NICU PFAC Members

Hi! I'm Barb Carr and I'm proud to be a member of the NICU PFAC.  I was introduced to the NICU during a visit to the Fetal Health Center after my son was diagnosed at 20 weeks gestation with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

I joined the NICU PFAC because I want families to know they have support.  Even when the days are difficult, there are resources available to help through each step of the journey.  It may feel like you take two steps forward and then one step back, but when you look at the big picture you can always see the progress made over time.  Our son went from being one of the sickest babies in the NICU to a growing boy without any respiratory support equipment, and we could not have done it without the support of the team in the NICU.  As parents, we learned so much from the NICU support community and we want to help pay that forward for other families.

Child’s Name: Benji
Length of stay: 10 weeks
Diagnosis: Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), hypoplasia of left lung, cardiac & pulmonary failure, pulmonary hypertension, hiatal hernia, plagiocephaly

While in-patient, I was amazed by the strength, generosity, and community we found in many aspects of our NICU life. We met amazing parents, nurses, doctors, and hospital staff (including the folks who work at The Roasterie!)! I work with the NICU PFAC to help NICU families navigate this experience in hopes of alleviating some of the emotional pain and highlighting the beauty that can be found despite the trauma.

Child’s Name: Birdie
Length of stay: 6.5 months
Diagnosis: Omphalocele, VSD, bronchomalacia

Hello! My name is Jim Pryde. I joined the NICU PFAC in gratitude for the overwhelming support, care, and love I received from everyone at Children's Mercy during Ian's NICU stay. I have always wanted to find a way to give back to the organization that did so much for us. An inpatient NICU stay is stressful and overwhelming, and parents who have gone through it before can do so much to provide comfort for those who are experiencing it for the first time. Parents like me have a story to tell, and the NICU PFAC gives me the opportunity to share my experiences and make a difference for those families. 

Child’s name: Ian
Length of stay: 38 days
Diagnosis: Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Intestinal issues, concern for Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Hello, I’m Aisha Walker, and I was introduced to the NICU journey through my experience at Children’s Mercy’s Elizabeth J. Ferrell Fetal Health Center, where my son, Wisdom, was born at 31 weeks. After a complex and challenging pregnancy marked by unexpected complications, my care team, family, and faith carried us through each twist. At 32 weeks, my water broke, and after three weeks of early labor and careful monitoring, Wisdom was delivered via an emergency C-section. Born at just 4 pounds, he faced a list of possible health challenges, but with the expert and compassionate care of the NICU team, he overcame the most pressing of these, allowing us to bring him home to his two big brothers after three weeks in the NICU. Our family’s journey taught us resilience, faith, and the importance of compassionate support, which drives my commitment to the NICU community. I want families to know they’re not alone and that there is hope even in the hardest moments.

Child’s Name: Wisdom  
Length of Stay: 3 weeks  
Diagnosis: Premature birth, cleft lip and palate