My name is Meg and I am TJ and Liz Colangelo’s little cousin. Our family name is Italian and means “With the Angels”, a sentiment we’ve been leaning on more than ever. TJ and Liz need our help following the complicated birth of their sweet boy, Jack.

Liz and TJ got married in 2015 in a lovely ceremony, surrounded by their family and friends. In 2018, they welcomed their wonderful daughter Charlotte. After a few years of smart and silly Charlotte being their only baby, Liz and TJ wanted to expand their family. It was not an easy road and included 3 rounds of IVF, not including one one which resulted in the loss of their angel baby, Avery. Earlier this year, IVF was successful and Liz had a relatively smooth pregnancy due in October 2022. So well that there were no major issues and Liz went to the hospital to be induced.

About 11 hours later, everything changed. Liz felt something was wrong and, in her own words, “all hell broke loose”. Liz was bleeding from multiple areas, including her nose and IV. Her quick acting medical team rushed her into the OR and delivered Jack within 6 minutes. The joy in a healthy baby boy was a glimmer of light, but things were declining for Liz.

Liz was bleeding massively, and began to hemorrhage. She had a placental abruption that caused DIC, or disseminated intravascular coagulation. Liz lost her entire blood volume as they were trying desperately to replace it. Thank God for blood donors, as Liz received 15 units of blood/platelets. While being moved to a different operating room, Liz’s family was told to begin to say their goodbyes. Liz remembers the fear of not being able to say goodbye to Charlotte as she was put into a medically induced coma.

TJ and their immediate family began the difficult task of telling the (huge) extended family that Jack was here and healthy, but that Liz was not okay yet. I cannot speak for Liz and TJ, but I can safely say that we, as their aunts, uncles, cousins, were absolutely panic stricken and turned to those angels. After 30 hours of pure terror for our whole family and an abundance of prayers from family and friends, Liz woke up in the ICU with one femoral and two carotid catheters, a feeding tube, and on a ventilator. Though awake, doctors said the chances of her organs continuing to function were very slim.

They clearly don’t know our Liz. In her typical fashion, she fought that ventilator all night until they removed it. Her heart and liver rebounded quickly. Her kidneys, however, were still failing, and they kept her in the ICU for over a week. She was then moved to the maternity floor, though her baby had gone home days before. Dialysis continued and Liz developed an infection, but 13 days after his birth, Liz held Jack for the first time. After 18 days in the hospital, Liz was sent home.

Slowly, Liz has been able to start to take care of her babies again. TJ and their parents had been holding down the fort and it continues to be a team effort to take care of mom, dad, Charlotte and Jack. Liz and TJ now have a whole new set of battles and fears. Liz has been strong and made the brave decision to begin healing mentally as well physically, as she continues with dialysis.

TJ and Liz are an amazing couple and two of the most independent and giving people I know. So I am doing what I know they never would and asking for financial help for their family. While TJ and Liz have worked hard in their respective careers, work has obviously been the last thing on their minds. Hospital bills and mental health care have added to the already mountainous financial burden of a new baby. Any help is appreciated, especially in this season of giving and family. We thank everyone for their prayers, good vibes, and positive thoughts so far, and we ask that you keep it up!