Bosom Buddies

Remember a while back I told you about my sister’s charity and how my dear friend in the computer Bridgette decided she wanted to make a difference?  Well, my sister eventually got the packages from Bridgette (our postal system is v slow) and she was absolutely blown away. She wrote Bridgette a really sweet letter thanking her that I wanted to share with all of you. 

 

Many of you asked me afterwards how you could help and whether there was a website you could have a look at. Unfortunately my sister does not have a website up yet. She relies on donations and didn’t have the funds to have a website, but that is changing soon. Her church gave her some money and she is using a small portion to develop a site for the charity.  I will let you know when it is up.

 

I have also attached some pictures of the moms and my sister. You can see the bags in some of the shots.

____________________________________________________________________________________

 

30 May 2006

Dear Bridgette

 

And I do mean DEAR! Have just received your parcel from Tertia and I am so blown away by your kindness. More than the actual gorgeous blankets & things you have blessed me with, I am thrilled you have “caught the vision.” When I look at your blankets I get a lump in my throat, they are beautiful! Every so often I meet someone like you who actually gets it. This is all about a GIFT and a celebration of a newborn with their mom.

 

At present I am providing 30 gorgeous diaper bags per week which we sew. I am employing an awesome South African woman who I pay 1 day a week to sew and she works the other day for nothing. (she lives in the township so this is major!) She gets “the vision!!!!!!”

 

In each bag we put a blanket which we also sew, a vest (think u guys call it a T-shirt?), babygro, little cardigan, woolly hat, socks, a baby product, sanitary pads for mom and a packet of home baked cookies like crunchies or shortbread. We attach a card to the bag and twice a week we go down to my local state hospital and spend time with each mom praying for her and her baby and just creating some excitement when we gift them the gift.

 

Unfortunately every time I go we have a stillborn baby or a woman in labor with a stillborn. Can you imagine?! We now make sure we have a bag for her with nothing baby on it. We pack it with pads, shampoo, toothbrush and paste, soap & facecloth and cookies for the mom with a sympathy card. She shares a ward with the mothers with their newborns and my heart breaks for her. I can only hold her a while and pray for her. It’s hard.

 

The hospital is high risk so we have plenty multiples and tiny little preemies. The preemie moms live in a tiny room and kanga care their babes until they are big enough to go home. They sleep on sleeper couches at night. Because they are not patients, they only get 1 meal a day. I have now provided a kettle & cups and keep a constant supply of tea and coffee, instant soup and bread. I have also organized them washing powder and a bucket to wash their clothing. I am trying to get them a microwave sponsored as well as a radio/CD player. There is so much I would like to still do for them as well as for the nurses but I am on my way.

 

The nurses don’t have a tearoom so they go sit in the loo when they need to cry and stamp their feet and just take time out. It’s big enough to put a chair and table in so that’s the next step along with painting it out and curtains.

 

Bosom Buddies has only been going since Feb so we have made great progress already! By next year I am hoping to do every mom which is about 220 a month. Sourcing the clothing is major and the mothers in my area have been rather disappointing. I thought I would get tons of second hand clothing but so far it’s been slow.

 

BUT……….. I am trusting God for provision as he has been so faithful so far!! Once I have everything down pat I intend to go to other areas to “sell” the idea so woman in those communities can take care of their own state hospital.

Anyway, a little about me……..

 

35 years old

Married to

Gary

Mom of Daniel who turns 10 in July, Rebeka who turns 4 next month, and Sofia who turns 2 next month

Doula by profession but never done a paid birth

Running Bosom Buddies Charity

Love the beach, my family, babies and mothers

Have always had a heart for African woman

Have 2 bunnies and 2 rats

Have NO dogs………they poo on my grass, sniff my groin, chew the toys, eat my kid’s food and lick their faces with their gross saliva. (have just looked after dogs for 2 months!)

