Audrey's Quinceanera , WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN!!!

This is going to be long, I apologize for that. I want you everyone to know Audrey and how incredibly beautiful and deserving she is. If you are able to help WE will all be FOREVER grateful. I recently asked Audrey what she wanted her theme to be and she said Paris....eeek. All the pinks and black, I can't wait!!! Now on to the long read.... I'm sorry for the length, but if you can make it to the end Thank you, thank you so much. This kid is so incredible and deserves this plus more.

Hello everyone, I'd like for you to meet Miss. Audrey Lee-Marie. This little fighter has endured so much love, pain and loss in her short almost 15 yrs here on Earth. Before I get into who Audrey is and what she's been through, lets start off with WHY where here!! Audrey is one of the most deserving humans to walk this earth, unfortunately not everyone agrees with that, some being her living family members. They believe that because Audrey is disabled, and doesn't walk the best that she doesn't deserve a Quinceanera. There has been so many AWFUL words said, and because of that I'm here to ask those of you who are able to please help us throw Audrey the BIGGEST and BEST Quinceanera possible. She's more than deserving, biggest reason is because Audrey has BEAT ALL ODDS!!!

Her family has been on one of the worst roller-coaster rides the last few years. Let's get into that!! Audrey is the beautiful daughter of Marty and Carolina. Carolina has had on and off medical problems since conceiving Audrey ( no fault of Audrey's, just some life long complications). Marty has recently been diagnosed with a rare form of kidney disease, Marty was hospitalized for a few weeks in the beginning of figuring out what was wrong, which set this family back. Since then he undergoes dialysis a couple times a week, leaving him unable to work full-time and being the provider that he normally is. His health and well being is more important, we need him, Audrey needs him, so if missing work and struggling some for his health needs is what happens than that's that. Due to this Carolina has been trying to help in every-way possible. This women is a Super I tell ya. She works for a local school district with older children that have disabilities during the week, during regular school hours, unfortunately the pay isn't great at all and doesn't fully support them (mainly due to insurance reasons), so she Ubers EVERY SINGLE EVENING for a few hours each night. This family isn't one to ask for help of any kind, hince why Carolina is busting tail to make ends meet as they try to get Marty a kidney transplant. But enough about them, lets move on to the real topic of my personal little hero Audrey!!!

Audrey was born October 25, 2009. It was an incredibly scary delivery that happened entirely to early. Carolina and Marty had been trying to conceive for 3 yrs but do to the severe endometriosis it made things complicated. After the 2nd round of IVF, it took, they were pregnant!! Carolina had to be monitored weekly due to the pregnancy being high-risk. At 15 weeks not even half way into the pregnancy the OBGYN suggested getting a cerclage, unfortunately that procedure didn't happen, instead they just gave Carolina medications to try and help her from dilating. At 21 weeks just barely past the half way threshold of pregnancy Carolina's OBGYN went on vacation and left Carolina in the hands of another OBGYN. At this point Carolina's weekly appointment came back around, just shy of 22 weeks and was giving the news that she was going to be bedridden for the remainder of the pregnancy. Carolina went in on a Monday just hitting her 22 week mark but was rushed next door to the hospital, unfortunately Carolina was 3cm dilated, Audrey was trying to make an grand appearance. Day 3 into this scare, Carolina's water broke, doctor's decided to still try and keep Audrey in to bake a little longer, at this point Carolina was put into a up-side down like position, with her hips down to her feet extremely elevated above her head, she was also placed on steroids to help get Audrey's lungs developed to get stronger for her early appearance. This lasted until Carolina was 24 weeks along, at this point they then moved her closer to the OR and that's when everything went spiraling out of control and going down-hill and quickly. Audrey's heart rate became very elevated at 250 bpm and Carolina started to run a high fever of 103, this is when they told Carolina and Marty it was time to deliver. Carolina and Marty scared to death, little Audrey was only 24 week and 3 days gestation, entirely to early to deliver. But they were headed to the OR for any emergency C-section. Audrey was born at 24 weeks and 3 days weighing in at a whooping 1.8 pounds, extremely tiny and fragile. Needless to say Audrey was born very prematurely, and suffered from jaundice, pseudomonas infection and on top of the regular prematurity complications. After about 3 weeks in the NICU Carolina and Marty were approached by a Doctor, telling them "to turn the machines off", "that they could try again for another child down the road", "she won't live, or have any quality of life". Carolina was still fragile herself, her body attempted to give up on her and little Audrey, then have Doctors in your ear saying to "pull the plugs" didn't help the situation at all. Carolina trying to focus on her TINY newborn baby girl that was STABLE all while dealing with all the emotions that tag along with having a preemie baby, postpartum not to mention Carolina's own medical emergencies. Shortly after the 3 week mark of Audrey being born Audrey had to undergo her 1st brain surgery due to her tiny little brain bleeding ( unfortunately this is common in premature babies such as Audrey), that's when Audrey was transferred to Driscoll Children's Hospital. Driscoll Children's assigned Carolina and Marty's forever hero Dr. Burke to Audrey, he preformed Audrey's very first brain surgery at 6 weeks old and placed a VP shunt at the time. Dr. Burke enlightened Carolina and Marty on so much and gave them so much hope, he explained everything to them, the good, the bad and the ugly. One of the questions where what would Audrey's quality of life be? Dr. Burke informed them that it was still to early to tell but he could tell them without a shadow of doubt that without the surgeries that Audrey would die, but he also mentioned that he believed there would be some hard times, close calls but he didn't for see Audrey being in a vegetable state, which was GREAT news, especially after some of the other NICU Doctors didn't give Carolina or Marty much hope. From here Audrey would spend the next SEVEN months at Driscoll Children's hospital, after the amazing care and team that they were given for Audrey and the hope they refused to send her back to the original hospital where they suggested for us to "let her go" (as I'm sure anyone would have). Carolina and Marty were adamant to stand beside Audrey, to not leave her side. (We joke around and call her our Million Dollar baby) Carolina and Marty endured so much just to get this little gift to begin with, they weren't going to just toss her out like trash. Audrey was a gift, a child that they longed for and they stood by her the entire time, haven't left yet and will NEVER. Since Audrey has been diagnosed with Hydrocephalus, Chronic lung disease, Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, Asthma, Kidney disease (unfortunately this is genetic and was passed down by Marty and his family, but her amazing Doctors are keeping an eye on her Kidneys) and lastly seizures. Audrey currently has 15 different specialist doctors on her team. After years of non-stop therapy and giving up Audrey is able to WALK on HER OWN, she started around the age of 10 and has just taken off, can't begin to explain how proud of this kid we are. She can't walk for long distances are her muscles from the CP aren't the strongest BUT she WILL!! Audrey also finally started talking fluently at the age of 6, now she won't huss...lol. Carolina and Marty continuously say how the owe it all to Dr. Burke, he was that push and hope that they needed and exactly when they needed it. Since Audrey's first brain surgery at the age of 6 weeks she has had 8 additional brain surgeries to repair her VP Shunt. Audrey had 1 hip reconstruction surgery at the age of 3, whew was that a crazy 6 weeks ( I "Nicole" was there for the surgery and after-care), she has screws and plates in her legs ( this was all the help her walk-and stretch the muscles again due to the CP), she's had 2 retina repairs due to much oxygen during her NICU stay, 1 minor surgery for a birth defect (a little extra finger), multiple dental surgery's mainly due to her medicines, she's had 5 pic lines placed in her main artery, underwent adenoids and tonsil removal and lastly multiple hospitalizations due to seizures. One of her seizures (I was there for this one too) was very severe and left her right side very weak...BUT she's once again OVERCOME and is able to use the right side of her body (she doesn't like to) but CAN and DOES!!!

