Edgewood, KY – The St. Elizabeth Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is spearheading a new reading program for its tiniest patients. The reading program was created in honor of generous book donations from NICU graduate families and community members offering parents and volunteers a selection of board books to read to babies in the NICU. The goal is to grow the NICU library through additional book donations and to offer discharged NICU families the gift of taking home a small book collection for their child.
“Evidence shows that babies in the NICU process sounds and appropriate verbal interactions that contribute to critical language and cognitive development,” says Julie Wolking, Nurse Manager at the St. Elizabeth NICU. “A reading program in the NICU provides a developmentally supportive avenue for parents to bond with their babies.”
Recently, Sylvia Fasciotto, a Ft. Wright Elementary student, decided to give back to the St. Elizabeth NICU in a unique way — by promoting the gift of family reading. “Our family reads together almost every night, and we have a collection of books from when she and her siblings were babies that hold a special place in our hearts,” says Rachael Fasciotto, Sylvia’s mother. “Sylvia always has a book in her hand.”
Sylvia won an Amazon gift card at the end of the school year and knew right away that she wanted to donate a portion of it to charity. She used her gift card to buy eight books and eight blankets for babies in the St. Elizabeth NICU.
“She was excited to share a gift of books with new babies,” says Rachael. “Sylvia knows firsthand how many special memories are made when parents read to their kids.”
The St. Elizabeth NICU is appreciative of Sylvia’s donation and excited about the new NICU reading program. “Donors like Sylvia provide the gift of reading and its benefits to many babies in the NICU who have had a challenging start to life,” says Julie. To help stock the NICU library, St. Elizabeth will be collecting new board books throughout October. Donation bins will be available at the St. Elizabeth Edgewood, Ft. Thomas or Florence main entrance information desk locations.
Community members who cannot physically donate a book but would like to still participate in the book drive are welcome to send a check to St. Elizabeth Foundation, 1 Medical Village Drive, Edgewood, KY 41017 with “NICU Book/Reading Project” notated in the memo line. A list of the most requested board books can be found here.