The Stink Bug Project

06/21/2022

Meet one of our newest Stink Bug matches Reece and Nicco! One of the best things about this program is how deeply the impact is felt by the whole family. Nicco is not only bonding with Reece but also his little brother Myles! Learn more about the Stink Bug Project! http://ow.ly/rRrw50JBINS

06/19/2022

"A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you grow" - Unknown
We see a lot of incredible fathers here at the Foundation, from those coming in to pick up milk for their newborn babies to those providing unwavering love and support to their children while they battle childhood health challenges. It is an honor to witness the power of a father's love in so many ways and today, we are celebrating that power. Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads out there!
http://ow.ly/sRnk50Jt2k8

06/17/2022

Meet Kitcia! Kitcia is a Donor Relations Coordinator for Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation's Mothers' Milk Bank program. She is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Learn more about Kitcia and why she does what she does.

❓ Why Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation?
"RMCHF because I love being able to help families who would otherwise not have access to support."

❓ Favorite Moment of Impact?
I was fortunate enough to meet two of the Hope for the Holidays families last year during the holidays. Both families were full of love, warmth, and hope. They don’t know this, but they taught me so much about life in such little time together.

❓ One goal for the year?
To become more socially aware and become a better listener.

❓ Guiding Quote or Mantra?
“Nothing changes if nothing changes” and “How you do one thing, is how you do all things”

❓ Name a podcast you can't stop listening to or a book you can't stop reading.
Huge podcaster and audibooker here. I listen to a variety of topics and don’t have a favorite but here are some of the ones I listen to regularly.

- We Can do Hard Things
- Unbiased Science
- Sigma Nutrition
- You are Not so Smart

In the past year, I read/listened to two books that left a big mark “The Body is not an Apology” and “Unworthy Republic”

06/16/2022

We are so incredibly grateful for the support we've received from Next with Kyle Clark's Word of Thanks campaign! Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation's Mothers' Milk Bank program was the featured nonprofit last week and we've raised nearly $40,000 as a result! If you would still like to give you can here: http://ow.ly/xq1a50JyzHP

A huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed already. You are making a huge difference for babies and families in Colorado! 💙 Again, thanks to Kyle and the team at 9News for spreading the word!

06/12/2022

In honor of National Children's Day, we want to celebrate and say THANK YOU for all the ways you have helped families and children in need. Whether you have donated your precious milk to the Mothers' Milk Bank, contributed to matching a child with a canine companion through the Stink Bug Project, or supplied toys or other necessities to our Patient and Family Assistance Program, YOU make a difference in the health of the children we serve. http://ow.ly/rVMs50Jt1Jg

05/10/2022

Happy National Pet Month! 🐾

Do you know a family whose child is facing medical challenges and could use the loving companionship of a dog? Does that sound like your family? Apply today to adopt a dog through The Stink Bug Project! Head to http://ow.ly/GQIq50J3vwf for more information and to get started.

05/08/2022

"To the world, you are a mother. But to your family, you are the world." 💙

Happy Mothers' Day, from our team and our mamas!

05/06/2022

"Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn't know you had and dealing with fears you didn't know existed." - Linda Wooten

Cheers to all the fearless moms out there! No matter what stage of motherhood you're in or what challenges you're facing, we're celebrating you this week!

05/03/2022

💐 5 Days til Mothers' Day! 💐

We are honored to see and hear stories of inspiring moms every single day. Moms who fight tirelessly to support their baby in the NICU. Moms who spend hours upon hours pumping milk for not only their own baby, but for other babies who need it. Moms who miraculously find a way to take care of the people around them, even as they are battling their own health issues. Incredible, inspiring, courageous moms.

This year, help us make Mothers' Day extra special with a tribute gift in honor of the moms in your life! Your gift will help us continue providing critical support like:
💙 making donor human milk available to all babies with a medical need, regardless of financial circumstances
💙 providing gas cards, grocery cards, mortgage/rent payments, and more for families who are facing life with a sick or injured child
💙 bringing joy to a family amidst ongoing medical challenges with the adoption of a Stink Bug Project dog
💙 and so much more!

Make your tribute gift at rmchildren.org/give and be a part of making magic happen for families throughout our community!