Audrey had always been surrounded by love and has always lit up the room no matter the environment. This kid could have just got out of brain surgery and look at you and smile, she's always been a cuddle bug, was always so TINY but man she's always been so MIGHTY. Audrey has now grown into her age, took her a good 10 years to catch up but SHE HAS!! Audrey's family circle has been pretty small. It's with great sadness that Audrey was never able to meet her paternal grandparents are they were Older, weak and lived far away, to far for Audrey at the time to make the trip to visit ( a good 6ish hours one way), they've since passed. But she was able to talk to them and thank god for video chat too!! Her maternal grandparents have been in her life and extremely supportive since prior to the birth of Audrey. Pablo and Marie were Audrey's best friends, they are the maternal grandparents. They made it a point to come see Audrey a few times a month. Pablo suddenly passed away July of 2017, it rocked Audrey's world, well everyone's. Pablo was a good man, a family man. He took me and my family in and considered my oldest daughter Autumn his own. Pablo was a jokester and always came baring gifts. When he passed Audrey made some regressions. She didn't understand and missed her granddad so much. At that point she really latched on to Marie her grandma. They were best-friends. Audrey would call her grandmother daily, came to the point where Audrey practically made Marie move in, but Marie didn't want to feel like a burden so she would travel home from time to time, she also had her own health complications that she struggled with. A little over a year ago April of 2022 Audrey's entire world turned up-side down again when Marie tragically and unexpectedly passed away as well from a fall that caused complications. Audrey was a little older and understood a little more, but still went into a depression and regression...as expected. We talk about Grandma and Grandpa regularly. Marty does have siblings but none that live locally and Carolina has a sister that passed away many years ago due to cancer. My family and self (Nicole) came into Audrey's live when she was about 2 years old. She was so TINY, like the size of a 6 month old. I was in so much Awe of her. This little girl grabbed my finger and has had ALL of us wrapped since. Once Carolina, Marty and myself all got to know each other better as we moved in next door to them they told me how Audrey would always smile but never really interact with strangers. I was a complete stranger that Audrey fell in love with site un-seen. It's been history since. We moved there due to my Husband, he's active duty navy and well we got Orders to move to Corpus Christi, TX. That's where we gained family, a family that means so much to us. Carolina and I had agreed that I would become Audrey's full time Nanny, they had so much trouble with childcare due to Audrey and her disabilities. That's when I learned so much about this little fighter and took on the roll. I had it in my head that I was going to get her, crawling, talking, sitting up unassisted working with her on speech, PT, OT you name it. AND guess what...Audrey did it!! My oldest daughter and Audrey formed a very special bond, they aren't like normal friends, more sister's. Hell Audrey calls us and asks me all the time to talk to her sister. Autumn and I would get in the floor with this little girl and look crazy as ever, but Audrey started army crawling!! Audrey also started talking, now not full sentence but words!!! This kids was EXCELLING and blew my mind daily. Unfortunately with my husband being in the miliary, we had to move away. BUT...never lost contact!! After we left things got a little complicated, Audrey just lost her sister, her other mother and father so to speak. We were there for 3 years, may not seem like a long time but for a fragile child such a Audrey it was like a life-time. We were there for so many of her procedures, I took her to many appointments, made some medical decisions for her, and now I'm here to ask for assistance on gathering the funds to throw this incredibly deserving child her sweet 15, her big Quinceanera, because she DOES deserve it, and she WILL walk down the isle in her beautiful dress to celebrate a HUGE milestone. If you have any question PLEASE reach out to me Nicole Richardson @ [phone redacted]. I will gladly respond to any questions or concerns. I am Audrey's godmother, and I will stand up for this child. If you made it to the end, Thank you, thank you so much. If you don't have any money to spare please share!! I appreciate all of you and your support.