Inova Children’s Hospital Celebrates One Year of Partnership with LetsGiveBack.org

FAIRFAX, VA (June 21, 2013) – Inova Children’s Hospital is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its partnership with LetsGiveBack.org.  LetsGiveBack.org has helped over 1,000 families who entered the Inova Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) by providing parents a GiveBackPack™ containing essential non-medical items.

LetsGiveBack.org was founded in 2009 and is governed by an all volunteer board.  Its mission is to support parents whose children have just been admitted (most often unexpectedly) into intensive care. LetsGiveBack.org found research identifying the first 24 hours after a child is admitted to a PICU as the most stressful period for parents.  Worry for their child, and the sudden nature of admission, catches parents unprepared on many levels.

GiveBackPacks™ contain travel-sized lotion, tissues, antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, as well as lip balm, a pen and notepad, gum, mints, and $2.00 in quarters.  The receiving family resupplies and augments their backpacks when they are able, but on that first day, these are basics.  Heather Russell, Administrator and Vice President of Inova Children’s Hospital, stated “The idea has been so well received by our doctors and nurses, who understand that the emotional state of parents makes a difference in the care of their critically ill child.”

Inova and LetsGiveBack.org are pleased to announce that this partnership will continue for another year.   You can learn more at LetsGiveBack.org.

Media Contact: Joanna Fazio, 703-776-4057

About Inova
Inova is a not-for-profit health care system located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, serving over two million people with over 1,700 licensed beds based in Northern Virginia.  Inova consists of five hospitals including the area’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care unit.  Inova encompasses many health services including the nationally and internationally recognized Inova Heart and Vascular Institute (IHVI), Inova Translational Medicine Institute (ITMI) on genomics, Inova Neuroscience Institute and Inova Children’s Hospital.  Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research.  More information about Inova can be found at www.inova.org.
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