My time in the NICU was brief—just 28 hours. But those hours are etched into my memory as some of the most impactful and difficult moments of my life. I remember feeling overwhelmed and utterly helpless, my body weak from exhaustion and my mind clouded by fear and confusion. Nothing prepares you for the helplessness of watching your newborn struggle while all you can do is stand by, hoping and praying for strength.
My son, Harrison, passed away during that time, leaving me with a heartbreak I could never have imagined. I stayed in the hospital for two more days, needing time to physically recover from my C-section. Yet, my heart felt broken beyond repair. The morning after Harrison’s passing, I found myself drawn back to his room. I sat quietly for a few hours, watching the nurses, the other parents, and the staff who worked tirelessly to care for these fragile little lives. As I watched, a realization struck me deeply: in this place of immense love and pain, there was an overwhelming need for support, connection, and understanding…. No one will understand what the NICU is like, like other NICU parents.
Harrison’s Hugs was born from that need—a need I personally felt so intensely in the quiet, sleepless hours when fear and sadness felt endless. Harrison’s Hugs exists to offer comfort to parents who, like me, have endured moments of hopelessness. Here, you don’t have to be strong or have it all figured out; it’s a space to be real, vulnerable, and open.