10,000 Babies In 10 Years…

Earlier this month, Jack’s Basket celebrated the monumental milestone of delivering our 10,000th basket! This is such a special moment for our organization, and want to thank each and every person who has supported us over the past 10 years – YOU are Jack’s Basket, and this wouldn’t have been possible without you! Below, you’ll find Founder & CEO, Carissa Carroll’s, reflection on delivering the 10,000th basket and what it means to her to have celebrated over 10,000 babies in the past 10 years…

“Having the honor of delivering the 10,000th basket 10 years after delivering the very first basket made my heart so happy. To see and hear firsthand the hope these baskets bring to new families, knowing we celebrated thousands of families across the globe, overwhelms me with so many tears of joy.  It also gives me excitement and motivation to keep working tirelessly so that every baby diagnosed with Down syndrome is welcomed like they deserve to be.  

The visit with the 10,000th family reminded me of so many families I have met these past 10 years through Jack’s Basket.  An unexpected journey of any kind brings a variety of questions and fears and through Jack’s Basket we’ve brought connection, community, and celebration.  It has been an honor to be a part of the start of the story for new families.  Whether this was baby #1, 270, 3,000 or 10,000, each of these lives are worthy of celebration and truly make our world better.  

Baby A’s parents asked me about what Jack’s life looked like and after sharing, the mom replied, “Thank you for giving me hope that my daughter’s future will be normal.” 

When I reflected more on that statement, I got excited for their family as they begin this new ‘normal’ which will include empathy, understanding, resilience, humility, patience, community, celebration, joy, and so much love.  

To every baby we have had the privilege to celebrate, YOU make me better.  And, to the boy that changed my heart in ways I didn’t know I needed, thank you!  I wouldn’t change you for the world, but I will change the world because of you.”

– Carissa Carroll, Jack’s Basket Founder & CEO