Baby's First Christmas in NICU

TSWA Management October 20, 2014

Every year more than 100 babies around Western Australia spend their very first Christmas in NICU or SCN. Some of them have not yet met their brothers and sisters, Aunties, Uncles and the rest of their families. This can be a very challenging time.

This year with your help and support we would like to give every baby a special Christmas ornament that can be treasured by their family for many years to come.

We would love for you to purchase an ornament and send it in to the office where we will organise for it to be gift wrapped and distributed to hospitals throughout WA to be given to a special NICU/SCN baby on Christmas Day. If you are unable to purchase an ornament and deliver or post to the office, you can still participate. We have a number of ornaments available through our online store, you can purchase them and we will wrap and deliver.

We know this small gesture will make a big difference to families spending Christmas in NICU or SCN.

Happy Father's Day 2014!

TSWA Management September 7, 2014

Today we celebrate Father's Day and recognise all those Dad's who are currently watching their baby in NICU or SCN, those Dad's who only have memories of their baby, those Dad's who provide and care for their families, those Dad's who get up early for their children's sport, those Dad's that get a phone call from their 'big babies' who have grown up. Happy Father's Day!!!

A small gift will be waiting for Dad's at NICU's and SCN's at King Edward Memorial Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital 6B, St John of God Subiaco and Rockingham Hospital. We hope that this gift lets them know that we and all of our community are thinking of them in what is an extremely difficult time.

Happy Mother's Day!

TSWA Management May 10, 2014

Were you greeted this morning by smiling faces? Cards? Flowers? Freshly cooked bacon and eggs? Wafts of coffee or tea? We hope your family is showering you with love and affection. Sometimes the best gift of all is simply a cuddle or a hug from your loved ones.

Today we honour Mothers everywhere. Those snuggling their little babies tight, those with empty arms, those who’s ‘babies’ are now grown and have moved away. We think of the children both big and small who no longer have their Mothers by their sides.

Gift provided by Tiny Sparks WA for Mother's Day

This week we organised 150 small gift's for Mother's Day. The gifts were distributed through hospitals in Perth to Mother's of current NICU/SCN babies and high-risk, hospital bed resting soon to be Mums. For many this will be their very first Mother’s Day and they will be spending it with their son or daughter in NICU/SCN, or still in their tummy with the unknown ahead. We hope the NICU/SCN babies are strong enough for a kangaroo cuddle today and those still baking stay safe for many days and weeks to come.

Please leave us a comment and share with us how you are celebrating today.

Happy Mother’s Day!!

Tiny Sparks WA is Western Australia's premier charity for
high-risk pregnancies and babies born sick or premature.

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This past week we were contacted by a family with a heartbreaking story. We can’t share their story with you, but they did pose a question we can share. ‘What would it take to ensure every family admitted to NICU receives a Care Package in WA each year?’ Each year around 4,500 babies are admitted to a Neonatal Unit in WA. To fund a Care Package for each of these families we need to raise $180,000! We started this program back in 2014 and were delivering just 10 packages a month. The program has grown and grown and we are now delivering just over 100 packages per month but we need to see that number more than triple, so no family goes without! Please help us, help more WA families by making a tax deductible donation. https://www.justgiving.com/tinysparkswainc

Shout out to little Lewi (ex 27 weeker, now in year 2) Lewi was told 7 month's ago that he was going blind in his left eye - which has been an ongoing issue from birth. After 7 months of eye patching for 2 hours a day, his eye sight is now 'perfect'. So for the next 3 months at least, he is eye patch free. They do not expect his sight to change again. It’s been a hard 7 month's, with lots of tears, arguments, questions but he has done the hard work and it has paid off. Lewi wanted to share his story so he can inspire any other Tiny Sparks that may be going through a similar journey. (And their mums and dads too) Dont give up he says "it will be worth it in the end" Love Lewi x

Many organisations we partner with have been impacted this morning. It is unclear what the longer term outlook is at this stage. If you wish to stay connected with them please look at their websites. You can find ours here: https://www.tinysparkswa.org.au

Our volunteers deliver around 100 Care Packages each month! Providing essential items to families in Neonatal Units and supporting women admitted for long term hospital bedrest to prolong their pregnancy.

