Hello,

My name is Stephanie Rishavy, and this October, I am running to support a cause that is very close to my heart: the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children's Hospital.

In 2018, during my third pregnancy, I was under close observation due to a high-risk history. At 31 weeks, an ultrasound revealed that my daughter was measuring small, and  I was admitted to the hospital because she was in distress. On October 23rd, just before midnight, I delivered my daughter, Xochitl, via emergency c-section. She weighed only 3 lbs .05 oz and was immediately taken to the NICU at Children’s Hospital.

From the moment she arrived in the NICU, we felt incredibly fortunate that our daughter was in the hands of one of the best children’s hospitals in Minnesota. The skilled nurses and physicians not only provided exceptional care but also gave my husband and me the confidence to care for our premature baby once we left the hospital.

Xochitl’s main challenge was gaining weight, and thanks to the dedicated care she received, she steadily progressed. The nurses were patient, compassionate, and experts in handling her needs, even teaching us how to care for her GERD condition. After about a month in the NICU, when Xochitl finally reached 4 lbs, we were able to bring her home. It was a moment filled with gratitude, tinged with the anxiety of taking over where the NICU team had been so vital. But thanks to their support, we were ready.

To honor the exceptional care our daughter received, I am running the TC 10 this October to raise funds for the NICU at Children's Hospital in Saint Paul. Every donation, no matter the amount, helps ensure that more families receive the same level of care and comfort we did.

If you’d like to support this cause, you can donate here. Your generosity will directly benefit babies and families who find themselves in situations like ours.

Thank you for considering supporting this important cause. Your donation can make a difference in the lives of many.

With gratitude,
Stephanie Rishavy