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    • Oct 29, 2019
    • 1 min read

DH4 Full Story

December 2, 2011:  After several moths in the NICU, I’m now living at home with my Mom & am growing big and strong, tipping the scale at 6 pounds, 6 ounces!


November 19, 2011:  I’ve learned how to eat my Mom’s milk from a bottle and I’m growing sooo fast!  I’m up to 4 lbs, 8oz and am going to get to go home earlier than expected!  

October 21, 2011:  I decided to be born 3 months early & only weighed 2 pounds, 2 ounces back then. Now, I’m up to 2 pounds, 11 ounces & I don’t need any more help with my breathing.  I still need a special tube in my belly that helps me get my Mom’s milk, so I can grow big & strong.   Things are going well here at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center and I’m looking forward to the time when I can go home!

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    • Oct 29, 2019
    • 3 min read

DH3 Full Story

June 16, 2021



Yep, that's me holding a diaper that fit me when I was a newborn. Now- I'm a true video gamer and I love Mindcraft, Just Dance, and making TikTok videos! I also love science and have made great strides with my health. I was able to attend an intensive feeding therapy program at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland that helped me build consumption and acceptance of food. I'm maintaining my weight now! I continue hard work with speech and occupational therapies on feeding skills and one day, I will no longer need a G-tube.


A GiFT Super Hero turns 6 years old this week! This happy, healthy six year old spent 196 day in the NICU after he was born. Thanks for being a part GiFT family!

His mom had this to say: "We'll never ever forget you guys!! Wow how time flies, it seems just like yesterday I bought him home from the NICU!! GiFT has been such a blessing to my family and so many others. We truly appreciate the gift of GiFT. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE & CONTINUE TO DO!! I included a few pictures so please share them amongst our gift family!"

I'm now 3 years old and have started preschool this year. I still have my G-Tube but am working on my nutrition so one day it can be removed. My mom says she's so proud of me. I've come a mighty long way!! I enjoy singing my ABC's & other children songs. I know all my shapes and colors and even can count backwards!! My Mom said your organization has touched so many lives including ours. We will be forever grateful!! Love you guys.

This guy!   I know shapes, and colors, and how to count to 10.  I learn new words all the time.  I still have a special tube in my belly to help me grow but I'm learning how to eat new foods every day. 

Hi GiFT, look at me, I've come a mighty long way!  I still have my very own nurse to help with my g-tube but I'm working on eating different foods.  I weigh 17lb.15oz now and Mom says I have to keep putting on the pounds.  I'm walking and talking and keeping Mommy busy.  I got a big boy hair cut, too.

October 2012: I just keep on growing!  I'm now 15lbs I still have my g-tube but I am eating a little by mouth. The oxygen is completely gone & I'm crawling all over the place.

August 2012: I’m growing up fast, already celebrated my first Birthday.  I weigh 14 pounds and only have to wear oxygen when I sleep!  I’ve grown 2 teeth and am learning how to eat by mouth. Hopefully, I won’t need this tube in my belly any more!

May 2, 2012: Well, I still need my oxygen and a special tube in my belly for feedings but I am doing great at home with my Mom!  I’m a happy baby and growing big & strong everyday.

January 25, 2012: Look at me now, 8lbs, 5oz & I’ve finally made it home!!  I need a little oxygen and have a special tube for feedings but after 196 days in NICU, it’s GREAT to be home :)

October 31, 2011: On my first Halloween, I took my very first bottle and my Mom says I’m doing very well!  I’m growing fast now & weigh 4lbs, 3oz.

October 20, 2011: I’m now tipping the scales at 3 pounds & 11 ounces and I’m almost 15 inches long!  I’ve come a long way and hope to be home soon.


August 31, 2011: I’ve had some ups & downs in the hospital, the doctors & nurses say it’s normal for a baby my size.  I’m getting bigger though and weigh 2lbs, 2oz now!

August 10, 2011: When I was born, I weighed 1 pound, 7 ounces & I’ve gained almost 3 ounces since then!  I’ve got a lot more growing to do here at Mercy Children’s Hospital before heading home.  I might have to stay until November...I guess that’s a long time.  I have a special machine that’s helping me breath right now.  I also have a tube in my belly that helps me eat.  Hopefully, soon I’ll learn how to do this stuff on my own so I can go home with my Mom.


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    • Oct 11, 2019
    • 3 min read

DH2 Full Story

GiFT Twins turn 10 years old!

We are in fourth grade this year!! Mom says we need a pause button! We love to swim, roller skate, sing and dance. We are very creative and love art. Lately, we've been helping in the kitchen, whether it be cooking or baking, especially the big holiday meals!!! This has us wanting to grow up and own their own bakery!

GiFT Twins turn 9 years old!

August 2020


We are growing up to be the most amazing girls ever! We love being cheerleaders…GOOO Irish!!


We've come a long way from the NICU and are growing up fast. We are reading, learning Spanish, and doing all the things 7 year-old-girls love to do. We start 2nd grade next week!



We keep growing and learning! It's awesome when your BFF is also your twin sister :)

We spent the first three months of our lives in the NICU. We're turning 5 soon and we love being part of the GiFT family :)


Here we are on our first day of school.  We absolutely LOVE going to school because we're very smart :)  We can sing ABC's, count from 1 to 10, and we know all the shapes and colors.  Our Mom says we have definitely come a long way!


We've come a long way, we each weighed about two pounds when we were born and stayed in the NICU for the first three months of our lives.  It was a difficult time for our family but now, we're stylish and sweet (nearly) 3-year-old girls!  We can't wait to start school in August this year.


Yep, that's right, we're about to turn two years old and we LOVE to play at the park! 


Here are a few highlights from GiFT's exclusive photo shoot with Destination Home Family #2 in February of 2013!  These girls are making lots of progress.

"I learned how to walk!  Mom says I can help my sister learn to walk too, as soon as she gets her leg brace.   I can't wait until we're running around together!"

Our Mom said “GiFT was a true blessing. I am now a lifetime supporter of GiFT, and everything they stand for.”

August 27, 2011: After spending the first 3 months of our lives in the hospital, we’re finally home!!!!

August 26, 2011: We are doing great, growing big & strong!  We don’t need help from a breathing machine anymore & we’ve both reached the 4 pound mark. Now, we are learning how to eat with a bottle...yum!


August 9, 2011:


Hi! We’re twin sisters and we were born 3 1/2 months early!  We’ve been on 2 ambulance rides together and get to share a room at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center.  Since we were born so early, our lungs are not fully developed.  We’ve been breathing on our own some but right now we need a special machine that helps us; the doctors say it’s normal to need help with our breathing at our age; so we are just trying to get bigger.  Even though we each weigh almost 3 pounds, our Mom says we need to grow some more before coming home.

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