Last year, Jena couple Dewey and Erin Amyx were expecting baby number two, a second little girl with a due date of July 10. But in early April, health complications arose, and Blair was born on April 15, which marked the beginning of Blair’s 80-day stay in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). “My daughter came 13 weeks early, at 27 weeks’ gestation because part of the placenta detached and she wasn’t getting the blood and oxygen she needed,” Erin shared. “We started out at Cabrini’s labor and delivery, but they soon sent me by plane to Texas Children’s Hospital. They told me that they were prepared to have a midflight C-section but thankfully that wasn’t necessary, and I had the C-section the next day.” Blair was born weighing just two pounds and twelve ounces and went straight to the NICU, where she spent 80 days between the three different levels of NICU at the hospital.
During their stay, Erin quickly found that there was no devotional or Biblical resource for encouragement specific for those in the NICU. After speaking with other moms who had found the same problem, God began confirming to Erin that she had something to share.
“I felt like God was calling me to do something big with our story, but I wasn’t sure early on,” Erin said. “After lots of prayer, it became clear that God was calling me to write a NICU devotional myself.”
“In His Hands” is an 80-day devotional that includes prayers for anyone involved in the NICU journey. While several days include prayers for the baby, other days have prayers for moms and dads, the doctors and nurses, older siblings and other groups impacted during the difficult season.
“In our time in the NICU, I made sure to pray for anyone that made an impact on us during our journey, which helped in writing the devotional,” Erin shared. “There are specific prayers for the baby, like the health complications they experience during that time. And there are several prayers devoted to the parents and the trials I know they go through. The goal of the devotional is to provide other families with the comfort we needed.”
Once Erin completed “In His Hands”, she quickly set to work getting the book to other NICU families.
“I have donated books to Cabrini and Rapides in Alexandria and to St. Francis in Monroe, and I would love to partner with more hospitals in our state,” Erin said.
But Erin’s vision for this new ministry didn’t end there. Soon after the book was published, Erin founded a non-profit, also called “In His Hands”. The goal of the non-profit is to get care packages to families in NICU.
“The care packages include several things, including the devotional at no cost to anyone. And the book will be provided at printing price to those who wish to purchase a care package for someone else,” Erin continued. “I would love to eventually have diaper drives, book drives and even provide car seats as needed.”
Erin recently began a t-shirt fundraiser to raise money for more care packages and she is always looking for other opportunities to host fundraisers and events to get more resources in the hands of these families.
“I currently have the t-shirt fundraiser going and I have a fundraising night with Great American Cookie in Alexandria on May 2,” Erin shared. “I would love to do fundraisers with Jena businesses and restaurants so if anyone wants to get involved, they can contact me!”
Anyone can also get involved by purchasing books to donate to NICUs, which Erin offers at whole-sale price. The book is also available for pur-chase on Amazon.
Though her ministry is in full swing, and her baby girl is now safely home, Erin often reflects on the journey she went through and the people who have supported her through it all.
“We couldn’t have made it through our NICU journey without family. Dewey’s parents set up the nursery while we were in Houston and my mom took off work to stay with me while Dewey had to drive back and forth for work,” Erin reflected. “And I couldn’t have made this devotional or non-profit happen without my husband. Dewey is working full time and doing so much at home, all while supporting me through writing the devotional, working on fundraisers, mailing out books and so much more.”
But it wasn’t just family that came through for this local family – an entire community supported them.
“We are so thankful for our community,” Erin said. “It seemed like the whole community was reaching out to check on us and finding ways to help out.”
The Amyx family is a testimony of how God can bring purpose out of a long and difficult season. Through it all, Erin knows that her precious daughter is held in His hands, drawing strength and comfort from Psalms 139:13-14, “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
To purchase devotionals, sponsor care packages or get involved in future fundraisers, contact Erin Amyx at inhishandsnicu@gmail.com. The t-shirt fundraiser is happening now until April 16, so contact Erin via email or on Facebook to purchase a shirt.
