54°
Christine Yang knows the struggle and stress of having premature children all too well.
“It’s an emotional roller coaster,” Yang said in an interview with the Daily Voice. “You don’t really know who to turn to for help.”
Yang is working with Tiny Miracles Foundation to make sure that parents who need help get it. She is a board member of the foundation, which provides support, information, services and supplies to the families of premature infants in Fairfield County.
Inspired to join the foundation by a friend, she began as a volunteer at its gala event. Then she then volunteered in the organization's public relations efforts before joining the board.
Yang said the value of the foundation’s work is immense. Her once organized life was turned upside down with the birth of her three premature babies, two of whom spent months in the hospital. One sadly passed away.
“I used to be able to put something in my calendar, and I would never look at it again,” Yang said. But when she first made an appointment to see a counselor, she completely got the time wrong.
“It made me realize how much your life can begin to fall apart and that you need support,” Yang said. “Everyone needs support.”
Yang hopes to ease the stress for other parents. One day she hopes to return to a hospital to guide other parents through the process of adapting to life with a premature infant.
One in 10 children are born prematurely nationwide, and the rate is slightly higher in Fairfield County, she said.
To support those parents, the Tiny Miracles Foundation offers support at several hospitals, including Bridgeport Hospital, Danbury Hospital, Norwalk Hospital and Danbury Hospital.
Yang said the organization hopes to expand.
“We are poised for growth (and) we are going to take the steps to determine what the best way to make that happen,” Yang said.
Later this month, the foundation is scheduled to host a Wine Tasting and Art Exhibit of paintings created by children who were born prematurely. The event will be held Nov. 17 at the Westport Arts Center and will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
For additional information and to RSVP, e-mail info@ttmf.org.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Wilton and receive free news updates.
