Bianca, Colby, twin babies Elijah and Freya, ICU

Many of you may know my "baby" sister Bianca.

This week has been a whirlwind.

If I may give a glimpse of what they have been through...

The first picture is minutes before her scheduled early C-section for her twins, which unexpectedly turned into a truly emergency C-section due to Elijah heart rate dropping. He was born a blue baby and was immediately coded and eventually resuscitated. He was intubated and transferred to another hospital before Bianca even was aware (due to anesthesia for the surgery). The concern is for brain damage due to lack of oxygen during that time. She has not seen him except through pictures.

Freya, his sister, was born without issue and seems to be doing well and eating. Both babies were over 8lbs and otherwise healthy, probably because Bianca struggled with gestational diabetes.

Elijah remains at another hospital 1 hour away. She is unable to visit him until the 29th because she, also, tested positive for covid! Initially, they had Elijah sedated and under a cooling blanket due to his resuscitation and trying to slow damage to his body and brain. They are slowly decreasing his sedation... 5 days later, he remains intubated. He is a "no touch" baby, meaning he is not to be stimulated in any way to decrease external stress on his little body. This also means he isn't able to be held or cradled. I can't tell you how much I just want to pick him up and love on him. What a traumatic way to come into the world.

Bianca, Colby and Freya were discharged home post delivery day 3. Bianca was fatigued and had been given a blood transfusion in the hospital. She began having trouble breathing which she attributed to the Covid. This morning her struggle to breathe became so bad she went to the emergency room. Labs and tests revealed she now has fluid around her heart and lungs. She was then transferred to Cabell. They noted that her heart was only functioning at 25% normal. She is now in their ICU with heart failure. I'm not sure about the visitor policy but I doubt that Freya will be able to be in the ICU, which means she won't be with either baby for the near future.

Colby has been off work the past week with her. He is now driving back and forth an hour away to check on her, trying to take care of Freya, worrying about going to work, finding a babysitter for a newborn, worrying about Elijah that neither one of them can see for another week... I really don't know how they are dealing with everything. I don't know how many weeks this is going to be going on and I don't know what the end results will be. From what I read, heart failure postpartum is somewhat rare but can last up to 6 months or so. Bianca has been a hard worker and worked with those twins in her belly right up to her delivery. She is tough. She is a strong woman and has been through more than I ever could've handled. I don't know when she will be able to work or what Elijah will require.

It seems overwhelming right now.

I've never done a go fund me before.

I have read others and contributed to many.

Bianca and Colby and the babies could certainly use some help, some love, and some prayers.

Even if you can't contribute, please share so others can be aware of them and their needs.