Wesley’s Book Cart launches to “bring joy” to NICU families

Note: This story discusses infant loss.

Wesley Kyle Hall was born on February 10, 2025, at Riley Hospital for Children at 24 weeks, 2 days gestation. His parents and care team had just one word to describe him from the get-go: “Feisty.”

He was a favorite on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), earning him the nickname “Muffin” and frequent visits from the NICU team, even when they weren’t assigned to him.

“However, our son’s lungs were not mature enough to fight off a pneumonia infection,” says his mom, Emily Hall. “Wesley was on a ventilator his whole life. He fought as hard as he could every single day, and we would always tell him how proud we were of him.”

On March 15, Wesley died at just 33 days old, in his parents’ arms.

Honoring Wesley’s life and legacy

Hall and her husband, Kyle Hall, can’t say enough positive things about the care they and their son received at Riley.

“We are forever grateful for the Riley Maternity Tower NICU team as well as the Simon Family Tower NICU team,” they say. “They have become family to us.”

In particular, Emily recalls receiving a free book each week of Wesley’s time in the NICU and the care team’s encouragement to read to him daily. It is a positive memory she carries with her from their time in the NICU.

“One day, in Wesley’s room, I looked at Kyle and said, ‘I want to be able to do this for the Arnett Hospital NICU,’” says Emily, community outreach consultant for IU Health’s West Region, which includes Arnett, Frankfort, Tipton and White Memorial Hospitals.

And she did.

Wesley’s Book Cart

On Saturday, May 31—Wesley’s due date—Emily and Kyle delivered Wesley’s Book Cart to the NICU at Arnett Hospital, along with more than 700 board books donated by Wesley’s friends, family and care team.

“It is our hope that families will receive these books, read them to their babies and have a positive memory to leave the hospital with,” says Emily. “Our family knows more than anything about how scary the NICU can be and how it will never leave you. We hope this brings families some joy.”

Families will receive one book from Wesley’s Book Cart each week their baby is cared for in the Arnett Hospital NICU. There are books in multiple languages and books that celebrate various holidays and cultural events throughout the year—along with a few copies of books that are especially sentimental to Emily and Kyle.

“Our muffin continues to make us proud, and we love to see the impact he will continue to make,” says Emily.

To all families who have also had to leave the hospital without their baby, the Halls say: “You are not alone. They will always be your baby. You will always be their parent. All they ever knew was your love. They are forever a part of you.”