NICU Graduate Makes the Season Bright for Families of Premature Babies at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital

TAMPA, Fla. (December 16, 2014) –  Christmas comes early for premature babies at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital thanks to a 10-year-old girl who once found herself inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Azaria Santos was born premature in November 2004. She spent three months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital and continued care at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital for the next five years.

     On December 20, she will return to St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital armed with 60 baskets filled with toys, blankets, bibles and books for premature babies and their families. Sponsors donate many of the gift basket items and Azaria buys the rest with money she raises selling t-shirts through her charity called Azaria’s Hope. She also wrote a poem called “Hope,” which she plans on reading to the doctors and nurses.

     This is the second year Azaria is donating presents to babies in the NICU. She was so excited about giving back to the babies last year, that she began planning this year’s donation in January.

     Azaria is a gifted student at Burney Elementary School in Plant City and plans on being a pediatrician when she grows up.

Photo Opportunity

What: Ten-year-old Azaria Santos will drop off baskets for premature babies and their families at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital.  

Where: St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital (3030 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd)

When: Wednesday, December 17 at 10:30 am

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