Family Gives Back to NICU to Show Gratitude

Having experienced the relatively smooth birth of their first daughter in 2014, Tanya Janes and Adam Broder were a little less nervous the second time around. They had their hospital bags packed and a birth plan ready when Tanya went into labor on her due date in June 2016.

But just a few hours later, a medical crisis changed everything. Tanya learned she would need an emergency cesarean section to save her baby’s life. Then, when baby Julia was born, the infant had trouble breathing. Julia was quickly taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, where she spent the first three weeks of her life.

During their stay, Tanya and Adam grew close to the neonatologists, nurses and other caregivers who supported them through one of the scariest experiences of their lives.

“Everyone who cared for us was wonderful, and it was amazing to see the teamwork in the NICU,” Tanya says. “They showed so much compassion and managed to keep us on an even keel every step of the way.”

Last year, when Adam learned his company offered a matching gift program, he and Tanya knew instantly where they wanted to make a donation.

“The doctors and nurses at Shady Grove really went above and beyond for our family,” Adam says. “Giving back felt like a tangible way to show our appreciation and make an impact for other families in some small way.”