My sister Kate was due to have her second baby in August but little Ella came 16 weeks early at 24 weeks on April 16th at only 1 pound 7 ounces. Ella is now 8 weeks old and chunking up to 3 1/2 pounds. Ella  gives us scares sometimes, but for the most part, we have a huge miracle going on.

What isn't a miracle is that the money is getting tight for my sister. She and Chad would never ask for help so I'm being the non-compliant brother asking for help for them because I think that they are going through enough already and I know that people want to help.

There is a small daily fee for the hospital which adds up. Chad isn't able to do his second job in the National Guard because he's taking care of Emmitt because Kate is always at the hospital. I heard Kate say they have to take Emmitt out of preschool tomorrow because it's too expensive. I know that she really wants him to stay there. It's only two days a week but it's expensive. The other days he spends with the grandparents but he needs to be with his own people. Kate usually makes money in the summer teaching little kids to swim but she can't now. And she was supposed to have started a job after she graduated from school but now instead, she's got a biggest job of all spending so many hours in the NICU helping Ella.

Since I have so many fat and happy friends that keep asking if they can help, here is your chance to help do what I can't do on my own. If you have some spare change in your pockets and want to help out my sister and her fam, I would be VERY thankful.

If you just want to wish her good things and prayers, that is cool too. Ella feels the love. There's plenty of it all around us. 

Thank you, 
John Leidiger
TEAM ELLA