Everything your unit receives through Operation H.O.P.E., and how to ask for it.
Your main contact is Meaghan Musarra, Hospital & Peer Support Coordinator, at meaghan@projectnicu.org.
What your unit receives
Available year-round. Please request at least 30 days ahead; we confirm within 3 business days.
Hope Connects
Tangible comfort, from the first days to going home.
- Care package drops on a schedule set with your unit
- Graduation kits, Heart-to-Heart packs and sibling kits
- Bereavement boxes to keep on hand
- Respite Cart visits, bedside or in your family lounge
Hope Shares
Peer connection with parents who have been there.
- We join a support group your unit hosts, or host one for you
- Virtual Support Circles every month
- Parent Mentor matches with veteran NICU parents
Hope Heals
Free mental health support for NICU parents and NICU professionals.
- Cost-free virtual counseling
- Referral cards and flyers for your team to share
Hope Celebrates
Marking milestones with families and the teams who care for them.
- Annual hospital baby shower
- Holiday and awareness-month deliveries
- Support for your unit's special events
Hope Reads
Reading together, even through the isolette.
- A Little Library on your unit
- Book restocks whenever your shelves run low
Hope Fuels
Easing the cost of being there.
- Transportation and food assistance so families can be at the bedside
- Delivered to your unit every quarter
A family we should know about?
For emergencies, a loss on your unit, or anything not listed above. No advance notice needed; please leave out names and medical details.
Truly urgent? Email Pam Frasco at pam@projectnicu.org.
FEATURED THIS MONTH
Hospital Baby Showers
An early arrival often means missing the baby shower. This month we're bringing the celebration to MetroHealth and UH Rainbow Babies & Children's, with gift bags, treats and time to connect with other NICU parents.
Support groups and events
Virtual Support Circles meet at 8:30 PM ET (NICU Grandparents at 7:00 PM ET). Families register once through Zoom.
December 2026
- Tue, Dec 1Giving Tuesday donation classOTF Brecksville, 6:45 PM
- Mon, Dec 21Let It Glow at MetroHealth10 AM to noon
- Mon, Dec 21Let It Glow at UH Rainbow1 to 3 PM
Support Circles dates for December are coming soon. Families can see every session and register at projectnicu.org/virtual-support-groups.
Share these with families
Each one has a QR code so parents can connect with us on their own.
Your unit's impact
A one-page quarterly snapshot of everything your families received, year to date.
The people behind Project NICU
Clinicians from our partner hospitals who help keep what we offer safe, accurate and current. Members advise Project NICU; they don't give medical advice to families.
Arielle Olicker, Neonatologist (Chair); Jess Madden, Neonatologist; Traci Craver, NICU Nurse Manager; Kay Rauschenbach, Resident; Leah Moody; Caitlyn Arno
Sarah Kaletta, Social Work, Main Campus; Sammy Bastian, Social Work, Fairview; Fiona Lakes, Social Work, Hillcrest
Connie Eggleston, NICU Nurse Manager; Emily Pringle, NICU Assistant Nurse Manager
Kayla Hudak, NICU Nurse
Rachel Bowers, Psychologist, Wollemi Counseling; Anese Barnett, M.Ed., Doctoral Student, Clinical Psychology, George Washington University; Sara Pollock, Psychologist, Peer Support Team
Project NICU: no family should face the NICU journey alone.