Paying it Back... and Foward

In the literal sense, we've been "paying" ever since Willa was born (thank God for insurance!). Someday we'll be done paying bills to OHSU in Willa's name, but we'll never be done paying them back, in the figurative sense, and paying it forward in any way possible.

Yesterday the girls and I visited the NICU (DNCC), and it had been long overdue. We have created a norm to bring goodies at Christmas and needed items on Willa's birthdays every year since her discharge. Time keeps speeding up, and the swing we purchased after Willa's 3rd birthday in March (with the help of some friends' contributions) has been collecting dust in the corner of our bedroom. Not anymore...

Special delivery!

Every time we visit is similar. This time we run into one of Willa's secondary nurses getting into the elevator as we are getting out, the intake receptionist that remembers our last name, and another secondary that knows Willa with a glance.

On Willa's 1st birthday, we were so thankful to collect a variety of things needed by the nurses and PTs working with the fragile babies there...

Willa with two of the best docs in the world

March of Dimes was a big presence for us while Willa was in the NICU. They are most known for their work with preemies, but they really do amazing work for ALL babies! We've been incredibly fortunate to raise a few thousand dollars over the past few years in celebration of March for Babies (THANK YOU everyone that has donated in honor of Willa!). We've run into NICU nurses and our amazing L&D delivery nurse over the past few years, and that just feels right.

Willa's first year was exhausting...

2nd year w/ baby sis in tow

A family affair

This year we're planning a way to give back to Shriners. We have another set of simply wonderful people to pay back and pay forward. Stayed tuned for a blog post on how to help. We're soliciting all sorts of support.

Paying back and paying forward feels only more right as Willa gets older and understands more and more about where she came from and how she got here. That's important for any kid, but more so when the story is unique and, for lack of a better term, a God-given miracle. I always want Willa to know that she has been touched by so many people in so many ways. I want her to know that she is LOVED.