Embracing the ICU

Year Founded
2021
EIN
87-4372723
Local Leader/Exec. Director
Christi Rath
Primary Contact Name
Christi Rath
Main Address

Mailing Address
P. O. BOX 815
Omaha, NE 68101
United States

What We Do

We advocate, educate, and support families with children in the ICU.

There are four initiatives that we currently facilitate.

1. Holidays at the Hospital - We partner with local restaurants and bakeries to provide treats and meals to parents in the NICU on the holidays.  In order to let parents know that they are not forgotten and allow them to have some sort of normalcy during the holiday.

2. Parent to Parent - Help parents to advocate for their children and themselves through networking opportunities, pod casts (in progress), and blogs.  We also provide local resources for parents for other organizations that can support their specific needs during and after their ICU journey. 

3. Tribe Vibe -  We partner with local companies to provide laundry and cleaning services to families.  In order to allow them to spend more time with their children in the ICU, prepare their home before bringing home a medically fragile child, and to relieve a little of the stress of their journey.  We hope to partner with more companies to provide lawn care services, snow removal, in hospital chair massages and meal services. 

4. Possible Bags - This initiative is the most immediate impactful initiative. Possible Bags are embraced from Native American culture of a bag with travel supplies.  Currently they include refillable cups(2), unscented lotion, chap stick, support materials, journal with pen, children's book, and a small crocheted octopus for their NICU baby.  The Octopi have been provided by our national partner, Crafting Change Organization. We would like to expand these bags to include food and gas gift certificates to help eliminate some of the costs of long ICU stays as well as provide an outlet for parents to get out of the hospital. 

With your help we will be able to continue to provide these services to families in our community when in-kind donations are not provided.  We will also be able to expand our services and the number of staff & volunteers to facilitate all of these initiatives. 

Interesting Info
  • We have provided treats and/or meals on holidays for the last 3 years to 4 of our local NICUs
  • Our national partner, Crafting Change Organization and private crafters, have provided over 800 Octopuses since 2023.
  • Our board started with 3 local moms that had between 60 and 565 days in the NICU/PICU with their own children.
Geographic Location

Millard, Florence, South Omaha, Dundee-Memorial Park, Bemis Park, Benson, Leavenworth, Downtown Omaha, Bennington, Boys Town, Elkhorn, Waterloo, Valley, Bellevue, Gretna, La Vista, Papillion, Springfield

Volunteer Opportunities
Holidays at the Hospital Coordinator
Repeats daily for 365 times
Duration of 59 minutes

Crochet Crafters and Coordinator
Repeats daily for 145 times
Anytime

Possible Bags Donation Coordinator(s)
Repeats daily for 365 times
Duration of 59 minutes

Website Consultant and Maintenance
Repeats daily for 365 times
Duration of 59 minutes

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator(s)
Repeats daily for 365 times
Duration of 59 minutes

Events
Christmas Holidays at the Hospital
Repeats annually on the 24th of December, 10am - 12pm for 5 times
Duration of 2 hours
Read More

Halloween Holidays at the Hospital
Repeats annually on the 31st of October, 11am - 4pm for 5 times
Duration of 5 hours
Read More

Thanksgiving Holidays at the Hospital
Repeats annually on the 27th of November, 12pm - 4pm for 5 times
Duration of 4 hours
Read More

Possible Bag Contents
Holidays at the Hospital
Possible Bags
Tribe Vibe
Parent to Parent