04/23/2022

Happy Grand Reopening, Cosmos Dog Bakery & Pet Supplies! So fun getting to see the shop's new look this week. Pop by before 5pm today to celebrate their Grand Reopening with them! And keep an eye out for The Stink Bug Project biscuits. A portion of each bag goes to support our dog adoptions! 💙 🐾

04/22/2022

Meet Molly! In this week's , we're thrilled to introduce our newest team member: Molly Bankston. Molly works with our Stink Bug Project and Patient & Family Assistance programs and it has been a joy having her on the team!

❔ Why Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation?
The impact that this organization makes on families in the region is enormous. The mission spoke to me on many levels, and I just wanted to be part of this team and use my skills to help kids and families going through some really hard stuff. Though I have only been here a short time, I can say it’s the most meaningful job I have ever had.

❔ What's one of your goals for the year?
One of my goals is to connect with more area non-profits, businesses, and community groups to help us serve our families even more.

❔ When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an actress and work in theater/film. It always has made me happy to entertain people. I have said for many years that if I couldn’t entertain people, I wanted to help them, and I finally get to do that at RMCHF.

❔ What has been your favorite moment of impact here?
In the short time I have been here, I have seen the impact we have on the community every day. But my favorite, so far, was with The Stink Bug Project, seeing a young girl meet her companion dog match. In the hour or so we were there, I witnessed her trepidation and fear melt away. It was such an uplifting experience.

❔ What's one thing you just can't stop listening to? (podcast or music)
I haven’t found any new podcasts lately, but I have been listening to Billy String’s album “Renewal” on repeat since last fall. Very excited to see them at Red Rocks in May!

Happy Friday, everyone! ☀️

04/01/2022

Meet Rothie! For this week's , we connected with our shipping and receiving guru, Rothie Uch. Rothie has been with the Foundation for over five years, working on our Mothers' Milk Bank team to make sure our precious donor human milk gets where it needs to go, safe and sound.

❔ Tell us about a moment where you really felt the impact of your work.
One of my favorite moments here at the organization that I felt like I was making an impact was when, I got a call from a mom looking for milk for her baby. When I answered the phone she sounded frantic and sad. We were the third Milk Bank that she had reached out to for milk. Throughout the 15 minute call, I reassuring her that we were here for her and we were going to get her taken care of. I could hear the sound of relief and joy in her tone of voice. To me that was magical and made me feel like I was doing my job.

❔ What's one of your goals for the year?
One of my goals for 2022 is to keep up a healthy lifestyle. I'd also like to travel outside the U.S and see the world. Also, to continue to learn and grow each day to be the best version of myself.

❔ What's the best advice you've ever received?
Some of the best advice that I have been given is: “It doesn’t matter what you did in the past or yesterday, what you do today and the days that follow are what counts."

❔ What's your guiding mantra?
My guiding mantras are. “It is what it is” and “ I choose peace over drama and distance over disrespect.”

❔ When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I knew I wanted to have be successful and have resources, while still being a kind, humble, and genuine person—someone my younger siblings could look up to. Family is important, and I'm hopeful to have kids of my own someday. The right woman will come along—and when she does I’ll know A LOT about breastfeeding!

03/28/2022

Since March is Child Life Month, we figured it was the perfect time to give a shout-out to our dear friends on the Child Life team at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. Kristan, Coree, and Kara do so much to help make sure children have the best experience possible in the hospital, and we are so grateful to work with them as an extension of our mission.

Learn more about their team in our latest post at http://ow.ly/eFUS50IusuZ

Our work depends on collaboration with people and organizations in our community. In our It Takes a Village series, we introduce you to some of the people who play an important role in achieving our mission.

03/25/2022

There's nothing better than being surrounded by a community that believes in your mission.

Here at Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation, we're fortunate to have an abundance of people and organizations working alongside us to help sick children and families. One such group is the Saint Frances Cabrini Piecemakers, a group of quilters who give their time and energy to create beautiful quilts for the children we serve.

In our first of many Q&As with our community partners, meet Donna and the Piecemakers. ♥️

http://ow.ly/soFX50Isxo1

Our work depends on collaboration with people and organizations in our community. In our It Takes a Village series, we introduce you to some of the people who play an important role in achieving our mission.

