Lily's Hope Foundation

Lily's Hope Foundation a 501 C3 founded by John Kunes and his daughter Jessica after her first child spent 30 days in the NICU (neonatal Intensive Care Unit) in 2010.  Lily was born 2 months early and spent her first month hooked up to machines that helped her breath.  A lot of preemies have lung issues and need help breathing their fist few months.  She spent the next 5 years battling the effects of a premature birth from surgeries to speech issues which she overcame with lots of TLC and prayers.  During her time in the NICU Jessica and her husband realized that no one entered the NICU expecting to be there.  As Jessica said it was an experience I will never forget.  In 2012 she started Lily's hope realizing that when parents are in the NICU they tend to live their lives and forget about the necessities of life.  Lily's Hope provides some of the necessities for the parents of the children in the NICU. 

       Lily's hope provides help not based on socio-economic status but based on the need.  Families often do not realize their babies need special diapers (preemie diapers), often they need a special diet extra small blankets etc are provided by the First "Aid" Squad of Lily's hope.  Also mothers need access to breast pumps and refrigeration since they often cannot breast feed their babies.  Since 2013 Lily's Hope has helped over 500 families and keep helping more families every year.  They do not have enough resources to help every family but they sure try to. As of last Thursday just Lehigh Valley Hospital Center which has 35 NICU bed....... all of them were in use.  Add to that Lily's hope helps at St Luke's, Grandview and St. Mary's Medical Center.  

        Last year (2015)Jessica had her second child and he too was a preemie, Aiden was born in the NICU and he is doing well today.  Jessica and Lily's hope foundation does its best to help all families with a little love during their stay in the NICU or when they return home.  They also provide toys and such to siblings during this stressed time in a families life.  Lily's Hope along with their new mascot Hope the Hippo, are doing their very best to help out families struggling and juggling their lives and their child's life.  If you would like more information please go to lilyshopefoundation.org.  Below and above are some examples of the care packages families receive from Lily's Hope Foundation.