Mother Of Premature Babies Helps Other Families With 'Closet'

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Cyndi Mitchell had her babies Allie and Izzie after just 33 weeks. They had to spend 11 days in the neonatal intensive care unit.

"It was really sad for us not to be able to go home and we wanted to be with our daughters the whole time," said Mitchell.

She knows the difficulty of staying in the hospital for days, waiting for her little ones to grow.

"I have a great niece who's a premie [sic] and we went through some nail biting times while she was in the NICU," said hospital volunteer Kathy Spalding.

That's why Mitchell and a team of volunteers opened up Allie and Izzie's Closet.

Filled with teeny tiny clothes, bottles, blankets, and anything a new born or mom would need. And all of it is donated.

The proceeds from sales go to fund an RV. It stays parked outside the hospital to allow a family with a baby in the NICU to get out away without going far.

"They have somewhere to eat, sleep, rest," said Mitchell.

The baby boutique is named after Mitchell's daughters who, despite their rough start, are growing up now.

"They are doing fabulous. They're gonna be four-years-old next month," said Mitchell.

"My sister was born premature, so it seemed to kinda tie in," said Susan Clifford, a donor.

Allie and Izzie's Closet is a growing force for those who can't fend for themselves.

"We get paid in smiles and hugs and good feelings," said Spalding.