Avery’s Fight with Lupus and Open Heart Surgery

For 55 days, our beautiful Avery has been in the hospital at UAB, fighting for her life. She’s battling severe lupus, stage 3 kidney nephritis, gastroparesis, catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS), and a leaky mitral valve... conditions that have caused mini strokes, lung clots and bleeding, brain inflammation, and now serious heart damage.

Her heart is suffering from severe mitral valve regurgitation, which keeps filling her lungs and liver with fluid. Once she’s strong enough, Avery will need open-heart surgery to replace the valve with a mechanical one, a major operation that will mean a lifetime on blood thinners. Until then, her doctors are working around the clock to keep her stable and her lungs clear enough to breathe.

In these eight weeks, Avery has endured chemotherapy, plasma exchanges, high-dose steroids, multiple blood transfusions, oxygen support, and countless procedures. Through it all, she continues to smile, worship, and hold onto hope.

For nearly two months, Terry, Lisa and Kade have stayed in the hotel connected to the hospital so they can be there day and night. This has meant being out of work for weeks. It also means a separation in their family. While in Birmingham, Allie is holding down the fort back home. In addition, Avery had to stop working back in December. The costs of lodging, meals, travel, and overwhelming medical bills are becoming more than they can bear alone.

While we believe God is not finished with Avery’s story, we are asking for your help so her parents can focus on what matters most... being by her side, praying over her, and supporting her through every moment of this battle. Your generosity will help cover:

• Hotel costs so they can stay close to her

• Meals and daily expenses during this long hospital stay

• Medical bills and future rehabilitation expenses

• Lost income during Avery’s fight

If you can’t give financially, we humbly ask that you share Avery’s story and keep lifting her in prayer. Your prayers are powerful. Your shares spread hope. Your donations help meet the needs that allow her family to keep fighting alongside her.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with Avery in faith, hope, and love.