Our story doesn’t end at the hospital doors. The Brave Foundation is committed to building a stronger future for families navigating life after the NICU—because the challenges don’t always stop when you leave; for many, they continue on.
- Sibling Impact: in the future, we are committed to expanding our mission by shining a light on one of the most overlooked realities of NICU life: the toll it takes on siblings. Our oldest son, Eli, carried the weight of confusion, separation, and loss during both of our NICU journeys. Because of strict COVID regulations, he rarely had the chance to visit his brother or sister—meeting them only a handful of times, while we as parents were able to see them almost daily. What should have been a time of joyful bonding was instead marked by distance, unanswered questions, and the quiet ache of being left behind. Too often, siblings suffer silently in these circumstances, struggling to process what their family is enduring. That is why we want to use Eli’s experience to inspire future initiatives that directly support NICU siblings—through thoughtful care packages, fun activities, and intentional opportunities for them to feel included, celebrated, and supported. By bringing light to this overlooked need, we hope to ensure that every child in a NICU family—not just the one in the hospital—feels seen, loved, and cared for.
- Family Lunch & Learn Workshops:
We desire to host lunch-and-learn style workshops that equip families with practical tools—from navigating medical equipment, to building resilience for the emotional and relational strain of long-term care, as well as providing tips and tricks for preparing the home when bringing a medically complex child back from the NICU.
- Community Expansion:
As our foundation grows, we envision expanding our reach to serve more NICU families across Minnesota and beyond, ensuring that no parent feels invisible or unsupported in their journey.
- Fundraising & Community Events:
Looking ahead, we plan to conduct fundraising events and community-driven initiatives that will not only strengthen awareness of the NICU journey but also generate the critical funds needed to sustain and expand this ongoing outreach.
- Partnership with Our Home NICU:
We desire to closely partner with our home NICU hospital, intertwining our vision with the incredible doctors and staff who saved our children’s lives. Our hope is to one day raise funds to donate something significant to the NICU community within those hospital walls—a project that provides ongoing impact for families. Through this partnership, we also aim to offer parent-to-parent perspective and establish a program of support based on lived experience, ensuring that families receive guidance not just from professionals, but from those who have walked this road before them.
These initiatives reflect our long-term commitment: to not only meet families in their moment of crisis but also to walk with them into a future full of hope, stability, and strength.
