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Empty Crib Project
The Empty Crib Initiative
“Continuing Erin’s Dream”
In the summer of 2005, Erin Curtis learned that she was pregnant with her first child. It signaled the start of a traditional nesting ritual to accumulate all of the modern day baby paraphernalia that mothers use to raise their children. In just a few short weeks, a friends and family baby shower plus a few shopping expeditions yielded all of the necessary parenting tools needed, including the high chair, car seat, walker, stroller and of course the centerpiece – the crib.
Life as new parents started very ordinary for Erin and Jeff when they brought their beautiful daughter Avery home from the hospital. Five months later, all that would change very quickly when doctors informed them that their daughter had ALL – Infant Leukemia. Just 11 months after that fateful diagnosis, Erin and Jeff bid farewell to their infant daughter at the age of 16 months. The couple was devastated.
Erin remembers how many of the things that were once icons of happiness became very painful reminders of their unfulfilled dreams. The high chair, car seat, walker, stroller and crib sat empty and silent. The gifts that friends and family had showered them now haunted this young family. But a glimmer of hope seemed to appear on the horizon when Erin learned that she was pregnant again – this time with twins.
Any mother who has ever lost a child will tell you that the birth of the next child does not eclipse the pain of the child that they have lost. However, it does provide the opportunity for a mother and father to love and nurture a new young life again. In time, it gives grieving parents the hope that they will be able to share the precious stories and legacy of a sibling that the next child will never know. It is a bittersweet experience that is only fully understood by those who have lost an infant child.
In August 2008, Nolan and Calvin, came into the world. These young twin brothers now needed double the child rearing equipment. Once again friends and family rallied around this young family and provided the extra parenting tools and products including the extra high chair, car seat, walker, stroller and another centerpiece – a crib. When the twins were born, there was also a rebirth of hope that Erin and Jeff could get back on track to a normal life, despite the pain that remained from the death of Avery.
In was just four short months, their dream turned back into a nightmare – an eerily similar nightmare. Nolan was diagnosed with the very same ALL – Infant Leukemia that had claimed the life of his older sister. What are the odd of this occurring? Sadly, this young family had made medical history by having the very first non-identical twin siblings to ever contract this form of infant cancer. The comforting words of doctors who assured this young family that they would not face the same medical calamity were simply mistaken.
A two month battle with infant leukemia eventually claimed the life of Nolan, just as it had done with Avery. At the age of 28, Erin was burying her second child. Even then, the nightmare was not completely over. Remember, Nolan and Calvin were identical twins. When Nolan contracted the ALL – infant leukemia, it also raised the distinct possibility and odds that Calvin could also acquire this dreaded disease. Doctors informed Erin and Jeff that their only remaining child would need to undergo regular monthly testing and be monitored for signs and symptoms that the young family knew all too well.
By now, you might think that this young family would simply curl up and die. Who could blame them? However, it has often been said that you never want to get between a mother bear and her cubs. The same is true of Erin Curtis. When circumstance simply walked in and snatched her beautiful cubs, Erin came out of her den with a fierce determination. She was determined to make a difference in her life and the life of others and defeat the intentions of cruel circumstance whenever possible.
The very symbols that had brought her pain would eventually become the focus of her fundraiser called “The Empty Crib”. Curtis and her supporters are appealing to young families throughout their region to donate their empty high chairs, car seats, walkers, strollers and especially the centerpiece of her fundraiser – the cribs. She plans to resell them at a fraction of their value to other young mothers who are in need of baby equipment and may not be able to afford full retail prices.
The profits from “The Empty Crib” fundraiser will support Erin’s Dream, a grass roots effort that was started by Erin and some of her friend, family and blog followers. The double nightmare of losing two children left Erin and Jeff financially devastated, as well as emotionally devastated. This young family is looking to rebuild their own life, but not without reaching out to every other young family they encounter who may be living a similar nightmare. “It’s not just about me”, said Erin. “I want to support every young family that I can.”
Erin’s Dream managed to raise a few thousand dollars at its first fundraiser in early October. The proceeds from that event were originally intended to help Erin and Jeff’s current financial dilemma and medical debt. In the mean time, Erin met Adam and Karen Owens. This young family has a chronically ill child. They live in a second floor apartment in Pottstown and carry their severely ill child up and down two flights of stairs between his bedroom and a 300 lb. medical wheelchair that cannot be carried or used in his present housing.
Much of the funds from Erin’s first fundraiser are now going into what is being called a “Miracle Home Make-Over” that Erin has helped to orchestrate for the Owens family. Erin inspired the acquisition of a single home just outside Boyertown where the family can comfortably tend to the care and needs of their son, Gavin. Erin said, “I know what it is like to squeeze all of the love and care that you have in your heart for your child into just a few short months of life. I want Adam and Karen to be able to cherish every moment with Gavin without the complications of inadequate housing.”
The Empty Crib fundraiser that is being run through Erin’s Dream will also help to benefit and offset costs that are being invested into the miracle home makeover for the Owens family. The group needs to raise nearly $30,000 for necessary upgrades to the home to make it handicap accessible and comfortable for Gavin and his room full of medical equipment. Hopefully, much of the money will come from the resale of well maintained baby equipment from families who have been blessed with healthy children.
If you or someone you know has good quality high chairs, car seats, walkers, strollers or cribs that they would be willing to donate to a good cause, you can contact Erin via e-mail at cribs@erinsdream.com . If you are unable to drop off your items at her warehouse location in Boyertown, she has volunteers who will come to your home to pick up the items. Erin is only looking for quality items that can be resold through her fundraiser. Products that are damaged or that have been recalled by the manufacturer will not be accepted.
You can learn more about Erin’s story at www.erinsdream.org or make donations on-line. Most importantly, you can pass this story onto other families who may be willing to help through the donation of lightly used baby equipment that will bless young families who are struggling financially and support Erin’s Dream.
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