03/18/2022

Meet Elizabeth! Elizabeth is part of our development team here at Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation and once wanted to be a paleontologist! Learn more about her in this week's .

❔ Why RMCHF?
I'm all about direct community assistance, and that's what we do at RMCHF. Sick babies get milk, struggling families get money. I can't give every person holding on a street corner enough to get a hotel room, but I can support my team in making sure people stay housed.

❔ What's one of your goals for the year?
A personal goal for 2022 is to make myself one full outfit from scratch. I'm an avid knitter and crocheter, and garment-making fascinates me!

❔ Do you have a guiding quote/mantra?
Ursula K. Le Guin once wrote in The Dispossessed, "Free your mind of the idea of deserving, the idea of earning, and you will be able to think." I am no better or worse than the people we serve. Once I set that aside, I can truly do my work.

❔ When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be paleontologist! That was years ago, but I can still tell you that Mary Anning discovered the first correctly identified skeleton of an ichthyosaur when she was twelve. Goals, right?

❔ Let's talk podcasts. What's your favorite right now?
I'm working on a full listen of Welcome to Night Vale, a podcast in the style of community radio updates from a strange, supernatural desert town. The best part of every episode is the "weather" - a different indie artist is highlighted every broadcast!

03/01/2022

Part of what makes The Stink Bug Project so powerful is the depth of the impact companion dogs have on children and their families. This week, we received a special note from one of our Stink Bug recipients, Brooke, who was matched with her sweet pup Topaz years ago:

"I wanted to reach out to you guys to say thank you so much for the Stink Bug Project. I lost Topaz to what the vets at CSU hospital thought to be an aggressive cancer, after a week-long stay for him there in November. I cannot even begin to explain what he meant to me during my cancer treatment and beyond, he was my best friend for over a decade and coming home to him was one of my favorite parts of every day. I was beyond lucky to have him and his love for so many years. The Stink Bug Project made my whole life during chemo treatments, college, and medical school infinitely better. I know you all have impacted so many lives in such a huge way through matching people with the perfect pets. I so appreciate all the work you do to make friendships like mine and his possible." — Brooke, Stink Bug Project recipient

Brooke, thank you for sharing your story! It's words like these that inspire us to keep doing what we're doing, and we are so happy to know how much of an impact Topaz had on your life. Thinking of Topaz today and sending you and your family the biggest hug!

02/24/2022

After being diagnosed with a form of kidney cancer called Wilms Tumor, A'miree needed a pick-me-up. Her one-year-old brother Amil just had open heart surgery and their family was struggling with the weight of it all. That's when her mom heard about The Stink Bug Project and they welcomed Ace into their family.

https://vimeo.com/677304642

Learn more and support The Stink Bug Project—along with the other programs at Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation—at rmchildren.org.

Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for families, sick children and infants throughout our communities…

02/23/2022

We're hiring! Are you looking for a position where you can make a real impact on your local community? Look no further! We're hiring new team members to help us grow the Foundation as we help thousands more families, sick children, and infants.

Learn more and apply online at rmchildren.org/employment.

02/18/2022

Sunday is National Love Your Pet Day! At The Stink Bug Project, we are so grateful for being a part of the magic that companion dogs provide the children and families we serve. Why do you love your pet??

02/11/2022

Come work with us! We're seeking a data aficionado to help support our programs, including The Stink Bug Project! 🐾

Calling all data lovers! Do you thrive on databases and reporting AND want a job where you can engage with people throughout the community? Are you equal parts analyzer and connector, and want to make a positive local impact? We have a job for you!

We're currently hiring a Program Support Specialist to contribute to the success of our Patient and Family Assistance, Mothers' Milk Bank, and Stink Bug Project programs. Learn more and apply online at rmchildren.org/employment.

