About Us
Lighting the way for little ones who need it most.
At Little Lanterns, we believe that every child—no matter their medical journey—deserves moments of joy, comfort, and connection through play. Founded by a passionate advocate for early childhood development, Little Lanterns is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing enriching toys and sensory tools to children in NICUs, PICUs, and early intervention programs. We understand how critical those early moments are—not just for physical health, but for emotional and cognitive growth.
Whether it’s a soft sensory toy for a baby in the NICU or a developmental tool for a toddler receiving therapy, each item is chosen with love and backed by research. We partner with hospitals, therapists, and families to ensure that every toy we deliver meets a real need—and reminds parents they’re not alone.
Because even the smallest lights can shine the brightest.
Our Mission Is Simple:
-To support little ones and their families during some of their hardest days with meaningful items that nurture development and bring light to their world.
Our Why & Inspiration
Colin was born in October at Lutheran General Hospital at just 32 weeks gestation. While in antepartum care, we met with every NICU specialist imaginable and were prepared for every possibility before meeting our son. True to his spirit, Colin arrived on his own terms. Due to severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), he weighed only 2.5 lbs — but to us, he was always perfect.
We knew the road ahead would be long. Between the daily drives to the NICU, grieving the holidays we had imagined, experiencing unexpected loss and emergencies in our family, and battling postpartum recovery and the trauma from all that happened, it felt like we were living someone else’s life. Those months were a blur of survival mode. It was brutal — but through it all, we stayed hopeful. As long as we had each other, we knew we were incredibly lucky.
After 86 long days in the NICU, Colin finally came home. He met his big sister, saw his nursery, and somehow immediately belonged. He came home with wires, tubes, monitors — all the things that come with being a tiny preemie. For a while, our home looked part nursery, part hospital. But every day, it got better (and still continues to).
Colin now receives early intervention services — including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Nutritional Support — all to help him meet developmental milestones. His delays are real, but so is his progress. Every session, every stretch, every exercise is worth it. It’s hard, but it’s working.
As someone who’s always believed in early intervention, I never imagined I’d be on the receiving end. These therapists do more than support our children — they help parents find strength, too. Watching Colin grow stronger, drop tubes, and gain skills has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Our once tiny, fragile, yet mighty baby has become a tough, goofy, joy-filled boy — and we’re so proud of every milestone, big or small.
After THE moment that you can also experience in this video, we hosted a mobile drive — collecting mobiles to donate to other NICU families. The response was incredible, and it affirmed what we already knew: that small acts of kindness and connection truly matter.
In the midst of this journey, I had to leave a job I loved to become Colin’s full-time caregiver. Going from two incomes to one was not in our plan — and while we are incredibly fortunate in many ways, we don’t qualify for financial assistance or local support to ease the added burdens. I’ve learned that many families quietly face the same challenges, often alone.
That’s why I started Little Lanterns.
Little Lanterns was born from a deep desire to make sure families like ours feel seen, supported, and empowered. My dream is to provide access to the enrichment toys and tools needed for early intervention therapy at home between appointments. Therapists often leave us with homework that requires specific items — items that aren’t always affordable or accessible. What should be a simple task can quickly become an added stressor for families already stretched thin.
Through Little Lanterns, I want to help change that. I want parents to know someone is on their team. I want children to have what they need to grow stronger. And I want hope, encouragement, and progress to feel a little more possible — one toy, one tool, one milestone at a time.
-Megg Wallen
Little Lanterns Founder, Colin’s Mom & Fearless Dreamer
This is THE moment that stuck with me in the NICU — a mobile was hung near Colin’s isolette, and for the first time, we saw his eyes track it. His whole face lit up. That simple mobile brought him so much joy and stimulation. It gave us a glimpse of the boy he was becoming. That moment sparked something in me — I realized how even the smallest enrichment tools can make a world of difference.
