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Rylee’s Lending Library

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Rylee’s Lending Library

Our initiative is so families/caregivers can read to their children in hospital. Rylee spent 8 weeks at Sick Kids NICU. Thank you!

In honour of our late daughter Rylee; we have started libraries and collecting children’s books to donate to SickKids NICU & Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital NICU/PICU. Reading to her gave our family a sense of purpose during a time we felt so helpless. Together with Sick Kids we are collecting books for a Lending Library in the NICU. Our initiative is so other families and caregivers have acces

s to borrow books and can read to their babies while in the NICU. We welcome you to donate a children’s book. The following criteria must be met:
- must be a board book (no paper pages)
- no touch and feel or sensory books
- no flap books
- Looking for books in all languages!
* any books received that don’t meet the criteria will be donated to a local organization (library, school, etc).

01/20/2025

💜 Rylee’s Lending Library is officially OPEN at OSMH💜

We finally get to share what we have been working on for a while with our local hospital!!! 💜🥹🦋 We are so excited to say we now have our SECOND location for Rylee’s Lending Library in our hometown!

Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital is where all of our kids were born. A place that took such care of us and our family. Who gave us sooo many opportunities; including bringing Rylee home on hospice care. We wouldn’t have had those 4 weeks to share with family and friends were it not for Dr. Gordon and her team at OSMH. We are forever grateful to them and so excited to give back.

Now families and caregivers can read to their babies and children while in hospital. Rylee may be gone, but her story keeps going. We hope this brings some light and joy to other families who may need it.

Thank you to and for helping us bring our vision to life and honouring our daughter.

Always a big thank you to everyone who continues to donate books. This has been made possible by your generous donations. Team effort.

Rylee you were brave, you were strong, and you’ll always be so loved. 💜🦋

📚Should you want to donate books please PM us for drop off/pick up arrangements. Due to cleaning purposes. Book donations must be
1. Board Books (hard books; no paper)
2. New/New condition
3. No sensory or flap books.

We are forever grateful 💜

08/16/2024

It was Mammas turn (FINALLY) to go and visit Rylee’s library for the first time today! So thankful that my work provided me the opportunity to join in on staff appreciation day and give back to the wonderful team that took care of our girls. We even brought more books! The library is flourishing and we’re told it has been so impactful. To see the books “worn” from use warms our heart. Thank you to all who have donated and continue to donate.

Rylee you were brave, you were strong, and you’ll always be so loved sweet girl. Your legacy continues to change the world for the better 💜✨

Big thanks to my work; Jenni and Matt for the opportunity today and all your support! 💜📚

05/05/2023

I decided this needed a permanent spot ✨

Rylee’s Daddy took a trip this afternoon to deliver the next batch of books for the Lending Library at SickKids. He was lucky enough to go in and see the new space.

He met with the nurse liaison who has been helping us and organizing it all. She mentioned that they have a volunteer that wipes them every morning. Seeing as he was there this afternoon he checked in the book return and there was over a dozen books! That means just this morning these books were read to over 12 families! 🥰

When Ryan was there dropping off he got to witness a parent/caregiver/ family member walk up, look at the books and take one to a little. How special. 🤍

We’re bringing smiles to families!

05/04/2023

The next 50 books are on their way to SickKids 🎉🎉

Thank you for all your support and donations! 💜

04/24/2023

📣📣📣🎉🎉OPEN🎉🎉📣📣📣

The Lending Library located in the NICU of SickKids Hospital is officially open as of TODAY!!

Huge thank you to Rita and Saghi at SickKids for making it possible. This has been over a year in the making. We know how important early literacy is for children and we also know how important reading was for us and our journey. To have some normalcy and bring some positivity and joy to her bedside.

Of course the biggest THANK YOU to all who have supported and donated to the Library. This initiative was so dear and close to our hearts; to honour our Rylee girl. We know so many donated in honour of a loved one they knew who spent time at SickKids as well.

Our family and friends step up time and time again. This was the first batch of books. We have so many more waiting to head out!

Rylee girl. Your life was short but mattered. We promise to continue to say your name, to honour you, to spread love and kindness. You were strong, you were brave, and you will always be so loved.

Together we are making a difference and bringing some joy to other families. A small idea can have a big impact. Thank you. All our love and appreciation! 🤍💜🦋

03/04/2023

Happy 2nd Birthday to our Rylee girl in Heaven 💜🎂 Your memory and legacy will continue to shine. ✨We love you and miss you so much.

02/07/2023

Update: Sometimes a small idea can have a big ripple effect. Happy to announce that the Library shelf is built for the NICU Lending Library at SickKids Hospital. Our small idea that helped us with Rylee is now an initiative that will have a big impact and help so many families in the NICU. Thankful to all who have helped this journey! Keep the books coming. ✨🤍

05/25/2022

It’s been one year since you passed Rylee girl. 365 days since we held you last. So much has changed but we bring you with us. We carry you in our hearts always. Today we were honoured to donate the first 50 books to SickKids Hospital in your honour to start a Lending Library on the NICU. For other families to enjoy books and time together. We will continue to say your name, tell your story, and spread your strength and love. Thank you everyone for your continuous love and support. We couldn’t have got here without you. Thank you to Saghi and Rita at SickKids for all your help with this initiative.

Rylee you were strong, you were brave, and you will always be so loved 💜✨

05/23/2022

Hello and Welcome to Rylee’s Lending Library. 📚

This page is dedicated in honour of our late daughter Rylee who passed away May 2021 from a rare form of Epilepsy called Ohtahara Syndrome.

Soon after our daughter was born in March 2021, we noticed she was not well. We spent time at our local Neonatal Intensive Care Unit before being transferred to SickKids Hospital in Toronto. We spent 8 weeks at the NICU there before returning home on hospice care. We had Rylee for four more weeks before she passed.

While at SickKids and being a NICU parent we wanted to find ways to bond with Rylee on the days we couldn’t hold her. To find some way to make her time there happy and somewhat “normal”. We brought in children’s books and read to her everyday. It gave us parents a sense of purpose. We couldn’t help her like the nurses, doctors, and therapists but we could read to her. Starting early literacy habits and allowing her to hear our voices. To let her know we were there beside her.

This sparked our idea to have a Lending Library where other parents and caregivers could borrow a children’s book and read to their littlest warriors. Cue Rylee’s Lending Library.

We brought the idea to SickKids where that idea turned into the initiative. They were super receptive to the idea and have a plan to start a NICU Lending Library! With the help of our family and friends we have gathered the first set of 50 books to be donated. All in honour of our Rylee girl. 💜

We hope other families are as receptive to the idea and find some joy during those dark days by reading a children’s book to their babies. To have those special memories we made with our Rylee girl during some dark days. To get lost in the magic and light heartedness that comes with a children’s book.

We will rotate books as they become worn out. Should you wish to donate a book you’re welcome to! It must be:
- a board book (no paper)
- no sensory or flap books
- brand new
- we are also in search of books in a variety of languages, that are diverse, and inclusive.
- please pm for our address.

Thank you to all for their love and support in remembrance of Rylee.

Address

555 University Ave
Toronto, ON

Website

facebook.com

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