Founded and led by NICU mothers, we strive to be a safe, trauma-informed community where past and present NICU families know that they don’t walk alone.

  • ASHLEY HAM | CO-FOUNDER + EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Ashley is a wife, mother, and entrepreneur based in Fargo, North Dakota. After her son was born at 28 weeks, she looked for community and hope and couldn't find it. This inspired her to found Dear NICU Mama, a non-profit designed to connect, encourage, and create community with past and present NICU moms and birth-givers around the world.

  • MARTHA MINK | CO-FOUNDER

    Mom to 25 week angel baby, JP, and 28 week kiddo, JJ, who spent 47 days in the NICU. Martha is dedicated to maternal mental health advocacy (especially NICU Mamas), infant-loss grief support, and self-compassion.

  • AISHA YACCINO | PODCAST CO-HOST & PEER SUPPORT LEAD

    Aisha is married to her best friend Andy. She has two beautiful babies - angel babe Enzo (born at 24 weeks) and rainbow babe Eva (born at 26 weeks, now a thriving 4 year old). Aisha has always preferred writing as a form of processing and expression. Any time she is able to unleash any form of creativity, she thrives. Having the opportunity to grow, connect and heal alongside this sisterhood has been a blessing in her life.

  • KEELY RONNEVIK | EDITORIAL TEAM | CONTENT CURATOR

    Keely is married to her handsome hubby, Daniel, of 10+ years and is a mama to three little dudes. Her journey to motherhood has included IUGR, a NICU stay and a high risk pregnancy. Keely is passionate about making NICU mothers feel seen, heard, and connected.

  • SAMANTHA WHIPPLE | FUNDRAISING & GRANT COORDINATOR

    A girl mom to her core, Samantha resides in Minnesota surrounded by all things pink. Her daughter Amelia was born at 29 weeks in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Next came a cerclage and baby Josie. Dear NICU Mama helped with understanding the duality of her experiences - we can have joy with grief, hope with fear. She’s here to help fund the mission!

  • CATHY BEKMAN | VOLUNTEER & OUTREACH COORDINATOR

    Cathy is a proud mama to a full-term warrior with a 30 day NICU stay. She is dedicated to providing NICU mothers with opportunities to connect, heal, and give back to their local hospitals.

  • CARRIE GIBSON | SHOP ADMIN

    Carrie is a wife to her college sweetheart, Alex, and mama to full-term warrior Hattie who had a 19 day NICU stay. Hattie continues to prove her strength by soaring despite her congenital heart defect. Carrie is passionate about helping NICU mamas feel less alone during their journey - both in the hospital and during the healing that continues after.

  • KRISTEN SARDINI | GRAPHIC ARTIST

    Wife to her best friend Brian and mother to 25 weeker Aila, who spent 111 days in the NICU. Lover of craft beer, long hikes with her dog, fall weather, true crime podcasts, and Harry Potter. Passionate about empowering NICU families in and out of the medical setting.

  • VILMA MIGENIS | PEER SUPPORT COORDINATOR & LEAD

    Vilma is married to her best friend, Jose, and mom to a true Jedi Warrior, Bradley Xavier - a full term NICU baby with a 54-day NICU stay. She is dedicated o providing support during and after the NICU.

  • LEXXA LAPOINTE | COMMUNITY BUILDING ADMIN & PEER SUPPORT LEAD

    Lexxa is a stay-at-home-Puerto-Rican-NICU-mama of two preemies. One born at 28+3 weeks with an 88 day NICU stay and one born at 36+4 with no NICU stay. Lover of reality TV and Oreo dough ice cream. Passionate about helping NICU mamas manage their anxiety and helping them feel supported during their pregnancy after NICU.

