As Weymouth resident Esther Nganga sat holding her beautiful 11-week old son, Jabari, she laughed recalling her initial skepticism of having a midwife birthing experience. “Growing up in Kenya, I always heard tales of midwives—tales of women laboring and giving birth without the option for pain intervention,” Esther said.

Earlier this year, Brave Beginnings awarded a grant to the South Shore Health Foundation & Friends to purchase two radiant warmers for our NICU. These devices, which are used when open access and external heat are simultaneously required, help provide an unsurpassed healing environment for critically-ill preemies.

Last March, just as the pandemic was ramping up in Massachusetts, Louisa dialed 9-1-1. Her husband Michael was suffering from an acute infection and needed urgent medical attention.