---
title: They Had 10 Days to Prepare for a New Baby. Terps Stepped Up to Help.
date: 2025-06-13T12:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/they-had-10-days-to-prepare-for-a-new-baby-terps-stepped-up-to-help"
section: Articles
---
# They Had 10 Days to Prepare for a New Baby. Terps Stepped Up to Help.

*June 13, 2025* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/author/karen-shih)


> Colleagues Flood UMD Staffer With Donations After Surprise Adoption

*Tantisunthorn Family MT 06112025 SC 4165 3 1920x1080 — New adoptive parents Boosaba Tantisunthorn ‘10, a UMD staff member, and husband Pete at home with baby Lars, who joined their family after a whirlwind 10 days at the end of May.*

The someday-nursery was still a home office when Pete and Boosaba Tantisunthorn ’10 got the life-altering news: After years of longing for a child, they had been selected as adoptive parents to a baby and could bring him home in just 10 days.

Boosaba, associate director of development for the University of Maryland’s Division of Student Affairs, was a churning mix of hope, excitement—and a little panic. They had nothing a newborn would need.

She emailed the UMD Parents listserv on May 23 hoping to just get a few essentials. What she received was an outpouring. Faculty and staff she never met, all from the roughly 800-person group connecting UMD campus community members with kids, offered everything she needed. That ranged from a crib to baby monitor to a diaper pail—some even dropped off big items at their house—and it’s all catalogued in an extensive spreadsheet. The Tantisunthorns now have enough swaddles, bibs and clothing (including baby Terp gear, of course) to last them the next two years. Folks without items to pass on sent food delivery gift cards and well wishes, and other adoptive parents offered advice and friendship.


*changing table, hanging items and dresser in a nursery — The Tantisunthorns' nursery features Terp-donated items including a changing pad, jackets and loveys hanging from the door, and sticky note-annotated drawers full of clothing, swaddles and more.*


*Parents feeding a newborn a bottle in an armchair — Pete and Boosaba Tantisunthorn feed baby Lars a bottle in their nursery.*




**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)



**Units:** [Division of Student Affairs](https://today.umd.edu/topic/division-student-affairs)