The Bagley Family Gives Back

In times like these, it is always encouraging to see the community supporting one another. Recently, Christi Bagley and her non-profit, Soul Blessed Ministry, through private donations and partnering with Barn Doors & More of Cumming, were able to award the Northside Hospital Miracle Babies Fund with an $8,200 check from their first year of fundraising. A few years ago, Christi’s granddaughter Lucy had complications after birth, which led her to spending four days in Northside Forsyth’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

For many families, an unexpected stint in the NICU can bring extra costs and time that come with caring for a preemie or special needs child, along with the stress of having a baby that is battling for their life. Families may have to take unplanned time off from work or find temporary housing closer to the hospital in order to give their full attention to their baby, and some families don’t have the ability to be at the hospital 24 hours per day.

This greatly affected Christi during Lucy’s stay. “Our family is very big and very close,” she explained, so her granddaughter was never alone in the NICU. Each night, they would walk the halls and see newborn babies without families surrounding them. “It pulled my heart strings,” she tearfully said, “It left me with a burden to give back to them.”

As with many families, the Bagley’s visit to the NICU was unexpected. “Going to the NICU was new to us,” she said, “we survived through prayer, hope and through the nurses there. As a parent, all you want to do is nurture your child, so when your child is sick, that is the most hopeless time you will ever have.”

Thankfully, Lucy’s health improved significantly during her time in the NICU and she was able to return home.

Every year on Lucy’s birthday, she and her mom bake cookies and deliver them to nurses in the Northside Forsyth NICU. “We are more thankful for the hospital and the NICU than y’all could ever imagine,” Christi said.

In February of 2022, through generous donations and fundraising, Soul Blessed Ministry presented a check to the Northside Foundation and Forsyth NICU for over $26,000. With this donation, Northside Hospital Forsyth NICU was able to purchase essential equipment and 3 brand new phototherapy lights for the special care nurseries.

The nursing staff at the Northside Hospital Forsyth NICU showed their appreciation of their ongoing generosity by presenting the Bagley family with a special gift. The oil painting (left), created by Northside nurse Janet Decipedia, depicts Christi's grandchildren at the beach. A recreation of their favorite family photo.

Donations to the Miracle Babies Fund help eliminate some of the financial burdens that come with having a child in the NICU, so that the parents can focus fully on the health of their child. “If I had one message I could share with families experiencing this, it would be that you are never alone” Christi stated. The generosity of the Bagley family and Soul Blessed Ministry will be a helping hand to many families and their Miracle Babies!

Click here to learn more about supporting Northside’s Miracle Babies Fund.

Click here to learn more about the Bagley family and Soul Blessed Ministry.