Help Liam Joel, Our Miracle Baby

In her third trimester of pregnancy, Valerie began to experience complications and subsequently was admitted on November 17 to the hospital with HELLP syndrome, a rare type of preeclampsia with severe features.

 

With her platelet levels dropping to dangerous levels and her experiencing elevated liver function and blood pressure, Valerie was at a high risk of seizures and stroke. Both Valerie and her baby’s life was at risk, so she was safely transported to UConn John Dempsey Hospital to receive speciality care with a team of experts in maternal fetal medicine.

 

As the weeks passed, Valerie’s condition worsened and it was no longer safe for her to remain pregnant. There currently is no cure for this condition, so the only option was to deliver early.

 

As a result, Liam Joel was welcomed into the world prematurely at 32 weeks on November 30.

 

Due to Liam’s early arrival and some medical issues, Liam was admitted to Connecticut Children’s NICU via UConn Health.

 

Thankfully, Valerie was discharged from the hospital 9 days later, but we continue to wait with continued prayer for Liam to be stable enough to come home. We are currently looking for support around medical bills, transportation expenses, and food expenses accrued during this challenging journey.

A typical stay in the NICU averages around $3,000 per day and with Liam being born at 32 weeks, he has a long stay ahead of him. Valerie and Derron are not sure how much insurance is going to cover, so these donations will be to take care of what insurance will not. These donations will help cover his stay in the NICU, procedures, tests/scans, medications, as well as going towards expenses after he is released, which will include specialty doctor visits, surgery, and everything else that might come during his development.