By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register.news.com

MT. VERNON — Each year, thousands of babies are admitted to neonatal intensive care units for specialized care. Of those admitted, many babies are premature, weighing less than a pound and too small for commercially sold newborn clothing. And as parents rush off to be near their child, packing an overnight case is far from their minds.

During their time spent at Cardinal Glennon Hospital last year, Brittany Willis and Beth Ouellette recognized a need for the support of parents of children being cared for in the NICUs.

Both women have been working to gather care kits for parents who stay at Cardinal Glennon and have also been working with Newborns in Need, an organization whose members handcraft blankets, hats and clothes for premature babies. They will host a benefit baby shower at noon Saturday at 4337 Lilac Lane, Mt. Vernon.

Willis, after a year of trying to get pregnant through infertility methods, gave birth at 24 weeks to a son, Gavin Isaac, on June 16, 2007. Willis had a condition called an incompetent cervix, which occurs when the cervix cannot withstand the pressure of the pregnancy.

“There was no signs whatsoever — no contractions. By the time we discovered what was happening, it was too late to perform a surgery that would help the cervix stay closed,” said Willis.

When Gavin was born, he weighed 1 1⁄2 pounds and was 12 inches long. “You can’t buy an outfit for a baby that small,” she said.

And days later, when the doctor called her and informed her of Gavin’s declining health, Willis rushed to her son’s side. “As a parent, you don’t wait. You just stop and go and don’t think about it for a moment. We didn’t bother to pack toothbrushes or silly things like that. And when you stay there overnight, it’s 2 1/2 hours away.”

Gavin passed away six days after his birth on June 22, 2007. Finding a burial outfit for him was not only emotionally difficult for Willis but also difficult to find. “When our son passed away, the only thing they had was a white gown. I was lucky that my mom is an excellent seamstress and made a white tuxedo [for Gavin]. Most people don’t have that or someone they can count on to do that. My friend had the same experience.. When [her sons] passed away, there was only girl stuff or outfits too large.”

Ouellette also delivered at 24 weeks — twin boys, Daniel Joseph and Andrew Grant, born Oct. 11, 2007. “When the boys were born, they immediately transported them to Cardinal Glennon, and I didn’t have clothes or shampoo. A nurse bought me shampoo,” she said.

Daniel died five days after his birth; Andrew passed away two days after his brother. “It was so horrible — all of the machines and everything. And when they died, they wrapped them in handmade blankets ... . They were so tiny — one was 10 inches and the other 12 inches long — you can’t just go to store and buy something. Sometimes [premature] babies are just buried in a plastic bag.”

“To honor the memory of our sons,” Willis said, “we’re going to be collecting boy-themed outfits and blankets.”

Items to be collected for Newborns in Need include receiving blankets or small blankets for burial; preemie and newborn outfits; wedding dresses or white dresses — these will be taken apart by volunteer seamstresses to make burial outfits; large shopping bags with handles for delivery of items; plastic Ziploc bags of all sizes; and fabrics such as flannel, fleece and poly/cotton blend among others. However, in case of allergies, please refrain from donating wool fabrics, yarns and notions such as ribbon, lace and lace edging, quilt batting, Polyfil and plastic snaps, among others.

Willis added that both boys and girls items will be accepted, but there is a greater need for boy-themed items.

Care kits for parents include:

Both male and female travel-size, sample-size or hotel-size soap or body wash; shower loofa or washcloth; shampoo, conditioner and lotion; disposable razor and shaving cream; toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash and floss; comb or brush; notebook, journal, pens and pencils; crossword puzzles and word searches; and handled gift bags for delivery.

“These two ladies are wonderful ladies — they’ve taken on so much to help other babies,” said Ruth Hoover, president of the Greater St. Louis Chapter of Newborns in Need. “It’s so important for there to be something for these mothers when they’ve lost a baby. The things that are made are beautifully made and handsewn with lace. It just humbles my heart when I see what comes in.”

At the benefit baby shower, overnight care packages will be assembled for the parents of critically ill infants at Cardinal Glennon, and blankets and clothing will be prepared to be sent to the Greater St. Louis Chapter of Newborns in Need.

A light lunch will also be served.

For more information on the benefit, or to donate, call 244-4166 or e-mail willisfamily17@gmail.com.