Seven year old hero supports preemies

This month, November 2019, we will be working with Preemie Brothers. The preemie hero, Nolan, born at 26 weeks gestation, is raising money for purchasing Lulla dolls for preemies.

Additionally, RoRo will match the number of Lulla dolls Preemie brothers will donate in this fundraising effort.

Lulla doll has helped children in NICUs all over the world and we’ve seen the impact the doll can have on preemies first hand.

November is Prematurity Awareness Month

Prematurity Awareness Month, which is honored in November, is a part of the March of Dimes Prematurity Awareness Campaign which began in 2003. A month to raise awareness of preterm birth worldwide and the many concerns of preterm babies and their families.

An estimated 15 million babies around the world are born premature every year, or about 1 in 10 babies. In the United States alone, around 380.000 babies are born prematurely each year or 9,8%. The U.S. preterm birth rate is among the worst of high-resource nations.

Around 1 million of prematurely born babies die each year, which leads to preterm birth being a leading cause of infant mortality. The ones who survive can face many short- and long-term health issues.

During the Prematurity Awareness Month organizations and individuals all around the world help raise awareness about the seriousness of premature birth. November 17, the World Prematurity Day, is the largest awareness day during this month.

More research and action is needed and by raising more awareness and participating in this day we can all make a difference.

RoRo is a leader of preemie awareness in Iceland

Purple lightings have become symbols of World Prematurity Day. The purple colour in the visual identity stands for sensitivity and exceptionality.

The March of Dimes is a global leader in the fight against premature birth, and people from all over the world go purple in various ways throughout November to spread awareness that premature birth is common, serious and costly. 

Beautiful buildings and structures all over the world have lit up in purple throughout the years on November 17, such as: the Empire State building in New York, Niagara Falls, The Christchurch International Airport Terminal in New Zealand, Blackpool Tower in England, Munich Olympic Tower, Germany and The Riverbank Bridge in Australia.

This year, we collaborated with well known, beautiful buildings in Iceland that were lit up in purple on the World Prematurity Day, taking the initiative to light up in purple in Iceland and raise awareness for the cause.

Buildings that were lit up in Iceland are: Harpa (the conference and music hall of Reykjavik), Perlan (Wonders of Iceland, a popular tourist attraction and host of the indoor Ice cave museum), The University of Iceland and Hof (the Cultural and conference center of Akureyri).

Preemie Brothers raise money for preemies

Julie VanDyke, a mother of two prematurely born boys born at 26 weeks 9 years apart, has been fundraising for this cause for the past 7 years in the name of Preemie Brothers. She has done a great job raising money to support her local NICU in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the recent years.

In 2017 Julie reached out to us at RoRo in regards to giving Lulla dolls, a product specially designed for prematurely born children, to the Sanford Boekelheide NICU, which is where her youngest son was after he was born. Julie brought 20 dolls to the Children's Castle in Sioux Falls, which were given in the name of Preemie Brothers. They also did a fundraiser at the same time and raised $200 to fund more dolls for the future.

In 2018, Nolan, of the  Preemie Brothers, had a birthday wish for his 6 year old birthday. His wish was to raise money to donate more Lulla dolls to the NICU he spent 131 days in when he was born! So he started a Facebook fundraiser where he raised enough money to buy 20 dolls. He loves to volunteer and help others. The staff at RoRo couldn't believe their ears when hearing this news so they decided to donate 20 additional dolls to the cause. Nolan brought 40 dolls to the NICU, giving more premature babies a chance to get a Lulla doll.

This month, November 2019, we are working with Preemie Brothers again. This great family has started a GoFundMe crowdfunding effort to raise money for purchasing Lulla dolls. All the dolls purchased will be donated to their two local NICU’s in Sioux Falls South Dakota. 

Additionally, we will match the number of Lulla dolls Preemie brothers will donate in this fundraising effort as well as donating all shipping cost of the purchased and donated dolls.

“Both my sons were NICU babies, one at Avera 16 years ago and 1 at Sanford 6 years ago, both born at 26 weeks gestation. I really wanted to do something to help ease the parents anxiety and somehow contribute to help all NICU babies not just preemies” says Julie VanDyke.

We encourage everyone to help them by donating and sharing this great crowdfunding. 

Lulla doll gives preemies a feeling of closeness

Our company, RoRo, specialises in the development of products that promote wellbeing and sleep for children and their families. The design of our first product, the Lulla doll, is based on multiple scientific research that show the positive effects of closeness and kangaroo care to the development and well-being of young children and the effects that sound, smell and sight have.

“The idea of the Lulla doll was born when our friend had her baby girl prematurely and had to leave her in the hospital every night for two weeks. With the help of doctors, nurses and midwifes I created the Lulla doll to help all children experience the comforting feeling of closeness. The Lulla doll gives the feeling that someone is always close by. I love receiving stories of how children of all ages are sleeping and feeling better with the help of the Lulla doll.” - Eyrún Eggertsdóttir, creator of the Lulla doll.

What makes the Lulla doll unique is that it imitates closeness with  sounds of real-life breathing and heartbeat, humanlike features and soft feel. The doll has helped children in NICUs all over the world and we’ve seen the impact the doll can have on preemies first hand.

The Lulla doll has already helped many premature children and has been used in a few NICUs in the US, for example at the NICU at Johns Hopkins, All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida and the Sanford Boekelheide NICU in Sioux Falls. 

Holly Spinks, Certified Nurse & Manager at eQHealth Solutions that has organized two donation project to the Sanford NICU had this to say about the Lulla doll: 

“As a nurse, I know the Lulla doll is so important to these children in the NICU as they help the baby sleep at night, as it softly “breathes” next to the baby, they are amazing for preemies.”

The Lulla doll is a multi-awarded baby sleep aid suitable from birth and beyond. It imitates closeness with its soft feel and soothing sounds of real-life breathing and heartbeat. Lulla's unique design is based on scientific research that shows how closeness improves sleep and wellbeing.

Gentle and soothing solution based on mother nature. Integrate Lulla doll into your baby’s sleep routine and use it for comfort on the go. For babies under a year old, place the Lulla doll outside of the sleep area. The natural sounds will soothe your baby and bring the comforting feeling of co-sleeping. Older children love to cuddle and bond with Lulla. Iit has helped thousands with sleep related challenges and to reduce anxiety and give comfort.

Lulla doll has helped thousands of children

✔️Falling asleep

✔️Staying asleep

✔️Sleeping in their own bed

✔️ Comfort on the go

and so much more…

 

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