WVU Medicine Jefferson Medical Center’s OB department receives donations from bikers

RANSON, W.Va. – The obstetrics department at WVU Medicine Jefferson Medical Center recently received a donation from a local non-profit group to assist the staff in caring for neonatal abstinence syndrome babies.

Bikers and Friends Against Heroin (WV Chapter) donated a Rock a Roo, soothing noise machines and baby wearing slings to help the nurses comfort newborns who are withdrawing from drugs they were exposed to in the womb.

“We are so thankful that the Bikers Against Heroin  group cares about the smallest victims of the drug epidemic and that they have reached out to help these infants,” Kellie Minney, nurse manager of obstetrics at Jefferson Medical Center, said. “These babies often have tremors, are extremely irritable, and cry excessively as they go through withdrawal.” 

Minney added that the nursing staff does their best to comfort and soothe the babies with frequent close contact such as cuddling and rocking.  The items donated by Bikers Against Heroin will aid the OB nursing staff at Jefferson Medical Center as they care for these special infants. 

Bikers and Friends Against Heroin has been in the community for several years sponsoring fundraisers and offering support to youth and those rebuilding their lives after the destruction that drug addiction cause.  “Drugs are killing our communities and separating families,” Dee Pierce, chapter president, said. “Our organization provides resources to help in recovery struggles.”

According to Pierce, they raise these funds by holding two major events throughout the year. Their work is strictly volunteer and it is not necessary to be a biker to be a member, although most of the organization’s support comes from motorcycle groups.