For Kat Gorman, books have long been a family affair. These days, they have also become a way for her to give back to some of the tiniest patients at St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital.
Gorman, an STHS outpatient ultrasonographer who also happens to be a new mom, is helping the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit turn the pages as it once again participates in the global Babies with Books Read-A-Thon.
Gorman and her mother-in-law, Susan G. Greene, create children’s books together, with Greene writing the stories and Gorman illustrating and designing most of them. In support of this year’s Read-A-Thon, they donated 50 copies of their books to the NICU, including “I Love You More Than ... Louisiana Foods and Days of the Week,” “I Love You More Than ... Zoo Animals,” “The Milk Monster,” “My Ocean Town” and “Emerson Loves Music.”
What’s more, they plan to continue donating books to the NICU through fundraising and proceeds from book sales, Gorman said.
“The Read-A-Thon is so special to me because it brings together so many things I care deeply about – love, literacy, kindness and giving back to our community,” Gorman said. “And as a new mom, this cause feels especially close to my heart.”
That connection runs even deeper, Gorman said, because she has personally known little ones who have been cared for and supported by the NICU.
“Being able to give back to these babies and their families makes it even more meaningful,” she said.
The annual Read-A-Thon, which began Sept. 14 and continues through Sept. 24, encourages parents and caregivers to read to babies during their NICU journey. The goal is to promote early literacy, parent-infant bonding and neurodevelopment while helping NICU families feel connected and supported.
Parents are also invited to take donated books home, so the happily-ever-afters can continue once their hospital stay is over.
Last year, the STHS NICU logged 421 book readings during the event, good enough to place 28th among participating NICUs around the world. This year, the unit already has surpassed 600 readings.
In addition to Gorman and Greene’s gift, other hospital colleagues have donated books. Some have also volunteered to read to NICU babies. Earlier this week, that included STHS President and CEO Joan Coffman, Chief Nursing Officer Lori Sumner and AVP of Home Care Services Paula Toups, all of whom stopped by to read to babies currently on the unit.
For Gorman, the most meaningful part may be what happens when the books leave the hospital.
“Each book we donate,” she said, “is a small reminder to these families that their community is thinking of them, supporting them and cheering on their tiniest readers.”