ONE AT A heartbeat time Lilah

Suarez

As a volunteer, Suarez primarily works with organizing toy drives and NICU packs, which include blankets and other essentials for the baby.

“She has already done a few things where they did some gift wrapping for ICU Baby for the holidays, and I was with her when she was at our Hope Parade. It was our second annual Hope Parade where we got together [with] families of NICU babies we have helped, and we did a walk this year around the Miami Zoo. Lilah, her sister and her parents were all there. They were helping hand out gift bags. She was there the entire day, and then helped, you know, pack things up. So she was an amazing asset for us,” Stoudt said.

Additionally, Stoudt is amazed by Suarez’s courage to fully commit to her volunteer work, no matter the job.

“I think the way she has thrown herself into the work and shows up is really showing to me that it is important to her and she is responsible and that she cares about what she is doing. I think that only reinforces, you know, initial opinions and forms new ones. That it says a lot [about someone]because not all high schoolers, you know, unfortunately, volunteer and sort of put in the work and effort,” Stoudt said.

Since joining ICU Baby, Suarez has learned from many mentors including the CEO and Co-founder of ICU Baby, Elizabeth Simonton, who works closely with Suarez and has helped make a difference throughout her volunteer journey.

“[Simonton] helped me see the big picture of things and how even the little things can greatly impact people,” Suarez said.

Although she is one of the younger volunteers, Suarez has found no difficulty fitting in and has remained committed to the program.

“I think, really quickly, she incorporated herself as part of the team, and her commitment to ICU Baby has just been really unmatched. I mean, she shows up for every event that we have; she participates in every event that we have,” Simonton said.

Suarez is considered a natural-born leader, with many enthusiastic qualities that have led to her great performance as a new volunteer.

“She really took on a leadership role and was leading one of the tables that we have there on the corner for the children. In other capacities, she has been a hard worker, so to speak, she has, you know, taken our project and done the task to a very high level. So I think she is an enthusiastic and graceful volunteer,” Simonton said.

Throughout Suarez’s time volunteering, she has realized how grateful she is and has become extremely compassionate in her role.

“I hope to make a difference and to help NICU babies and their families. Especially if the families have lost NICU babies, I want them to find comfort and peace and to be able to continue to live on a day-to-day basis,” Suarez said.

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