Brigham Giving Day
Help us to commemorate Brigham Giving Day and build a healthier future for all.
Brigham Giving Day is June 12, and we want you to be a part of it.
In May of 1832, a generous donor made a gift of $5,000 to create a hospital for expectant mothers in need. A few months later, the Boston Lying-in Hospital opened — the earliest incarnation of Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Over time, the Brigham would grow into an international leader in virtually every area of medicine, pioneering numerous breakthroughs that have impacted lives all around the world.
Giving Day Match
When you donate today, your gift will have twice the impact toward helping us build a healthier future for all.
Double my impact
When you give today, you continue that time-honored tradition and help make a profound impact. For countless patients at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and across Mass General Brigham, the expert care and compassion they receive is a steadfast source of support-guiding them through their greatest triumphs and most challenging moments. And for Tim Rafferty, the Brigham’s unparalleled care helped him through two of the most impactful moments of his life.
Tim was in the middle of a workout when he suddenly became dizzy and disoriented. He felt his face sagging and, soon after, became paralyzed on the left side of his body.
He didn’t know it at the time, but he was suffering a hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and causes uncontrolled bleeding. And if he didn’t get immediate medical attention, he could suffer permanent brain damage or death.
Tim was rushed to the Brigham, where he spent several days under the expert care of the Stroke and Cerebrovascular team. Over the first 48 hours in the hospital, his mind raced over what his life after this stroke would be like. But at every step, Tim’s care team helped him find the confidence and hope that he would regain his independence.
Within days, Tim regained some movement on his left side and eventually could walk with a cane. Within a year, his hard work had paid off: He had not only resumed his active lifestyle, but his life had improved.
Just a couple years later, Tim and his wife, Allison, were back at the Brigham under happier circumstances–they found out they were having twins.
After everything we had been through, we felt very confident in the Brigham. It was our home, in a sense.
Their twins, Ben and Louie, were born almost three years to the day after Tim’s stroke, bringing his journey at the Brigham full circle.
Shortly after birth, however, Ben started to have difficulty breathing. He was transported to our Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation Newborn Intensive Care Unit for specialized, multidisciplinary care and support.
Within a week, every member of the new family was healthy at home, ready to begin their new life. Now, nearly three years later, the twins are still delighting their parents: Louie, the athletic extrovert, and Ben, the cuddly bookworm.
Every day, countless patients and their families trust us during the most impactful moments of their lives. And, during both the brightest and darkest moments, they can trust in our team’s exceptional, patient-centered care and boundless compassion.
Brigham Giving Day–one of the most important fundraising moments of the year–is on June 12. The support we receive from this community on days like Giving Day plays a pivotal role in powering the care, research, and education that make stories like Tim’s possible.