 

If you have friends who have unwanted decent newborn or 1^st size baby clothes and want to bless us, please ask them to keep aside for us. I know postage is expensive so you can post it locally to:

 

Gary Novitzkas
c/o Philip Antoniadis – VeriSign Inc
487 East Middlefield Road, Mountain View, CA 94043 - M/S MV6-1-2

My husband travels to the States every quarter so he can pick it up when he is there.

If the postage people are willing to give you a good deal for charity then my postal address is:

 

Melanie Novitzkas

PO Box

2748

Somerset West

7129

Cape Province

SOUTH AFRICA

 

Thanks again. I still cannot believe someone who is so far away and doesn’t even know these mothers is so incredibly kind and loving. I really wish you could come with me to the hospital one day. It is so humbling and amazing, sometimes heartbreaking and always incredible. I am privileged to be doing this.

 

Mel

xxxxxxxxxxx

 

Comments

[Bridgette]

Thank you for posting this for me T. I really appreciate the thanks and praise I have gotten for the blankets. And I do get it. I can't imagine having a newborn with very little, or nothing for it. It is scary enough leaving the hospital knowing you are responsible for a brand new life. But to not have the neccesary things for that baby must be overwhelming. I love that I have found a way to help.

A little about me:

39
Married to Jon for almost 14 years
Daughter Kelsey, who just turned 17
Son Jonathan, who just turned 3
Also have 2 bunnies
2 birds
1 dog
1 cat
too many fish to count
Supervisor at a local pharmacy
I just learned to crochet in, um, I think September

I'm very thankful that Tertia told me a little about the situation there. I knew it was bad for alot of the people, but until she really talked about how bad, it didn't click. Once I read about it through her words, I really started to think. It took me awhile before I figured out what I could do, but once I got it, I was so excited! I love that I can help, even if it just something small.

The shipping is pretty pricey, and they are so picky about what I send. Sending the packages to the States would make it so much easier. Plus I always worry the packages are going to get lost or damaged. Not to mention how long it takes to get them there. They tell me at the post office it takes 4-6 weeks. It actually takes 10-12. There is 1 more package on its way, and one more I just need to wash, pack and send. Another friend of mine, Charmaine, sent me a bunch of sunglasses, so each package will now have a pair of those in it too.

This little project has become so dear to my heart. Each one of these blankets, even the ones I didn't make, really comes with alot of love. One day, I hope to make it to Africa and hand out some of the blankets myself. And thank YOU for doing all you are doing. You and your sister inspired me to find a way to help.

[Jodie Buckland]

Mel, Bridgette and Tertia - you guys rock! I'm a screaming athiest but still a reasonably nice person and I completely get the whole concept. I think you are doing a wonderful job for these women, and their babies. And the whole community.

[DebbieS]

I just remembered something...at the baby resale shop I frequent, when a customer brings in clothes for consignment and they're not sold within 3 months, they donate those clothes to charity. I'm on really good terms with the owner (I spend my clothes budget for Seph almost exclusively there), so I'm going to approach her this week about donating the tinier stuff to Bosom Buddies. Now, how about everyone else seeing if their local consignment shops might do the same? They often have really great stuff, too, the one here is better than going to Target, and I loves me some Target! Teria, maybe you could post this as an idea?

[DebbieS]

Stupid haven't-had-my-coffee-yet typo. Sorry, T-e-r-t-i-a.

[paola]

Hi Melanie

I had a horrible labour and birth experience in our huge Central London First World hospital but now feel so ungrateful for complaining when I read what conditions are like for these women. You are doing the most incredible job - I think it's wonderful to take the time to celebrate with the mothers as well as giving gifts.

I would like to donate something. I don't think I have many suitable second hand clothes, but was thinking of buying a couple of packs of cute onesies and sending them over. Or would money be easier? I would imagine that it would stretch much further over there than here in the UK. Could Tertia put a Paypal donations button on her site? Let me know what is best to do...

And, you're amazing

Paola xx

[Dallas]

Yeah! a paypal donation button would be fantabulous, then those of us without kids (and therefore, without used kid stuff) could send cash...

[-Blue]

Yes a PayPal button would be lovely! Every dollar counts.

