Ryan's Closet

Hello family and friends!

As we get near to Ryan's second birthday I am collecting donations again in honor of his birthday. This year instead of giving the donations to the NICU in Seattle where Ryan was born, the donations will be going to Kiwoko (pronounced Chiwoko) in the Luwero district of Uganda, Africa! Ryan's special nurse, who cared for him while in the NICU, went to volunteer and train the nurses there last September and after hearing all about her experience when she returned home, I had decided this is where I wanted the donations to go this year. There is a hospital that was started there about 20 years ago after the genocide in that region. It is growing again, and the hospital serves a huge population. The care they provide is amazing for how rural and simple the technology is. The donation shipment typically leaves Seattle in September. I will be bringing the donations to Seattle to be shipped on Ryan's birthday on August 21st, so that's when the donations need to be here by.

The donations I will be collecting will be simply preemie clothes. Uganda doesn't allow easily items that can be retrieved in the country itself, like blankets and such, but they don't have preemie clothing there.The outfits can be either new or gently used, sleepers and other normal baby gear is fine. It is usually about 80 degrees there, but the babies still need something to cover up in. So yes, just not heavy wintry items. I think it does get a bit colder at times also. These would be given primarily to families with a baby in the NICU, but possibly to other families around. There is a peds ward there, and really nobody has anything.

Thank you to those who have already donated, our little collection here at home is growing! I know the teeny recipients half way around the world and their families will be grateful.

To send, let me know and I'll email you my address.

Below are pictures Ryan's awesome nurse took while in Africa