Devika Walia, second from right, delivering her baskets to Akron Children’s NICU parents, in 2024.
It may seem surprising to some that Devika Walia, the only surviving sibling of triplets, has such strong feelings of gratitude and connection to Akron Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She has taken something sad, the loss of her brother and sister, and has chosen to focus on the positive – that she herself survived the odds of a very premature birth.
Devika, age 25 of Copley, has kept in touch with her providers, helped them with research and has now created a nonprofit organization to help current NICU families.
Devika defies the odds
When Devika was born at Wooster Community Hospital on Oct. 1, 1999, at 23 weeks’ gestation, she weighed a mere 1 pound, 6 ounces. Doctors told her parents that Devika and her siblings likely had only hours to live; they were each rushed to Akron Children’s NICU in separate ambulances.
Devika, age 1, with grandmother, Parvesh Arora.
When she was old enough to begin asking questions, her parents, Rachna and Manish, and grandparents, Parvesh and Ramesh, began sharing memories of those difficult days in Akron Children’s NICU. It was then located in the main hospital and before the days of private rooms.
Her sister, Durga, and brother, Vansh, died within weeks of birth – but Devika kept defying the odds.
Devika’s philanthropy is very much a tribute to her late sister, Durga (baby A) and brother, Vansh (baby B).
Devika required multiple surgeries as well as feeding tubes and a central line but made it home after a 5-month stay.
Her parents spoke fondly of Dr. Anand Kantak, the primary neonatologist, now retired, who took care of her and her family. Neonatologist Dr. Jennifer Grow, who was just finishing her pediatrics residency at the time, was also involved with her care.
Giving back
As she got older, Devika and her parents preferred not to have money spent on birthday parties but, instead, brought in meals for the NICU staff and Ronald McDonald House of Akron around her birthday to thank them for the care they received.
Devika often brings meals to NICU staff around her October birthday.
When she reached her teens, Devika expressed interest in finding volunteer opportunities. Dr. Kantak suggested she could help with research during her summers off from school.
She worked on a project on the NICU’s small baby unit for a presentation at the Vermont Oxford Network (VON) Quality Congress.
In a wonderful twist of fate, Devika was paired with Connie Teal on the data summary and analysis. Connie, now a clinical nurse specialist in the NICU, had been her case manager when Devika was in the NICU.
“I got teary eyed when I saw her,” said Connie. “Some families stay with you, and Devika’s was one of them.”
Connie said Devika was a huge asset on the project and even traveled with the Akron Children’s contingent to the VON conference in Chicago.
“No one had ever had a preemie come back as a teenager, contribute to improvement projects and speak about their experiences,” said Connie.
Devika and her parents in front of her NICU research poster.
Now Devika, who works in sales, has shifted her focus to helping NICU families through philanthropy.
She had been thinking of a way to honor her siblings’ memories. Then, working as a unit secretary in the NICU at Aultman Hospital, she saw a single mother struggling with a variety of needs.
“It was during this time that I had the idea to begin raising funds for families touched by prematurity,” she said.
Strength in Tiny Packages
She has established a 501-c3 nonprofit organization called “Strength in Tiny Packages” and is preparing her second round of deliveries to Akron Children’s NICU this September, during NICU Awareness Month. She has also made deliveries to Aultman and Wooster Community Hospital’s Special Care Nurseries.
In the past, her gift baskets have included blankets; milestone cards and notebooks; onesies and bibs; hygiene and postpartum supplies; gift cards for restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, grocery stores and food delivery services; baby formula; water bottles and snacks; and playing cards and other comfort items.
“Some families really grapple with the difficulties of a long NICU stay,” said Devika. “I just want to help in some small way to lessen the emotional and financial burden of a premature birth – and offer hope.”
