Read-a-Thon helps parents bond with their babies.
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more than you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
Rhonda Kelly still remembers curling up with her mom and a good book when she was a child.
Her mom, a librarian, instilled in her the value of reading at an early age. Her favorites back then were all of the Little Golden Book stories.
Now, she has her own daughter, JoElla Mae, in her arms as she reads “I Prayed for You” in the Progressive NICU at Riley Hospital for Children.
And pray she did.
Rhonda and her husband, Jim, traveled a difficult road to get here, including suffering a miscarriage last year. But now, at age 42, Rhonda is beyond grateful for the precious bundle she holds.
Delivered three months prematurely on July 10, JoElla weighed just 1 pound, 11 ounces, but two months later, she is up over 4 pounds.
“She came out crying and breathing on her own,” the new mom said. “She is a miracle really. So strong for being so small.”
Almost from the beginning, Jim and Rhonda have read to their child, knowing how important early literacy is and enjoying the special bond it creates with their daughter.
Perfect timing then for Riley’s Read-a-Thon, hosted by the NICU Nest, which launched last week and runs through Sept. 24. During the Read-a-Thon, NICU families receive a bundle of three books (languages include Haitian, Creole, Spanish and English) and other resources that encourage them to read to their baby during their NICU stay and to continue that practice at home.
Families can log their reading hours and receive prizes, including more books.
“We love seeing parents and caregivers read, talk and bond with their baby while building both a love of books and their baby’s first library,” said Lindsey Bartley, project coordinator for NICU Nest.
Anji Hines, a family support coordinator, first met the Kelly family when baby JoElla was in the Riley Maternity Tower NICU before “graduating” to the progressive NICU in Simon Family Tower.
She knew the Kellys were already reading to their child and was excited to introduce the program to them earlier in the week when she delivered the Read-a-Thon packet.
In fact, JoElla’s hospital room door is decorated with drawings created by her mom from books she has read over the past several weeks. The drawings are a way for the couple to mark the weeks their daughter has spent in the NICU and will be added to her own baby book at home.
Babies find comfort in a parent’s voice, Hines said, so reading to them not only promotes bonding, it is the first step in promoting language and literacy.
Jim Kelly loves to read to his daughter as well, though he acknowledges he sometimes reads a little above her level, including “Dungeon Crawler Carl.”
“It’s not exactly a children’s book,” he joked, “but I skip the bad parts, the bad words.”
While the Read-a-Thon lasts just 10 days, NICU families can get a free book from the NICU Nest book cart each week in Riley NICUs.
During the Read-A-Thon, Hines estimates more than 900 books will be given out to families to take home.
Rhonda Kelly is thrilled to be adding more books to her daughter’s library, including the several dozen she and her husband have already bought. Her librarian mom is also contributing to the cause.
“My mom will stuff her bookshelves full.”
Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org