Hope’s Harbor Helps Kosciusko County Mom Stay Close to Newborn Son in NICU
When Liza Cox, a first-time mom from Kosciusko County, underwent an emergency C-section at just 29 weeks, she found herself one hour from home with a premature newborn fighting to grow stronger in the NICU.
Navigating new motherhood alone and far from home, Liza turned to Hope’s Harbor Family Hospitality Homes, where she stayed for 60 days while her son Ezra received care at Dupont Hospital.
“Hope’s Harbor helped take care of everything so I could focus solely on my son,” said Liza. “DuPont was the closest NICU to us — a whopping one hour away — so without them, I wouldn’t have been able to be with my son every day. I truly attribute all the extra skin-to-skin and bonding time to helping him grow as fast as he did.”
Thanks to the time she was able to spend with Ezra in those critical early weeks, he was discharged before his original due date. Now home and thriving, Ezra loves being outside, playing with the family’s pets, and exploring the world around him.
“If it wasn’t for Hope’s Harbor, I don’t think he would be where he is today,” Liza added. “Because of them, I didn’t have to worry about where I would sleep, eat, shower, or even do laundry. I was able to properly take care of myself postpartum, which allowed me to be a more attentive and present mom for Ezra.”
Hope’s Harbor, a nonprofit providing lodging and support to families with hospitalized children, serves hundreds of families like Liza’s each year — many traveling from counties across northeast Indiana and beyond to access specialized care.
“This is exactly why Hope’s Harbor exists,” said Wendy Hoering, Executive Director. “Families should never have to choose between being close to their child and meeting their own basic needs. Stories like Liza’s are a powerful reminder of how critical our mission is.”
As summer begins and the hospital sees a steady stream of new admissions, Hope’s Harbor continues to provide comfort, compassion, and care — all at no cost to families.