12/16/2025
When NKC Health employees Stephanie and Jess McClaskey experienced the NICU firsthand in 2014, they turned it into a mission. After their daughter Izabel was born 10 weeks early and spent more than a month in intesive care, they created Belle’s Brigade to bring comfort, hope and support to NICU families.
What started with treats for nurses turned into care packages for families, filled with journals, snacks, notes, and helpful tips from parents who’ve been there. They’ve delivered hundreds of packages over the years to remind NICU moms and dads that they’re not alone.
“We’ve lived the anxiety, the stress and the fear,” Jess said. “We understand. And we want to offer hope, to let them know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Read more about Belle's Brigade and the McClaskey's experience at nkchealth.org/TrueNorth.