PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After prematurely giving birth to twin girls who spent their earliest days and months in the NICU, Martha Sharkey and her husband Paul were determined to support other families of NICU babies.
Nearly a decade ago, the Sharkeys started the nonprofit Today is a Good Day. Partnering with 28 hospitals in seven states, they have helped thousands of families, providing everything from financial support and companionship to car seats and holiday meals.
Martha said she often prayed to hear NICU doctors use the words, “Today is a good day,” when discussing her babies’ conditions. It became the inspiration for the organization’s name.
Full-term pregnancies are 40 weeks. Martha delivered her daughters, Mary and Claire, at 23 weeks — each baby weighing just over a pound.
"Anytime the doctors or medical team members or nurses would come to us for our daily reports on Claire or Mary, we always rejoiced when the doctors would say, ’today is a good day for Claire.’ Or, at the beginning would say, before our daughter Mary passed away, ‘today is a good day for Mary.’"
Mary lived just 14 days. Claire spent 103 days in the NICU, where Martha and Paul spent their holidays.
"It is a hard time going through the holidays, which is typically such a season of joy and excitement, to be navigating those ups and downs, the roller coaster ride of the NICU."
Martha said she and Paul often felt isolated and alone during this time, not even knowing what questions to ask the doctors.
It’s one of the reasons they started their nonprofit and were able to help other parents like Silver Pyanov from Elkins Park. She was separated from her baby daughter Elsie for 40 days in the NICU. Elsie was born at just 29 weeks.
“This isn't natural,” Pyano said, “we're not supposed to be separated from our babies.”
“It is definitely scary and there's a lot of unknowns.”
Today is a good day for baby Elsie and her family, as she's now home for the holidays.
And Claire Sharkey is a healthy teenager and the lead in her school musical.
For more information on Today is a Good Day, visit their website.