March 2026

This year's community theme is "Hold onto Hope." All month long, we will be highlighting heartfelt stories of the many ways our families and community holds onto hope and reminds us that hope is not fragile; it is steadfast, enduring, and powerful. Find meaningful ways to get involved and raise awareness in the 2026 HIE Awareness Month Toolkit.

Alongside Awareness Month and together with the Newborn Brain Society, we are launching Polar Bear Care through a global Hold-A-Thon campaign to improve family-centered care for babies and families affected by HIE. The Hold-A-Thon will support NICU teams in reviewing and strengthening multidisciplinary approaches to family presence, holding, and supportive touch during therapeutic hypothermia.

We invite you to help us raise awareness for HIE through our biggest fundraiser of the year: Hustle for Hope!

Grab some friends and family and sign up for a virtual 5K to be completed from anywhere in the world, or participate in one of our in-person events hosted by our incredible community volunteers. Early bird registration pricing ends on March 15th!

We still have corporate, local, and individual sponsorship opportunities available. Please email Mary Boyle, our Director of Operations, to express interest!

Hope for HIE was honored to participate in the 2026 International Newborn Brain Conference (INBBC)—a global gathering of clinicians, researchers, industry partners, and advocates committed to improving outcomes in neonatal brain injury.

It was deeply meaningful to have such extensive representation from Hope for HIE's staff, Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Board, all of whom continue to shape the science, care standards, and future therapeutic landscape for infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and related conditions.

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month! Cerebral palsy is one of the more common diagnoses from HIE. While HIE-related cerebral palsy only accounts for roughly 10-15% of all cerebral palsy causes, roughly 40% of children diagnosed with HIE will be diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

This March, we’ll be highlighting the connection between HIE and cerebral palsy, sharing valuable resources to support our community in learning more, including discussions on navigating surgical considerations for cerebral palsy.

February was Children's Dental and Oral Health Month and we’ve had the privilege of learning from leaders in pediatric dentistry and research who are working to better understand the oral health challenges facing medically complex children.

We're excited to share a thoughtful new resource from a team at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine lead by Hope for HIE's Medical Advisory Board Member and HIE parent, Matt Mara, DMD, EdD.

This guide highlights helpful tips for at home care and what to expect at dental visits by age.

We are excited to share a new educational support offered on March 4 and March 18 introducing HIE families to the benefits of infant massage. Infant massage is a gentle, nurturing practice that supports relaxation, bonding, and connection between a parent or caregiver and their baby.

These sessions are designed to provide a calm space for families to learn simple massage techniques that may help with comfort, regulation, and parent–infant attachment. Families are encouraged to watch the Child Life Q&A informational session or read the key takeaways to know what to expect from these sessions.