You mentioned that she had some money for a website now ... does she have hosting? I would be DELIGHTED to build a website for her for free if she has hosting that supports FrontPage extentions.

Please let me know.

-Blue

[Lioness]

This is simply a fabulous thing, kudos to your sister for caring. I second the paypal button.

[Jen3]

Oh, I'm thoroughly inspired. I love to knit, especially baby blankets ... and I would enjoy nothing more than to make some for these moms & babies. I just need to figure out the best way to get them to you. I'm thinking shipping to California and then having your BIL pick them up when he is in the States.

Although, I will find out if there are any discounted rates for shipping overseas if for charity ...

[Amber]

May I use the CA, USA address as well? I have plenty of new born stuff, most with new tags, as my child came out of me wearing 3-6 months closing...please let me know.

[Cristy]

I would love to make little hats and socks to send! I'll get to work right away. YOur sis in an inspiration! :)

[Kelly]

Mel might want to consider providing the mothers of children born still with a shirt and socks, something they can put the baby in and then keep.

I know myself along with many mothers of children born still always appreciated having these things.

[Kelly]

Oh and if she needs hosting, I will be happy to provide that for free. Blue, I can take FP extensions.

[Blondie]

I am in tears...what a beautiful family in all forms and fashions that you are from Tertia... I will see what I can do to help also.

Thank you so much for sharing this and many, MANY thanks to your sister...

[mare_imbrium]

I live in California so shipping to Mountain View would be very affordable for me, but I have a question. I'd love to send some more things for the mothers themselves, soo...
1) What kinds of small things would be most useful to these women for themselves? Hair clips was what sprang to mind. If that would be useful, what kind? Or maybe hand lotion?
2) What is the incidence of breastfeeding with these moms? Would nursing pads (either disposible or washable) be a good thing to send?
3) Blankets seem to be covered. What about pouch-type slings? They are easy to sew.

Also, I'll also agree a paypal link would go a long way to help you towards your goals of buying things like a table and chair and microwave. You might need to have someone in the states or England host it for you though, as Tertia had to do with the link for Rose's surgery.

[Woody's Girl]

Won't your BIL be overwhelmed with stuff to "carry" home, if we all send it to CA? Or can he put it in the cargo area (baggage check?) of the plane? Er, um... maybe he'd need to bring extra suitcases in that event?

You may have just opened the floodgates, Tertia. ;-)

XOXOXO
Jennifer

[amy]

Sorry if I missed this in the original info, but is there a way to send money to the charity as well so that they can use for the radio, materials, etc.?

[blythe]

I have a box full of baby clothes looking for a new home, and would love to send them to mountain view. Is inundation going to be a problem? I would even be willing to pay for the shipping to SA, just don't have the time to figure out how to do it all. Also, would cloth diapers be helpful? I have a pile of prefolds that need new homes. I third the idea of a paypal button and/or a wishlist on your website.

[projgen]

Tertia, your sister sounds amazing! And Bridgette, I gave you kudos when T first mentioned what you are doing, but you deserve so much more!

May I humbly make a suggestion to everyone who wants to help Bosom Buddies? What Melanie is doing is awesome, but most of us live in areas with women in similar situations. Perhaps we all could do a 1:1 giving. One blanket to send to Bosom Buddies, and one blanket for your local hospital/charity/organization. One warm cap to BB, one to your local. Etc.

It would be incredible to help everyone, but if we all did the 1:1, we get to help Melanie's organization AND our own communities.

[Amy]

I think Angela Jolie should know about this organization. Think what HER input could give. Now let me email her.. ;) Great job!!

[At Home Mom]

I was very impressed to read about Bosom Buddies. It is wonderful that there are people who care so much out there. I am a Canadian expat living in Guatemala and the public hospitals here see about 30-50 women give birth every day. Many of them have very little for their infants as well. I´m inspired to see if I can start a similar program down here for Guatemalan mothers! Hope you don´t mind if I borrow the idea!

[aruba beach wedding]

anything to do with charities i am in. Where can i send money for this. Please post on here.