Lucy's Stocking - Preventing HDFN in Nigeria

Lucy's Stocking

Every year, the Allo Hope Foundation launches the Lucy's Stocking fundraiser in honor of baby Lucy Dair, who passed away due to Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN). Her mother, Bethany, went on to establish the Allo Hope Foundation in hopes of offering counsel and education to families and practitioners affected by HDFN caused by maternal alloimmunization. 

Donors to Lucy's Stocking will have their name written on a card and placed inside her stocking, so that it can be full this Christmas alongside her living siblings' stockings. This special annual event provides a moment of comfort for families who have lost a child to HDFN, knowing that HDFN advocacy, prevention and treatment is continued in their name.

Alloimmunization and HDFN

Maternal alloimmunization, which causes HDFN, occurs when women develop antibodies to red blood cell antigens. Though there are many red blood cell antigens capable of causing HDFN, the most prevalent one, RhD, can be prevented with administration of RhoGAM injections during pregnancy and immediately after birth. 

A woman who becomes alloimmunized has antibodies which may attack the baby's red blood cells, causing HDFN. HDFN can cause severe anemia, cardiac failure, hydrops, and fetal death. These outcomes are even more likely in countries with limited access to quality medical care. Lucy's family, and others who have suffered the loss of a child to HDFN, find a moment of comfort in this fundraiser focused on preventing deaths like Lucy's.

Rhesus Solution Initiative

In the United States and most developed countries, it is standard for Rh- women to receive RhoGAM injections in order to prevent anti-D antibodies from forming. In Nigeria, RhoGAM injections are costly. For families living in poverty, women have to make the difficult choice to either feed their family or put their unborn baby at risk by foregoing the injection. Rhesus Solution Initiative helps by providing Rh education to girls and women, and providing RhoGAM injections free of charge for women in need. 100% of funds raised this year will go to RSI to help them protect the next generation of children from suffering like Lucy did.  

RSI is an established NGO that educates women about their Rh status, and provides RhoGAM® to pregnant/postpartum women in need. RSI has been effectively advocating for the care of Rh- women for the past decade, and has established partnerships with local government, hospitals, and the traditional birth attendants. RSI Volunteers and health care workers go into schools, homes, markets, and more to run Rhesus awareness programs. In schools they provide blood tests for the children and issue cards to students showing their blood status. RSI has a variety of materials, flyers, and media connections to distribute information in 5 different languages. Once women know their Rh type, RSI helps them understand the consequences of not having the RhoGAM® shot. RSI has provided RhoGAM® at no cost to over 2,000 women so far.

Join us as we help RSI reach their goal: A live baby for every mother.

100% of the funds raised from this fundraiser will benefit Rhesus Solution Initiative (RSI).