by Fayruz Benyousef, Chair
What an honor and privilege to serve as Hand to Hold’s Chair for the 2016 Baby Shower Luncheon this Friday, November 4. I stand alongside an amazing group of volunteers who are dedicating themselves to this year’s committee and we are so very excited about having you join us on our journey.
Never in a million years does a family expect that they will have a premature baby or experience the tragic loss of an infant. Within less than five years we experienced both.
Our journey began when we unexpectedly found out our sweet Yara was struggling to survive in-utero. She was delivered at 34 weeks and was all of 2 lbs 3 oz. We had a 7 week stay in the NICU and a long road thereafter to help her recover and thrive after her sudden arrival and NICU challenges.
And then less than two years after Yara’s early arrival, we anticipated with great joy the addition of her sister, Zayna. Just two days before her delivery, her heart stopped beating. Delivering a full term baby girl that was stillborn was devastating for us all.
At the time this all happened we searched for help but found very little information about how to pick up the pieces after what had happened. Today, we are so fortunate to have Hand to Hold supporting the families who undergo these hardships. Their work is not only helping at the local level but also far beyond. My hope is that you will consider joining with me to help ensure that no one will ever go through such tragedy without the services and love that Hand to Hold provides.
We hope you’l join us at the 2016 Baby Shower Luncheon. Our theme is so special, The Wizard of Oz! And our keynote Melanie Shankle, author of Sparkly Green Earrings, will grace us with her humble and humorous words.
Click your heels and follow the yellow brick road all the way there!
Hand to Hold would like to thank the following Baby Shower Luncheon Sponsors:
Ruby Slipper Sponsor
Lemon Drop Cocktail Hour Sponsor
VIP Meet & Greet Sponsor
Fayruz Benysouf & Malek Ben-Musa Family
We’d also like to recognize our event Chair Fayruz Benyousef, Honorary Chairs Linda Mays McCaul and Venus Strawn and our 2016 Baby Shower Committee Members.