Sophia’s Little Library Delivers Hope to Parents
ELBURN — Nina and Derek Braasch are channeling their grief from unspeakable tragedy by reaching out to help others. In memory of their daughter, Sophia, who lived only 40 days in 2022 after being born prematurely, the couple created a book drive called Sophia’s Little Library. They have been collecting and donating children’s books to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) at area hospitals so that parents can read to their babies.
The Braasches struggled with infertility for seven years before happily conceiving after an IVF procedure in 2021. But complications from preeclampsia made it necessary for baby Sophia to be delivered well before her due date. At birth, Sophia weighed less than a pound. She was so tiny that Nina’s wedding ring fit loosely around Sophia’s delicate arms.
Throughout Sophia’s short life, Nina and Derek sat beside her and read books to her in the NICU, first at Central DuPage Hospital, then at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. They wanted Sophia to hear their voices and know that they were nearby.
After the loss of their daughter, Nina says she and her husband found comfort in attending the SHARE program at Edward Hospital in Naperville, a local and national organization that serves and supports families touched by the loss of a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, or early infant death.
Nina credits the SHARE program for being an enormous comfort to them in the months following Sophia’s death.
“It’s very lonely,” she says. “Even though there are a lot of people who go through it, it’s an isolating experience when you’re in the NICU … you feel like, ‘Why me? Why did this happen? Why are we going through this?’ It’s nice to know other people who are going through it, or went through it.”
As the first anniversary of Sophia’s death — referred to by Nina as her ‘angel-versary” — approached, Nina searched for a meaningful gift they could give to the NICU to honor their daughter’s memory. That’s when the head of the SHARE program at Edward mentioned that they were about to start a book drive so parents could have books to read to their babies.
This idea appealed to the Braasches. Initially, they planned on donating one book, but spurred on by support from their friends and family, Nina decided to head up the entire book drive.
“I started the [Sophia’s Little Library] Facebook group thinking we’d get 20 or 30 of our friends and family to donate,” says Nina. “It just blew up. We had about 100 people in the group, and tons and tons of books started coming to the house and it spiraled from there. I thought we were going to get 100 books for Edward. We’re almost at 1,000 books now.”
The surplus of books meant Nina and Derek were able to deliver 80-100 books not only to Edward Hospital, but also Central DuPage Hospital, Lurie’s, Silver Cross, and Delnor. Lutheran General in Park Ridge has approached them about featuring Sophia’s Little Library for their annual readathon in September.
“… and we have more calls to make!” says Nina. “It’s fun, because we turned something sad into something a little more positive, trying to give back and honor Sophia. It’s been healing on a whole different level.”
The Facebook page for Sophia’s Little Library has not only become an informational hub, but also a community of sorts. Visitors are encouraged to post pictures and share their experience with their book.
“It’s fun to see the books in action,” says Nina. “It warms my heart.”
Book donations for Sophia’s Little Library can be sent to: Nina & Derek Braasch, PO Box 8227, Elburn, IL 60119.
For more information, search for Sophia’s Little Library on Facebook, or email [email protected].
