, and understand. Awareness is key, and not just for parents of preemies. I think about one in 10 children are born prematurely, so it’s going to affect someone you know.”
To learn more about the The Tiny Miracles Foundation and support its programs, go to ttmf.org or call 203-202-9714.
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