  • TIFFANI HENNING | PEER SUPPORT LEAD

    Tiffani is a boy mama to her 28 week twins Paxton & Kamden, born in the midst of Hurricane Ian with an emergency evacuation from their local hospital. Next came surprise singleton Baker. Finding Dear NICU Mama helped her find a sense of community and like she wasn’t alone on this journey of healing. Tiffani is a wife to her best friend Kyle, finding her love for the beach again, and enjoys sharing her chaotic life while connecting with other NICU Mamas.

  • JESSICA McCLOSKEY | COMMUNITY BUILDING ADMIN

    Twin mama to 30 week warriors, who each had their own unique NICU journeys lasting 41 and 60 days. Advocate for NICU families by finding ways to make sure the feel prepared and seen during their child’s stay.

  • LINDSAY BACHMAN | EDITORIAL TEAM | WRITER & LETTERS COORDINATOR

    Married to her college sweetheart (and fellow sci-fy nerd) Todd, and mom to Sloane, a 30 week warrior with a 74 day NICU stay. Passionate about storytelling, advocating for children with exceptional needs, and helping NICU parents feel seen across all stages of their NICU journey, from birth to discharge and beyond.

  • SAVANNAH CHUBB | EDITORIAL TEAM | WRITER

    Savannah is an artist, friend, wife, and mom based in South Carolina. Following an uneventful full-term pregnancy, her son, Griffin, was born still due to mismanaged labor in November 2021. In spite of exclusively hopeless lifelong prognoses, and against all odds, he survived and is today a happy and healthy little boy. The following darkest season of her life led Savannah here, to Dear NICU Mama, in hopes of creating something beautiful from this traumatic experience. She is most passionate about holding mothers’ hands as they navigate PTSD diagnoses and wholeheartedly believes, in time, art and connection can heal most anything.

  • CAROLISSA JONES | EDITORIAL TEAM | WRITER

    Carolissa is a girl mama to two beautiful girls - a 36 weeker and a 31 weeker. She is married to the most amazing supportive husband, Brian. She is a working mom in the aviation law industry who loves to bake. After becoming a NICU mama with her resilient 31 weeker, Carolissa became passionate about providing peer support to other NICU mamas navigating life through and outside of the NICU.

  • TEISHA LOCKHART | EDITORIAL TEAM | WRITER

    Mama to twins, a boy and girl, born at 36 weeks. Her sweet boy went home with family and her brave daughter spent two weeks in the NICU. Lives in Toronto, Canada. Believe in Jesus Christ, a French teacher, and loves pending time acting, writing and reading non-fiction. Passionate about connecting with other NICU mamas to share stories, learn to heal, and walk this amazing path that is motherhood.

  • KAMILLE DEYSEL | EDITORIAL TEAM | CREATOR

    Kamille is a mama to full term CDH NICU warrior Owen and more recently healthy baby Luuk. With two under two, two dogs, a farm on the way, and an amazing husband - she keeps the crazy real!

  • KYRA JACKSON | EDITORIAL TEAM | CREATOR

    Kyra is a mom to 3, with her last being a 26 weeker. Her daughter, Olivia, rocked a 98 day stay in the NICU and is now navigating the Hydrocephalus life and growing through therapies. Kyra is learning to love each season. She is a wife, Navy veteran, SAHM and a believer in Jesus Christ. She is here to help advocate, support and provide to those in the thick of it.

  • RACHELLE NOLAN | FUNDRAISING SUPPORT

    Rachelle is a mama to 35-week NICU warrior, Charlie, who spent 18 days growing and healing. She is a wife to her best friend, Kyle. Minnesota-born Wisconsin transplant. Teacher. Project-doer. Adventurer. Hobby Gremlin. She is passionate about filling in the gaps of the parental NICU experience and advocating for the mental health of NICU families.

  • TAYLOR KOCHMIT | TEAM BUILDING COORDINATOR

    Mom to full-term NICU warrior Milo and big sister Charlie. Milo spent 188 days in the NICU. Taylor is dedicated to connecting with NICU and medically complex mamas, hoping to make a difference like others have for me.