DEVELOPMENTAL PLAYGROUP - ENROLMENT OPEN Many of our tiny sparks have incredibly challenging starts to life. The interventions they receive to save their lives can have life long consequences, but just who will be impacted, and how these consequences may unfold is largely unknown. Our Developmental Playgroup seeks to provide early support from suitably trained developmental experts in the fields of physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy to provide advice and guidance to families in a play based setting. Enrolments for Term 1 are now OPEN! Enrolment is open to any child in WA aged 6m actual age to 3 years of age who was admitted to a Neonatal Unit after birth. Neonatal Unit admission can be for any reason including but not limited to premature birth, sick full term, or surgical requirements. The cost of this program is heavily subsidised by our fundraising efforts and generous donors. Enrolment can be completed via our website: https://www.tinysparkswa.org.au/shop/dpgt420new-6fwty

From all of us to all of you wishing you a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Stay safe, make some memories and enjoy each others company 🎅🏻🎄💜

For many years we have run our annual Christmas Quilt Drive and in spite of COVIDs attempts to derail everything in 2020, humanity prevailed! Many sewing groups ran with this project including the remarkable Get Scrubbed Group and our own Crafty Creators. Since the delivery cut off we have been busy sorting, packing, posting and delivering to 26 hospitals around the state. Our final delivery was made this morning to Bunbury Regional Hospital. Along with the Christmas quilts, stockings and cards, hospitals also received ‘Baby’s 1st Christmas 2020’ ornaments thanks to the ongoing generous support of local family run business, @footeandflame . This year we distributed a staggering 544 gifts for Christmas in maternity, Neonatal and Special Care Nursery beds all over WA! Huge thanks to volunteers Christine H, Elke, Zach and Xavier for generously giving their time to assist with collation and deliveries. To our drop off points Margaret, Jenny, Liesl, Briana, Sandra and Christine L thank you for opening your homes for drop offs. Melinda thank you for hosting the stocking sew along and answering lots of questions. To everyone who coordinated family, friends or an organised sewing group we thank you! Thanks to you, Christmas in hospital this year will be a special time for so many. Thank you all for helping to make this possible 🙌🏻💜🎄

The Interact Club at Willetton Senior High School voted to support Tiny Sparks WA with the funds made from a fundraiser, Spring Cool Down, where they sold drinks, ice creams, and icy poles to students. Interact is a youth branch of Rotary International and comprises of students between the ages of 12-18 who participate in regular fundraising and community service activities for both local and international charities. Last year, they were able to donate over $10,000 to various incredible organisations. Club Secretary Angela says, ‘We recognise your organisation's invaluable efforts in improving the wellbeing of mothers enduring high-risk pregnancies and children born sick or premature who require neonatal unit care. You have all helped positively impact many lives, and we admire and respect your hard work.’ Funds donated by the Interact Club will support our Care Package program. The students were asked to provide a message of support to the recipients. Their cards will read, ‘This care package has been sponsored by the Interact Club of Willetton Senior High School. We hope this supports you and your family during these difficult circumstances.’ Thank you Interact Willetton 🙌🏻💜 We are so grateful for your generous contribution! 📸 Picture supplied by Willetton Senior High School

International Volunteer Day 🙌🏻💜 “Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.” - Heather French Henry As a 100% volunteer run organisation we truly value every single person who contributes their time to further our mission, to improve the health and wellbeing of Western Australian families enduring high-risk pregnancy, infants requiring neonatal unit care and the associated childhood impacts; including the communities supporting them. Thank you all 💐🙌🏻💜

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Tiny Sparks WA is Western Australia's premier charity for
high-risk pregnancies and babies born sick or premature.

Baby's First Christmas in NICU

Happy Father's Day 2014!

Happy Mother's Day!

Tiny Sparks WA is Western Australia's premier charity for
high-risk pregnancies and babies born sick or premature.

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Tiny Sparks WA is Western Australia's premier charity for high-risk pregnancies and babies born sick or premature.

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Tiny Sparks WA is Western Australia's premier charity for high-risk pregnancies and babies born sick or premature.

Tiny Sparks WA is Western Australia's premier charity for
high-risk pregnancies and babies born sick or premature.