Catholic Charities

A young mom in Kansas City was feeding her newborn bottles filled with water because she ran out of formula and didn't understand how crucial it is for babies to eat frequently.

On another visit to a family's home, nurse Colleen Kahn found a tiny boy on the floor with the air conditioner running full blast. There were no blankets or crib in the house, and the baby was almost blue. The nurse ran out to her car to get donated baby blankets and warm the infant up.

The new mother thought she needed to keep her baby's temperature between 95 and 96 degrees. If Kahn hadn't come that day, he might have died because his mom didn't know the basics about taking care of an infant. Those are the kinds of tragedies that Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas strives to prevent with its program for at-risk newborns and their mothers, which sends nurses on house calls to about 700 families a year. In 2009, the Kansas Health Foundation provided a $25,000 Recognition Grant to help this program pay for personnel and travel expenses.

"It's such a tangible assistance," says Eileen Brown, associate director of developments. "We are changing the course that some of these infants are having in life. I sit and hear the nurses talk, and I get chills. It just scares you to death what would happen without this program."

Waiting for Kahn to arrive one afternoon, Valorie Gray snuggles her 4-month-old son, Zander, in their living room. "She's not even going to recognize you," Gray tells the baby.

Zander was born with a cleft palate, and he had trouble eating until Kahn suggested that his mother try a different nipple on his bottles. It means a lot to Gray that a nurse comes to her home."Having her come here - instead of having to load him up to go to the doctor every week or two with the co-pays and sick kids there - it just makes such a big difference," she says.

Kahn is all smiles as she greets both mom and baby with a hug, then settles down with them on the sofa to ask Gray some questions and dote over Zander. "Oh, you're so big! Yes, you are," she tells him in an animated voice as she helps Gray undress him and puts a thermometer under his arm. "Will you let me lay you down or will you get mad at me?" she asks before weighing him on a portable scale and using her stethoscope to listen to his heart and lungs.

While his mom is busy dressing him, Kahn tickles Zander's feet, coaxing a laugh from the little guy. The nurse leaves Gray with some encouraging words and motherly advice before driving to her next patient's home.

Alexander Raw is three weeks and six days old. This is Kahn's fourth trip to see him and his mother, Tonya.

Raw called Kahn at 7 that morning because Alexander wasn't taking his bottle.

"It's just kind of nice to have somebody to call when an issue comes up. We're really sad to be losing her this week," Raw says with tears welling in her eyes. "Oh, honey, I keep in touch with my patients, don't worry, I'll be back," Kahn says, circling her arm around Raw. "I'll ask Medicaid if I can keep coming back, but even if they say no, I'm still coming back. And you always have my phone number. I'm not going anywhere."

Kahn gives Alexander the same checkup she gave Zander, offering Raw some breastfeeding tips. "That's GOOD, Tonya. An ounce a week - that's good," she praises after weighing the baby and cuddling him close.

Kahn spends time laughing along with several of Raw's stories, then gives the mom a donated blanket and promises to bring more diapers next time.

“I’ll be back,” the nurse reassures her. “I’ll be back.”