In 2010, Martha and Paul Sharkey, of Wyndmoor, joyfully discovered they were expecting twins. Their excitement was palpable, envisioning a future with their two new additions, due in the spring of 2011. 

Then Martha, at 23 weeks pregnant, was urgently admitted to the hospital. They braced themselves for an early arrival, preparing to celebrate the holidays in the hospital.

The twins, Claire Josephine and Mary Gladys, were born more than 16 weeks early on Nov. 14, 2010, and the Sharkeys spent endless hours in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). It was there, amid the beeps of machines and the whispers of nurses, that they learned their new reality. Each touch through the isolette's tiny openings, each tiny grasp of their babies' fingers, was fraught with fear and uncertainty.

Mary died due to the complications of prematurity, which was heartbreaking. But the Sharkeys continued their vigil beside Claire's isolette. Due to her traumatic birth, Claire suffered brain bleeds.

They were told that Claire might not be able to walk or talk and could have significant deficits if she survived. But day after day, they watched her learn to breathe without a respirator, gain weight, feed from a bottle, move out of the isolette and gradually inch toward normalcy.

Each day they heard "Today is a Good Day" for Claire was a celebration, a milestone in her fight for life. This phrase became a beacon of hope, propelling them forward, until the joyful day of Claire's graduation from the NICU. Today, Claire is a healthy, caring seventh-grade student at Springfield Township Middle School, her life a moving tribute to the journey and the sister she never knew.

The Sharkeys' experience in the NICU, marked by both profound loss and inspiring resilience, ignited a passion for supporting others on similar paths. In 2014, they founded "Today is a Good Day" (TIAGD), driven by their personal story, which provides personal and financial support for families with babies in NICUs. 

Chuck and Mandy Marion, Wyndmoor residents, can empathize. In 2006, the Marions welcomed their daughter, Rachel, at 25 ½ weeks. She remained in the NICU for three and a half months and faced many health challenges, finally going home after 110 days. During that time, they felt isolated and without a sense of community. Several years later when TIAGD started, they welcomed the opportunity to support others. Mandy Marion has been a volunteer with TIAGD since 2018.

Meanwhile, Marion's twin brother, J. David Kelsey, founded the Kelsey-Naylor Foundation to support causes that are meaningful for their family. When Rachel was in the hospital, she received more than 10 blood transfusions, and her uncle traveled from New York City many times to be her donor. Their foundation has for three years provided financial support for TIAGD programs at Pennsylvania Hospital. They have also expanded their work to locations including Lehigh Valley Health Network, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and the Ronald McDonald House.

"We want to serve more NICU families during their difficult days," Martha Sharkey told the Local. "We now work with 29 hospitals in seven states. And the funding goes right to the family. We have CARE packages, and we support the families' vital needs. We cover funeral expenses, transportation, and utility bills. We have delivered 14,000 CARE packages, including bilingual packages, and 1,500 Thanksgiving meals. We want people to know they are not alone.

"U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (who represents most of Montgomery County) got us our first Congressional appropriation, $332,000. All the funding helps us deliver programs. We have had hundreds of volunteers and now have 65. Most volunteers went through this themselves. Building hope and making community is our mission."

Last month TIAGD received a $100,000 donation from the Kelsey-Naylor Family Foundation. "Many years after our journey," said Mandy Marion, "it feels amazing to know that there is a community that understands what people have been through and how best to help them. It feels like such a gift and part of our healing journey to be able to contribute back through Today is a Good Day. They know how to get stuff done. They will be able to help so many children with this money ... And I am happy to say that Rachel just graduated from Wheaton College with honors. She will be going into a graphic designer Disney College Program. She is a real inspiration."

 Kori Robino and Lauren Trimble Sullivan contributed to this article.

For more information, visit todayisagoodday.org. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com.