Baby Andrew's Adoption Journey

My brother, David, and his wife, Jenny, have been praying for a child of their own for several years. On Thursday, August 24, God answered their prayers and blessed them with a precious baby boy through adoption. They named him named Andrew Vernon Auxier.  

A little over a week before Andrew's arrival, David and Jenny were notified that an expectant mother had chosen them as the adoptive parents.  Andrew's birth mother ended up delivering three and a half weeks early, so David and Jenny were unexpectedly told that the mother was going in for an emergency c-section and that they needed to make their way to the hospital. When they received the news, they immediately left work, packed their bags, and began the 11 hour road trip from Illinois to Florida. 

Although Andrew initially appeared to be healthy following his birth, a few days' time revealed that he would have a very rough start to life. After being out of his mother's womb for a few days, he began experiencing withdrawal symptoms  from drugs she had been abusing while pregnant. David and Jenny helplessly watched their new baby boy cry in pain as his body weaned from the drugs he was exposed to in utero. After Andrew's withdrawal symptoms were observed for several days, the doctors decided he would require an extended stay in the NICU. With the best possible outcome, Andrew's stay in the NICU will last approximately two and a half to three weeks, but will depend on how his body responds to treatment.

During Andrew's time in the NICU, David and Jenny have been living out of a hotel in Florida and spending their days (and many nights) at the hospital with Andrew. As you can imagine, their expenses have added up quickly between the adoption fees, medical bills from an extended NICU stay, living expenses while staying in Florida (room and board, food, laundry, etc.), and taking unpaid time away from their jobs. 

Any donation, no matter how large or small, would help alleviate some of the financial stress they are experiencing.  Whether or not you are able to make a donation, please pray for David, Jenny, and Andrew during this time. Pray that Andrew's pain will be minimal and that his body will respond well to treatment. Pray for David and Jenny that they will find comfort and peace during this difficult time.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read their story.  Any way you can help, whether donating, praying, or sharing their story is greatly appreciated.Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions regarding the situation.