April 2026

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 clinician-led Hold-A-Thon will promote trauma-informed care and support NICU teams in reviewing and strengthening multidisciplinary approaches to family presence, holding, and supportive touch during therapeutic hypothermia.

April kicks off our annual Hustle for Hope fundraiser! Register for an in-person event near you, or sign up for the virtual 5K, which can be completed from anywhere in the world.

Our in-person events are hosted by family and community volunteers and they wouldn't be possible without their efforts. We are also so grateful for this year's local sponsors!

If you are interested in volunteering for a local event, please email Mary Boyle, our Director of Operations, to get connected!

Kristan & Daniel are parents to 9-year-old Elijah, who experienced an HIE event during labor and delivery. As a family, they have found Hope for HIE to be a valuable resource, especially the Facebook group community of support.

Elijah also has a secondary diagnosis of ASD and Kristan and Daniel are passionate about the overlap between HIE & Autism, and the community of families that exist in that space. They became monthly donors to continue our support programs and research, because they are grateful for the support they've received and they believe in the power of giving back.

In addition to HIE Awareness Month, April is also Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month!

HIE is a specific etiology of autism and can cause autism at up to 44% higher incidence than neurotypical babies and children, and children with HIE who don't have motor impacts were 6x more diagnosed than those with motor impacts.

The true incidence rate and impact of Autism & HIE is just being studied more widely with more research to come and data to be published shortly, which helps build greater understanding!

Every March, Kidney Awareness Month shines a light on the vital role kidneys play in overall health. For families and clinicians connected to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), kidney health is an important but often less discussed part of the story.

While HIE is primarily known as a type of newborn brain injury caused by reduced oxygen and blood flow around the time of birth, it is increasingly recognized as a whole-body condition and can happen outside of the neonatal period for many reasons. The same event that affects the brain can also impact other organs, including the kidneys.



Understanding these connections helps families, clinicians, and researchers work toward better monitoring, better treatments, and better long-term outcomes.

In our recent Child Life Q&A with Annie Gunning, CCLS, we explored how Child Life support helps children and families navigate the emotional realities of complex medical journeys, within the traditional medical setting and at Hope for HIE.

This session highlights the ongoing, personalized support available through Hope for HIE and why Child Life care remains a vital part of every child’s journey.

Explore the key takeaways and watch the Q&A at the link below.