Baby Jacob

One of my best friends Sarah Louvat & her husband Andrew Louvat welcomed a beautiful little boy into this world 3 months early on May 21, 2014 in Hawaii. Being that he was born prematurely and not in good health he spent the next three months and then some in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Upon discharge he spent a mere month at home with his parents before he having to return to the very same hospital for admittance into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit due to a debilitating metabolic issue that nearly took him from his parents. The decision was then made to transfer Jacob and his family to Augusta, GA for more prudent and efficient medical care. This has proven to be the safe decision as Jacob has required five hospitalizations since then, spanning from day long visits to week long stays due to acute respiratory distress. Through all of this, Jacob has remained the eternal optimist, always has a smile a mile long and a laugh that can brighten up the worst of days. Right now, Jacob isn't smiling though, he is currently in the Palmetto Children's Healthcare Center being treated for four viral infections that have degraded his respiratory ability and have required assistance from a High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilator, life support essentially. His parents are proud, hard working individuals who would never ask for a dime that they didn't earn or couldn't pay back. So I'll ask for them. Sarah & Andrew were having to alternate being in South Carolina with their son while the other one is working in Georgia. As a mother this just broke my heart hearing that a parent could not be with their child in the hospital while he is on life support because they still have bills to pay & couldn't afford the gas to get back & forth. I am asking that everyone please share this & please help in any way you can to assist Jacob's parents in paying for gas to and from South Carolina, for meals in between long hours in the hospital room, for a quiet meal away from the hospital whenever they can steal time together, and to assist them in keeping bills paid as Sarah cannot work her shifts at the local Grovetown Applebee's & be in South Carolina with her son at the same time. As if these two don't have enough to handle at the moment they are also expecting their second child at the moment & trying not to stress. I honestly can't even imagine! All of you who know and love Jacob know that he is a tough as nails kid who will return to health when his body is clear of all sickness. But until then, let's show his parents that we stand here with them and will support them in any way we can. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity in the most trying of times! God Bless You All.