Our Story
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Our story
In 2014, our journey began with a deeply personal experience. Our daughter, Hannah, fell ill at the age of five and was airlifted to the closest children’s hospital. Hannah was unconscious while hospitalized in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) as the doctors worked to save her life. She was diagnosed with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and was struggling to survive as her immune system was destroying her red blood cells. Hannah’s condition stabilized after several days in the PICU, and her health improved.
As she transitioned to a standard hospital room and started to feel better, a new challenge became apparent: keeping a recovering 5-year-old engaged and entertained. Limited by an IV and still on the mend, Hannah found solace in the few toys we had, as well as drawing and painting.
The days we spent in the hospital with our daughter led to us learning more about the hospital and the conditions the children were dealing with. We realized the hospital needed some help in the playroom that all the children shared on that floor. Most of the games were missing pieces, and there were few children in the room as a result. They needed more games, toys, crafts, and art supplies for the children.
Some hospital staff mentioned that because it was July, many of the items donated during the Christmas season were gone. Many of the children spend holidays in the hospital, and for some, they are there on their birthdays. These special moments spent in the hospital only increase the need for help.
After Hannah was released from the hospital we got to work and organized our first “Christmas in July” toy drive to replenish supplies in the hospital’s playroom. The outpouring of support from friends and family led to our inaugural donation, marking the inception of our commitment to bringing joy to children facing extended hospital stays.
In 2022, we formalized our dedication by establishing Joyful Gifts, a 501(c)3 (Tax ID# 88-2733737). This organization is our official channel to extend love and happiness to children enduring prolonged hospital stays. Our mission is rooted in providing toys and moments of comfort and joy to those facing weeks and months within hospital walls.
In 2023, we launched our website, a platform to amplify our cause and connect with a broader community.
Join us in making a difference – one smile at a time.