While the pom poms may have been retired, their spirit of support is still in full swing in the heart of Newtown Square. A group of former Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders has transitioned from the exhilarating sidelines to a remarkable mission of compassion. The group has reunited under the banner of the Philadelphia Professional Football Cheerleading Alumni.
But the talented team has not gathered again without purpose. The group of extraordinary cheerleaders has gathered to assemble care packages for families facing the challenging journey of having newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Let’s unravel how the team is making a difference beyond the sidelines.
Ex-Eagles cheerleaders bring hope to NICU families
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The team of cheerleaders who had retired from their jobs has been brought together yet again as they now share a common goal. The former Eagles cheerleaders have decided to stand beside the families who unfortunately go through the struggle of having their children in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The NICU provides specialized treatment to newborns if they are diagnosed sick or if they are preterm babies. The cheerleading team has decided to provide assistance and help the families of the tiniest patients to deal with the tough situation. Their dedication is part of a collaboration with the non-profit ‘Today is a Good Day’, which offers both financial and emotional support to these families during an undoubtedly trying time.
Peggy Janson, Philadelphia Professional Football Cheerleading Alumni stated, “Even though we don’t cheer anymore, obviously. We do cheer on like-minded people in the community”. Maggie Hammond, who has been a former Eagles cheerleader, is also the President of the Philadelphia Professional Football Cheerleading Alumni team. She has been a labor and delivery nurse at Jefferson Hospital for about 25 years. Hammond said, “You see the struggles. It’s heartbreaking. When you think of having a baby, everything is gonna turn out great and you just have all these dreams.Today is a Good Day, actually comes to the hospital I work for so, they are impacting my patients.”
The founder and CEO of ‘Today is a Good Day’ Martha Sharkey delivered twins in 2010. But unfortunately one of the two infants passed away just after 14 days while the other was kept in NICU for 103 days. She shared how helpless she felt. Former cheerleader, Cathy Jo Romano too could relate to this feeling as she delivered her twins about 2 months premature and they spent three weeks in NICU.
“It was rough, I thought at one point, because nurses were caring for them a lot, they weren’t going to know who their mother was”, shared Romano.
From pom poms to parenthood: Former Eagles cheerleaders rally for a cause
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The alumni gathered to bring together care packages that are meticulously assembled. They also contain a handwritten note from a NICU graduate, creating a powerful thread of connection between those who have faced similar challenges.
In a note it was written, “My mom told me I was in the NICU for 96 days. I’m 9-years-old. My favorite subject is math. I love my parents, baseball and Fortnite. I believe in miracles.- Jabriel Stokes.”
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The extraordinary group has gathered to stand beside the NICU service. The cheerleaders came together to channelize their collective empathy and valuable experience to assure families in the NICU that they are not alone.
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