Say the words Kangaroo Care to anyone who has entered the world of the NICU and they know what you're talking about. Say it to the unexperienced and they ask if you look after kangaroos- seriously! I live in Australia so I could very well be caring for kangaroos!
When Becca and I looked at a name for a support and play group for our area we came up with the name Kangaroo Care. Kangaroo Care is encouraged in hospitals for mothers and fathers to hold their little premature and unwell babies on their chest so contact is skin to skin. The act of doing this has been highly beneficial. These tiny little babies thrive on the closeness with their loved ones. We knew the name would be easily recognisable to those we wanted to help.
For me there was another side to it.During my sidetrip to bring Bless-ed Tia into the world I found myself embraced in another form of Kangaroo Care. My family, my friends and my community wrapped my Bless-ed self and family in love with physical and emotional support in a way I never thought possible. We were helped on so many levels by so many people. It made us feel truly Bless-ed. To this day we marvel at the generosity of the people who helped us and express gratitude for all we received during the months I was away and when we came home.
Sadly, I realised that not all families who faced this challenging time had the support that we had. Kangaroo Care was needed by many. It is a special embrace from others who know and have been there too.
As Becca and I worked building our group we realised that it was a huge task and it was best to have support behind us too. So we merged Kangaroo Care with the Miracle Babies Foundation here in Australia to the Shoalhaven NurtureGroup. Our NurtureGroup is going from strength to strength. It is wonderful to be helping so many other families which has been our aim all along.To give them support during and after their journey.
The amazing thing for Kangaroo Care is that it has survived the merge. We have a page on Facebook (see link on right hand side of the page) and it is slowly growing. We use the page to promote all premature and unwell baby support groups and organisations worldwide. Families share photos and stories. It is a place to embrace others and acknowledge the journey they've been on. A simple page which understands the strength behind a simple act of close and loving hug. Even if it is from thousands of miles away.
Because sometimes a hug, an act of Kangaroo Care, is all you need to gather yourself up and keep going!
Just like it is for our precious little miracle babies <3
Cathryn
