Update: 09/27/25

Rayla is doing well! There have been ups and downs, but she is finally breathing on her own, able to be held regularly, and able to have less medical stuff on/around her so you can see her cute little face! She is well over 2 pounds now. I will post some new pictures along with this update. It looks like she is going to have red hair like her dad. I swear I can see our side of the family in her eyes, too!

Jared and Emily have expressed a lot of gratitude for everyone’s support. This has continued to be hard for them, and donations have helped them with the gas needed to go visit each day as well as other expenses such as parking, medical bills, etc. Emily told me a couple of days ago that their car malfunctioned, so in order to keep visiting her, they will likely have to get something else soon. They and I continue to appreciate all forms of support, including your good energy, prayers, visits, and donations. ————————————————————————-

I’m starting this GoFundMe for my sister and brother in law, Emily and Jared Graap. After getting pregnant earlier this year and having a high-risk pregnancy, Emily was admitted to the hospital a couple of weeks ago with high blood pressure, preeclampsia and HELPP (a more severe form of preeclampsia essentially). Later that day, she underwent an emergency C-section to deliver her 24 week old baby, Rayla Quinn Graap, due to her and Rayla’s lives being at risk.

Rayla was less than a pound at birth and has an uphill battle yet to go, with the doctors projecting that she will be in the NICU until at least December if not January. She recently had pneumonia, but thankfully did not become septic and is responding well to antibiotics. We haven’t really gotten to hold her yet, but there’s hope that might be possible soon!

Emily is out of the hospital now, but understandably, all three of them have gone through and are going through a lot. I already made my sister’s family a meal train, but I decided to make this as well in case anyone wants to contribute to other ongoing expenses secondary to this ordeal, including gas to visit Rayla at the hospital, medical expenses, parking, Rayla’s specialized needs, and/or therapy.

Thank you very much to everyone thinking of, praying for, or contributing to the Graap family and Rayla. They feel very encouraged and loved by everyone’s support and really appreciate it in whatever form you can share it.