Readlyn family supports NICU after child born with Down Syndrome

Waterloo, Iowa - Jun 17, 2024 - The Schmidt family of Readlyn, Iowa aim to make a difference in the lives of babies in the MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center NICU with their recent donation to the MercyOne Northeast Iowa Foundations.

Whitney and Zach Schmidt, along with their three children, are using their personal story to raise awareness for children diagnosed with Down Syndrome in addition to their support for the MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center NICU.

The Schmidt Family's journey began over a year ago when their youngest child, Tezlee, was born with Down Syndrome. Tezlee spent 11 weeks in a NICU. Reflecting on their experience, Whitney, a MercyOne Family Medicine Site Administrator, expressed deep gratitude for the support and care they received.

"The initial diagnosis was hard to process," said Whitney, "Tezlee spent 11 weeks in a NICU, four weeks in Iowa City, and another seven back in Waterloo. Tezlee was celebrated each day by everyone in the NICU. The MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center’s staff and providers truly made our NICU stay as stress-free as possible."

To give back to the community and express their gratitude, Whitney and her family donated $600 to the MercyOne Birth Center to benefit NICU babies. Working closely with Birth Center Director Kymm Ehler, they decided that the funds would go towards making fabric eye shields in the shapes of hearts for the babies in the NICU, as well as providing copies of the book 'From Small Beginnings' by Stephanie Laskoskie to parents of NICU babies.

“The Schmidt Family's contributions to MercyOne Northeast Iowa Foundation are a testament to their commitment to supporting others facing similar challenges. We thank Whitney and her family for their generosity and unwavering dedication to making a difference in their community,” said Joe Surma, Manager Cedar Falls & Waterloo Foundations.

Whitney said, "Tezlee's more like you and I than she is different. We celebrate her on World Down Syndrome Day by giving back to our community and those who have made a lasting impact on our family."

The Schmidt Family also raised $1,600 last year by selling 'Tezlee Support Squad' t-shirts for the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City, where they stayed during Tezlee's four-week stay in the Iowa Children's Hospital NICU.

If you would like to support the MercyOne Northeast Iowa Foundations of Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and Oelwein, donations can be made at MercyOne.org/giving.