Hi Everyone. I tried to avoid this as long as possible but we are having a hard time . If you are able to help we greatly appreciate it if not please share our story .

On August 4th I had an OB appointment. I had not been feeling well and my blood pressure was extremely elevated and I was swelling really bad in hands face and ankles . My OB had suggested to go to L&D to get evaluated . They ended up admitting me and said I was showing hypertension / preeclampsia with severe characteristics and would later find out I also had PPROM and I would need to be put on Magnesium drip to help prevent a stroke or seizure . The next couple of days I was heavily monitored, constant lab work and maternal fetal doctors wanting ultrasound to make sure my son AJ was okay . Skip to August 6th my blood pressure was extremely high and we could not get it down and I was starting to experience a headache that I have never experienced before . At that moment the OB on call , MFM specialist and neonatologists decided I needed to deliver my son at 30 weeks and 1 day as it was no longer safe to keep him inside .

He was born on 8/7/2025 via c section. He came out crying and weighed 3lbs 9.2 oz and 14 1/2 inches long . He was responding well and they got him all situated to be taken up to the Nicu .

I was not able to go see him the first 24 hrs of him being born due to being back on Magnesium Drip . I was able to see him and hold him on Aug 8th. He was so tiny yet so precious . I blamed myself for all of this . But he was here and healthy , so we thought !

It's now Aug 9th and I'm up trying to get myself ready to have my nurse wheel me up to nicu when one of the neonatologists come down to talk to me . She advised me that AJ had air in his stomach and they needed to take him to the OR and do exploratory surgery to see what was going on . I signed any documents necessary and she headed upstairs to get him ready for the procedure. About 20 minutes later another neonatologists came down and told me what no mother wants to hear. Your baby is extremely sick and we do not think he will make it . My whole world froze . This was so traumatic for me with how everything played out so far and now this . I lost it . He held my hand and comforted me and promised he would do everything necessary to help AJ but nothing was guaranteed.

AJ needed to be intubated for the bowel surgery. As they were preparing to do this he had a MASSIVE pulmonary hemmorage that resulted in blood transfusions. He was bagged for hours due to his vitals dropping every time they'd try to hook him up to ventilator . Eventually they were successful and he was put on a ventilator machine . For two weeks we couldn't hold our baby . We could only watch him through his incubator . He also had jaundice. Days later we were informed he had a grade 2 brain bleed ( one of the better grades to have ) but a week or so later his grade 2 now turned into 3 and 4 . We were told we will not know what issues he will have when older but it could be cerebral palsy, speech impairment, blindness(he's not ) , neurological disorders. It's a waiting game .

AJ is as finally stable to have his surgery two weeks later . Best news possible he ended up having a rare case were there is a pocket of fluid that grew on the side of his intestines that burst. They were able to clean it up , stitch it back up and he did not need a colostomy bag.

Eventually he was able to get off the ventilator and go on high flow oxygen . But then they noticed he was breathing to fast and we had to put him on cpap.

It's been a long time coming but as of 10/18 he's off cpap and on high oxygen . He has good days and bad days. We are going to start winging him again .

Doctors informed us he would need a Gtube before he comes home because the chances of him aspirating is extremely high. AJ's right side lung is not expanding all the way due to the diaphragm not working . So he may also need diaphragm surgery where they go inside and pull it down to help him breathe better but it would stay down permanently and not move . Right now the goal is to keep letting him grow , he is 7lbs 5.6 oz now. And hopefully eventually he will get stronger and the lungs will over compensate for his diaphragm not working . He also may require oxygen at home also . But we still have a long road ahead of us and the unknowns of what AJ's life will look like down the road , terrifies us . But we are so grateful for everyone of the neonatologists and Nicu Nurses that have helped AJ . Thank you to friends and family for being supportive and helping with the older kiddos .

Now with all this going on I was laid off and I am currently trying to fight my unemployment . I was denied because I didn't have the right documents needed and they are giving me a hard time . With that being said that is one less income we have in our 5 family home . My husband ( bless his heart) has picked up the slack of me not of working because I need to be up here with our son but we are barely making it . We are lucky if we have enough to get us groceries for the week. I am up at the nicu every day and we live 52 minutes from there so the amount of gas I am using is beyond insane . AJ's medical bills are also piling up . We have good insurance but staying in the nicu is extremely expensive. We are trying to be positive but this has all been so much and we are drowning in debt . Having to reach out and ask for help like this is not only hard but embarrassing as well. But we are putting our pride to the side and asking anyone who's able to please help us . No donation is to small and we appreciate it so much .

please keep us all in you're prayers as we continue to navigate through all this .

UPDATE ON AJ AS OF 11-18-25

as many of you know, AJ suffered a grade 3 and 4 brain bleed which resulted in hydrocephalus. For many that don’t know what hydrocephalus is , its a condition where there is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain's ventricles, causing pressure on the brain . This is very serious and can cause a lot of issues if it is not taken care of with that being said AJ was transferred to Comers Children’s Hospital in Chicago. AJ had surgery where they put a reservoir device inside AJ’s head underneath the skin and he is getting daily taps with a needle to drain out the excessive fluid. He had an MRI done on 11-17 to see how the inside of his head looks with the fluid. AJ‘s head is the only thing that is keeping him in the Nicu at this point . As of now the plan is to keep tapping and seeing if fluid continues to come up with each tap daily . Neurologist seems to think AJ will need a shunt before he goes home, but that cannot be done until after December 1st. We were already struggling to begin with and now AJ having to move to Chicago Nicu put an even greater toll on us . Wevknow times are hard but if you’re able to donate anything we greatly appreciate it and thank you for keeping AJ and our family in your prayers.