On May 22, 2025 HBA received an email by way of our website from Ruby Khoury, an RN with Enloe Hospice in Chico, CA. Ruby explained that their facility used to deal only with adults, but this year so far, they have had 4 infants admitted into their facility, all with life ending illnesses. She wrote the following request to us:
"Hello, I am a hospice RN in Chico, CA; we currently have a sweet 1 month old with Trisomy 18 on hospice (life expectancy several months at best). Wondering if you would be able to donate a gender neutral white gown for him (he is 5.5 lbs know). Thank you, Ruby Khoury, RN Enloe Hospice;
Sally, our secretary, contacted Ruby by phone and explained that we will send several different size outfit sets for this baby, but also will send a complete delivery donation containing about 80 infant bereavement items so she can keep some on hand for her facility and dispense the rest of our donation to the local labor and delivery hospitals in her area. The shipment was sent out on May 23rd.
On May 30th 2025, we received the following email from Ruby Khoury, RN at Enloe Hospice:
"To say our hearts are overwhelmed by your generosity is an understatement. The box packed and prepared with such love arrived today. We opened it with tears running down our faces; so so thankful to have wonderful humans who do not even know us help us in caring for our tiniest patients.
We are currently taking care of this sweet little bundle of joy; our hearts fill with grief knowing he will not be with us long; he has a syndrome that is NOT compatible with life and will live several months at best. Our hospice is glad to be able to support the parents to have him home with them at the end of his life.
The gift of your sweet gown (and FULL set) will mean so much to them. They plan to have a dedication service at the house (he is not stable to be taken out) for him and will have him wear the gown that ALL YOU WONDERFUL people put together for him. They know they will be receiving this gift from your organization (but due to HIPPA: I cannot give you his name) and wanted me to say “thank you” on their behalf. They are a bit overwhelmed with the full time care they have to provide while getting to keep this baby at home, thus they do not have time to send their own “thank you”.
The rest of the wonderful outfits: will ALL be utilized for babies lost too soon. We plan to share them with our own rural hospital and with another local hospital in Northern California (with the OB and small NICU units); both hospitals will also know that these are gifts from your wonderful organization.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Ruby Khoury, RN"