AUCKLAND
‘Tea for Tom’ Champagne High Tea 17th November – This year on World Prematurity Day we are hosting a fundraiser in memory of Thomas Gardener. To set the scene we’ll be hosting a vintage-style champagne high tea at the Maritime Museum on Auckland’s waterfront with special guest speakers closely linked to the cause of supporting NICU parents mental health. There’ll be delicious delights to eat and bubbles to quaff plus an amazing goodie bag to take home and the opportunity to win some fab prizes too! Oh and reduced-price espresso martini’s afterwards at Lulu’s. For ticket enquiries email akldneonataltrust@adhb.govt.nz
NEW! Coffee Confidential 2nd & 30th November – FREE ‘facilitated’ coffee group for families who have spent time in NICU/SCBU who either didn’t get the chance to join a coffee group or just feel that due to their NICU/SCBU journey that they just don’t ‘fit’ at their coffee group. Ariella Bond (Registered Social Worker) & Lara Mulgrew (Registered Psychotherapist) will facilitate the sessions. Both of these lovely ladies spent time working at Auckland NICU so have great insight into what you may have experienced. They will guide the session and provide you with some relevant resources to take away. Each month a relevant topic will be discussed such as: Exploring the NICU experience, Challenges of being at home after NICU, Strategies for managing and coping. The purpose of the session is to give you the time to talk through your journey with others, to reflect, to help you to process your experience, have access to professional support as well as the opportunity to meet other amazing NICU families.
NICU Mums ‘Knit & Natter’ Morning Tea – Now EVERY Tuesday! Mums Kitchen NICU Ward
This is a morning tea for Mums who currently have a baby or babies in the NICU at Auckland hospital. It’s a chance to meet those Mums you often pass in the corridor, plus one of Lactation Consultants comes along to answer any questions you may have about expressing or feeding and from this month on we’d love you to bring along your knitting!
The Little Miracles Trust Developmental Playgroup – 13th & 27th November 10am to 11.30am at the Parenting Place, Greenlane
This is a fantastic FREE service for babies who have been through a NICU or SCBU unit. It is appropriate for babies from when they go home from the unit, until they are cruising furniture. If your baby is well, you may come when you feel ready. Janet Milne, who is an Occupational Therapist, is there to answer any questions you may have. It’s a great opportunity to meet up with other families who have been through NICU/SCBU.
‘Sit & Knit’ packs –We’ve had an amazing response from families and staff to this project with one family telling us how they’ve been sitting down together at night to knit and chat where before they’d sit down and scroll on their phones. These are available for FREE for our NICU families so just pop and see us in the shop if you’d like one.
WAIKATO
If you’re in or around the Hamilton area, be sure to stop in and grab a coffee from Agora Cafe at 13B Kent Street, Frankton. For every coffee purchased during the month of November, they’ll donate .50 cents to The Little Miracles Trust. How great is that?! They’ll also have our incubator donation box on display so swing by and take a look!
We’re seeking support from local businesses and organisations to host our brand new incubator donation box. If you think you can help, please email us regina.marais@littlemiraclestrust.org.nz
TARANAKI
Family Funday – Sunday, 25th November from 11am-2pm – Highlands Intermediate
Come and join us for a day filled with activities for the kids including face painting, bouncy castle, Zumba Kids, martial arts, sausage sizzle, drinks, candy floss and lucky dips for kids and adults. Free entry but make sure you bring change for all the fun activities and food!
Family Fun days are regular days throughout the year held at different locations where neonatal friends and families can come together for a fun filled day. It is a great way to meet and catch up with other families, have a Whanau day out and to gain social support from other parents who have or are going through a similar experience. It is for any families that have spent time in a neonatal unit.
WELLINGTON
NICU Coffee Group – Wednesday, 7 November from 10am-11.30am
This is our last coffee catch up in 2018 and we will resume them again in February 2019. They held on the first Wednesday of every month from 10.00 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. at the Southern Cross Cafe and Garden Bar, Abel Smith Street, Wellington CBD. We invite all our NICU Graduate families to join us for a coffee/muffin and chat. Please just purchase your own coffee at the counter and we will provide a platter of muffins and scones. The Little Miracles Trust and Homecare staff will be there to catch up with and to answer any questions you have. We hope lots of new graduate families will come along and join us.
