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Mackenzie Price Bowers didn’t get any presents on her first birthday.
Mackenzie’s parents asked that, in lieu of gifts, family and friends make a donation to help parents of NICU babies at BWH. Anthony and Nicole Bowers’ idea spurred the donation of more than $1,155 for the Matthew Sternberg NICU Fund in honor of their daughter, who was born six weeks early last February and suffered heart complications that required three weeks of care in the NICU.
“We live on the Cape, and it was stressful to drive such a distance every day to be with Mackenzie and not be able to afford to stay over,” said Nicole Bowers.
A social worker told them help was available through the Matthew Sternberg NICU Fund, which pays for lodging for parents who come from a distance to be with their baby in the NICU and lack affordable options.
“We weren’t in such dire straits that we felt we should take help, but we knew that we wanted to donate to this fund at some point to help other families who really have no options,” Bowers said, adding that they were able to stay with extended family in Melrose several nights. “We were fortunate to be able to work it out, but there are a lot of people who can’t.”
On Mackenzie’s first birthday last month, family and friends honored the Bowers’ wishes and brought donations for the fund.Two weeks ago, with funds in hand, the family returned to the NICU for the first time in a year to bring Mackenzie’s birthday gift and visit with her care providers.
“It was emotional going up there,” said Bowers, who had baked the entire day before and brought coffee and treats for the NICU. “Everyone who took care of her was so great, and we wanted to say thank you.”