Brandon & Cassandra Dickerson

When Brandon and Cassandra Dickerson found out they were pregnant with twins, neither one of them expected to be in the delivery room at just 26 weeks. Their daughters, Ava and Olivia, entered the world weighing less than a pound each and with the odds stacked against them. Like all parents faced with a premature birth, Brandon and Cassandra were scared, unsure and overwhelmed. But their daughters were born with a fighting spirit. Miraculously, after four long months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Kansas City's St. Luke's Hospital, Ava and Olivia were able to go home.

 

The experience of Ava and Olivia's birth profoundly impacted the Dickerson's, and the couple began looking for a way to give back. That's when Little Warrior Princesses was born. The non-profit organization helps NICU families with transportation and food assistance during their extended stay at the hospital.

 

“No parent expects his or her child to be born early,” says Cassandra. “And almost immediately, the family begins incurring lots of unexpected, unbudgeted expenses.”

 

“There are so many things for new parents to be concerned about – especially with premature and sick babies.” Brandon adds. “Basic necessities shouldn't be one of them.”

 

Little Warrior Princesses seeks to offset some of those basic needs by providing gas and food gift cards to NICU families.

 

You can help. Please consider making a donation to Little Warrior Princesses. Even your seemingly small gift can make a huge difference. Your generosity allows families more time to focus on what is most important – their child.

 

Ava & Olivia's Arrival

When I woke up on Saturday, April 7, 2012 to get ready for work, something just didn't feel right. So I decided to call the doctor. While speaking with the on-call doctor, she encouraged me to go to the nearest ER. So, we drove to Shawnee Mission Medical Center.

 

After arriving, things went from calm to crazy very quickly. It was discovered during a physical examination, that baby A's (Ava) little feet and legs were already in the birthing canal and I was 4 cm dilated.

 

I was immediately given a steroid shot to help quickly grow the girls lungs and put in an ambulance to be transported to St. Luke's Hospital of Kansas City on the plaza. During the quiet ride from one hospital to the next, the Lord lovingly whispered, "Cassandra, everything is going to be OK. I'm here with you."

 

On Wednesday April 11th, Brandon left the hospital to go to work. He called me shortly after leaving to inform me that he had been in a motor vehicle accident, our car had been totaled and that he was being transported by ambulance to the same hospital I was at. Thankfully, Brandon was OK but - - his call sent me into active labor.

 

At 2:48 pm, Ava Elisabeth Dickerson was born weighing 15 1/2 oz and at 2:51 pm, Olivia Grace Dickerson was born weighing 1 pound, 2 oz. After spending 117 days in the NICU, Olivia was discharged on a low dose of oxygen and heart monitor. After 121 days in the NICU, Ava was discharged, also on a low dose of oxygen and heart monitor. Today, the girls are 5 and will be attending Kindergarten next year. Both girls are healthy, happy and thriving!