On Sunday November 17th, World Prematurity Day, we celebrate the 1 in 10 babies around the world who are born too soon!
We are so excited to share our first ever CPBF fundraising video “Graduation Day”! This beautiful 60 second story transports audiences into the emotional journey preemie families face behind the doors of the NICU. So watch, share and donate if you can!
We would love for you to share your NICU Graduate story in your post and don't forget to encourage people to donate at www.canadianpreemies.org and include @cdnprematurebabiesfoundation #WorldPrematurityDayto your posts!
Here’s what people are saying about the video:
“As someone who hasn’t had the NICU experience, this is as close as I’ve come to imagining the anxiety, emotion and trauma of living through the premature birth of a baby. God bless all the parents who have lived it.” - Ellen
“Even after 10 years this brings back memories” - Tina
“I love this powerful glimpse into the window of the journey parents and medical staff take to help a “preemie” reach a very special graduation day” - Sean
“All the feels 😢My boy is in the video. He was born at 22+weeks” - Heather
“There are no small childhood milestones but there is none bigger than graduation from the NICU! “ - Zuzaanna
“For those of us who haven’t experienced it first hand, it certainly brings to life the conversations and struggles we've heard from parents whose children struggle in the NICU to survive. Grab a Kleenex! Nice work Rethink!” https://rethinkcanada.com – Jacquie
Watch the “Graduation Day” Video now :https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gidt0mMoYZ4
Ok, are you back? I’ll give you a minute to compose yourself… that is some powerful stuff! 😭
The funds raised by the campaign go towards support and education provided to families with premature babies before, during, and after their time in the NICU. Every year 32,000 babies are born prematurely in Canada. Studies show that peer-to-peer support is instrumental in building resilience and hope for families. The Canadian Premature Babies Foundation has trained over 145 parents to become mentors and provides grants for 20 hospitals and 3 community group to run peer support groups. CPBF also provides online Peer to Peer support and evidence-based parent education across the country enabling our most vulnerable citizens in remote parts of Canada to find comfort and knowledge. So please share the video… a lot!
Here are some of CPBF’s Global Awareness Initiatives for Sunday #WPD:
· CPBF will unite with the EFCNI to spread this year’s global message
Born Too Soon: providing the right care, at the right time, in the right place
· CPBF will expand its global collaborative partnerships by becoming a member of the Global Alliance for Newborn Care (GLANCE). GLANCE is a global network to represent the interests of these babies and their families. It aims to improve newborn and maternal health worldwide, ensure nurturing care in all settings, and enable every girl, woman and parent to make well-informed choices and decisions during pre-conception, pregnancy and birth as well as during follow-up and continuing care after discharge from the hospital.https://www.efcni.org/activities/projects/glance-global-alliance-for-newborn-care/
· CPBF Executive Director Fabiana Bacchini, a member of the GLANCE founding committee, is excited to announce that on WPD November 17th, GLANCEwill launch their website and call to action. Please share this link: https://www.glance-network.org
And Local CPBF Awareness & Parent Education Initiatives:
· CPBF will join the 100 countries across the globe participating in the international illumination campaign. Landmarks across the world will be lit in purple on Sunday November 17th to raise awareness of the 1 in 10 babies born too soon worldwide. Please share photos of your favourite Canadian illuminated landmark on social media using the hashtag #preemiepowercanada Click this link to see the full list of participating Canadian Monuments. https://www.cpbf-fbpc.org/world-prematurity-day
· CPBF has distributed posters and pins in NICUs across the country as well as sponsoring events for some community groups and hospitals, such as Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, HSC and St. Boniface in Winnipeg.
So go get your purple on, snap photos of purple monuments, share your preemie stories and pics and together we can show the world how extraordinary our kids are!
💜Happy World Prematurity Day!