01/18/2022

In honor of the late, great Betty White's 100th birthday this week, people across the world are donating to organizations that connect people with wonderful animals. Help us applaud her amazing legacy with a gift to The Stink Bug Project! We have big goals for 2022, and we need your help matching more kiddos who have serious medical conditions with loving companion dogs. Donate today at rmchildren.org/give

01/14/2022

Meet our latest Stink Bug duo! We are thrilled to share that we recently matched pup Kai with a wonderful family, and they've been cozying up and playing in the snow ever since! 😊🐾❤️

01/06/2022

We'd like to thank everyone again for making our 2021 one of our most successful yet! You truly helped improve the quality of life for infants, sick children, and families throughout our communities when and how they needed it most. We're so excited to see what we can do in 2022, together.

01/01/2022

Happy 2022! Thank you so much for the support you've given pediatric patients and their families this year—together, we made a huge impact in 2021. As we roll into the new year, your friends at Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation are wishing you and yours all the best.

12/28/2021

When brave Mayelli rang the bell that signified the end of her leukemia treatment, her friends and family could not have been more proud. After being diagnosed at just two years old, Mayelli's long battle with cancer never took away her smile and inspiring courage. But Mayelli's two-and-a-half years of treatment presented emotional, physical, and financial problems for her family. Her mother was struggling to stay strong in an unimaginable situation.

When times got tough, our big-hearted donors enabled our Foundation to offer financial support through the Patient & Family Assistance program, helping Mayelli's family stay afloat through her treatment and diagnosis. Their donations meant that Mayelli's family could focus on her recovery without the overwhelming financial stress.

Every donation to Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation makes an immediate impact on families like Mayelli's. Why wait until 2022 to help those in need? Your gift will make a difference today. You can donate now at rmchildren.org/mayelli.

Read more about Mayelli and her journey to recovery at rmchildren.org/mayellis-story.

12/25/2021

Your friends at Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation are wishing you a holiday season full of joy, love, and a little bit of childlike wonder! ❄️🙂💖

12/23/2021

Our team was in the holiday spirit yesterday with our annual cookie swap and ugly sweater day! ❄️☃️

What are your plans for the holidays?

12/22/2021

By the time she was four years old, Azalea had lost mobility in most of the muscles in her arms, legs, and abdomen. After several misdiagnoses, doctors pinpointed her condition as Juvenile Dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune disease affecting the muscles and skin.

Azalea's road to recovery hasn't been smooth. After years of grueling treatment, Azalea's ups and downs were hard on her whole family. Things were especially tough on Azalea's younger sister, Frida. She wanted to be there for her big sister, but watching someone she loves live through the constant pain was heartbreaking.

That's when Azalea's mom found The Stink Bug Project which connected Azalea with Abra, a wonderful and loving furry friend that's brought joy and comfort to the whole family.

This holiday season, help us match more companion dogs with kids like Azalea. Your donation to Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation will ease the stress and challenges brought on by a heartbreaking medical diagnosis.

Give now at rmchildren.org/azalea to help another child in need.

Read more about Azalea's journey to finding The Stink Bug Project at rmchildren.org/azaleas-story

12/20/2021

There's still time left to provide essential items to pediatric patients and families this season!

We are still in need of baby toys this year—please help us get families what they need by purchasing baby toys from our Amazon Wishlist, or dropping off donations this week!

Thank you for your support! You can purchase from our Amazon Wishlist at amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/PH9SRKNFANPD

12/16/2021

Hannah gave birth to beautiful twins Promesa and Hazel at just 29 weeks. Her family's journey was not something she had imagined—for 91 days, the newborn twins fought for their lives in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

When the family was finally home, Hazel began having issues eating. Unable to stomach formula, Hazel needed a diet of 100% breastmilk. But with two babies to feed, Hannah had already been struggling to keep her supply up enough to meet their needs.

That's when Hannah found Mothers' Milk Bank, a program of Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation, which provided precious donor human milk to Promesa and Hazel. Thanks to our selfless milk donors and generous financial donors, the twins had the liquid gold they needed in order to grow and thrive.

With nearly one in ten babies born preterm in the US every year, Mothers' Milk Bank needs your help. Your donation this holiday season will let us to reach more fragile infants in NICUs across the country. Together, we can provide the gift that lasts a lifetime to babies like Promesa and Hazel.

Help more fragile babies in need by donating at rmchildren.org/promesa-and-hazel

Read more about Hannah's journey at rmchildren.org/promesa-hazels-story