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In celebration of our Grand Re-opening of Twisted Pies Pizzeria, we are partnering with Phoenix Children’s Hospital for a virtual fundraiser of much needed help. Children’s Hospitals are near & dear to our hearts and we would like to share our own personal journey.
Our beautiful daughter was born at 26 weeks old, due to complications from Pregnancy-induced hypertension. After a long list of complications were rattled off to us by the doctors, including a 50% mortality rate and brain hemorrhaging, we were also told that she had to be taken within the next few hours or consequences would be fatal for me. She was 1.5 pounds and 12 inches long at birth.
It was one of the hardest, most devastating times that my husband and I have had to go through. Scared, confused, heart-broken…there are so many emotions that go through you, but mostly fear for the life of your child. Megan spent over THREE months in hospital’s NICU (Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit). A few weeks after she was born, I returned to work. My husband and I worked opposite shifts so that one of us would always be home with our 3-year-old son. My husband had to quit his job so he would be home in the evenings with him. That was income that our young family desperately needed, but you do what you must. So, I would work during the day, go home for a quick dinner with the family and then drive 30 minutes to the hospital to be with our baby girl.
We would not have been able to make it through without the support from the NICU’s programs. Our finances were tight with the loss of my husband’s job. They provided hospital parking vouchers (daily parking was not cheap), meal vouchers for the cafeteria, a safe place for our son to be while we visited for hours at a time with our baby, not to mention the emotional support provided by ALL doctors and nurses. As parents, our primary focus was on the health and well-being of our child. You are not thinking of cost, or how to get assistance with the needs that lie ahead. This is where the Social Services of the hospital came in. They took care of EVERYTHING we needed from finding financial assistance programs, rehab programs, WIC for assistance with formula and food, and so much more!
Ours is an incredibly happy ending, our daughter came home from the hospital 20 years ago this October!
Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, hospitals need more help than ever. They can only accept monetary donations in replacement of toys and other physical supplies that the general public would normally be able donate.
Partnering with Phoenix Children’s Hospital Pediatric Unit and the future PCH & Mercy Gilbert Medical Center Pediatric Tower; is our small way to give back for all the love and support that we were shown during one of toughest times in our life. We will continue to support through our Twisted Pies menu items and donation buckets in our pizzeria. Please help us in supporting this Non-profit that is so close to our hearts!
Our fundraiser will end on Sunday, October 11th.
Harold, Nani, Tyson & Megan Pickell