Claremore mom vows to launch another “PJs for Preemies” drive after recent success

ROGERS COUNTY, Okla. — Taylor Galvan returned to the NICU on Friday for the first time since her son, Jensen Cole, arrived about 10 weeks early in July.

Galvan and her husband Phillip, along with her cousin Lauren Knapp delivered 270 pajamas to the NICU at the Hillcrest Medical Center. They dropped off another set of 30 pajamas to the NICU at Hillcrest South on Friday afternoon.

Galvan, a Claremore mom who also has a nine-year old son, decided to launch a “PJs for Preemies” drive in November after learning first-hand about the need for new pajamas for babies in the NICU after they graduate from the incubator.

“Not everyone plans to have a premature baby, and it is hard to find those sizes when you’re in a bind like this,” Galvan explained. “I just wanted parents to not have to worry about providing them those pajamas when they’re trying to master that milestone.”

The donation drive was a success with Galvan collecting 300 sets of pajamas from donation sites set up in local businesses in Rogers County. She also received new pajamas from donors through Amazon.

The success of the inaugural effort has motivated her to launch a second “PJs for Preemies” drive in November.

The delivery of tubs filled with tiny pajamas on Friday was also an emotional reunion; Jensen spent 62 days in the NICU after arriving at 30 weeks and five days, weighing only 2 lbs. and 13 ounces.

Fox23 News captured the moment when Galvan hugged Rachel Christian, the young nurse who cared for her son throughout his journey in the NICU.

Galvan fought back tears as she explained what it was like being back at the hospital for the first time:

“Just the thought is coming back to me of what it was like to leave him every night,” she noted. “I cannot believe we’re here and that he’s healthy and he’s 6 months old.”

Jensen now weighs in at a healthy 17 pounds and is thriving at home in Claremore.

During Friday’s visit to the NICU, Fox23 News learned there were 27 babies at Hillcrest Medical Center. Dr. Stephanie Carner, the Medical Director of the NICU said the need for new pajamas is an ongoing one:

“When we have a parent come back and donate something like jammies it’s just fun, it’s a need that we have because we go through them a lot, and a lot of parents cannot necessarily provide those for their own babies,” Carner said.

Jensen was discharged on September 16th, and the experience had such a profound impact on Galvan that she’s vowed to launch another “PJs for Preemies” drive with a goal of helping all of the Tulsa area NICU’s next year.

Galvan offered these words of advice to other parents who are still on the journey with their baby in the NICU: “It feels like it’s impossible when you’re in the NICU, but it’s going to happen and just try to enjoy every moment.”

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