SCBU Coffee Group – Friday, 16 Novmeber from 10.00am-11.30an
Held on the 3rd Friday of every month with the next one being Friday 20 July 2018 from 10.00 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. at Benedicts Cafe, 141 Dowse Drive, Maungaraki. We hope lots of new SCBU families will join us for a coffee/muffin.
Thursday 1 November – Queen/Bohemian Rhapsody Movie Fundraiser
We still have a few tickets left to our movie night fundraiser next week at The Penthouse Cinema in Brooklyn on Thursday 1 November at 8.15 p.m.
To purchase your tickets please go to the following link as there will be NO DOOR SALES on the night.
Venue: Penthouse Cinema, Brooklyn, Wellington
Date: Thursday 1 November 2018 – 8.15 p.m.
Time: 8.15 p.m.
Ticket Price: $22.00 (which includes your seat, treat bag and a lucky door prize)
Ticket Sales: On sale now through the following link
Calling all Freddie Mercury/Queen fans – be one of the first to see the new Bohemian Rhapsody film with your family and friends all while supporting a fantastic cause – The Little Miracles Trust Wellington.
Grab your friends and family and come and join The Little Miracles Trust and NICU staff for a great night out.
Saturday 17th November – 2018 NICU Graduate’s Party
We invite all our NICU Graduate babies born between October 2017 and October 2018 to come and celebrate World Prematurity Day on Saturday 17th November, from 2.00 – 4.00 p.m. at the Karori Recreation Centre (which is located behind the Karori Library), 251 Karori Road, Wellington.
The invitation extends to all 2018 NICU Graduates (whether premature or not) and their siblings. Afternoon tea will be provided by The Little Miracles Trust and World Prem Day volunteer bakers, but we welcome families with allergies to provide their own plate of finger food.
RSVP by 10 November to Raewyn and Tasia at office@littlemiraclestrust.org.nz
Please advise the total number attending from your family.
Volunteer Bakers for World Prematurity Day Celebrations If any of our volunteer are keen to bake for our World Prem Day Celebrations, we will be holding a World Prem Day lunch in NICU on Thursday 15th November at 12.15 for our current parents and NICU staff and on Saturday 17th November we are asking for baking please for our afternoon tea at the 2018 NICU Graduate’s Party. For more information about where to drop your baking off for either of these events, please email Raewyn/Tasia at: office@littlemiraclestrust.org.nz or ph 806-0790.
Equipment Wanted Please If anyone has a smart baby bouncer (plays music and rocks) at home they no longer need and are happy to donate, NICU would be delighted to take it off your hands, as they are great for our older babies. The other item we are always looking for is mobiles that can attach to the end of a cot.
The Little Miracles Trust Shop
The Little Miracles Trust Shop is open to the public from Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. and sells lots of beautiful hand knitted 100% wool baby clothing and merino from prem sizes up to 2 years old and sells/rents out hospital grade breast pumps. Please encourage your friends/family/work mates to purchase items at our shop as our prices are very reasonable and the proceeds help us to provide the support we currently give.
CHRISTCHURCH
Eat, Drink and be Charitable – A Charity Fundraising Event for The Little Miracles Trust NZ
A Night Out for Neonatal is an opportunity to dress up, socialise, listen to some great stories and banter from rugby commentator Grant Nisbett all while supporting an incredible cause!
*Tickets $80 per person or purchase a table of 10 for $750
*2 course dinner, charity auction, raffles, spot prizes & much more!!
Every year 5000 babies have a difficult start to life and spend time in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In January this year my beautiful niece Lilly arrived suddenly and very early at 30 weeks 1 day weighing only 910grams. Lilly spent 87 days in Christchurch NICU and during this journey I spent many hours with her where I met some of the most incredible nurses and wonderful families who were all facing their own battles with their new babies. During this time, I noticed the lack of La-Z-Boy chairs that parents use for kangaroo cuddles and I promised Lilly we would find a way to ensure as many parents as possible would have a comfortable and suitable chair for their long, hard days in the unit – this is where “A Night Out for Neonatal” was born!
Can you assist with our fundraising efforts?
If you, or anyone you know may be able to help with items for the auction or raffles please contact Alicia.
FOR MORE INFO AND TO PURCHASE TICKETS CONTACT-
ALICIA GAINSFORD
*phone – 027 275 0018
*Email – againsford@gmail.com
DUNEDIN
We would love some support from local businesses and organisations to host our incubator donation box and smaller counter donation boxes. If you want to be kept in touch with upcoming initiatives in Dunedin please let us know on dunedin@littlemiraclestrust.org.nz
