Dearest friends, family, and community members:

I am writing with some beautiful news…

My dear sister friend, Madhavi Messmer, is anticipating her first baby!

If you have crossed this threshold already, you know it is a time of deeply intense emotions, and practical needs for care are vital. As community members, it is a blessing to help provide for those needs. To that end, I am helping to raise funds for her, Daniel, and their baby. Please send best wishes for them all on this part of the journey. This is our opportunity to “Mother the Mother” and share support and care from the wider circle.

Funds will go toward the following:

Off-Island birthing rental - to relocate for 4-6 weeks, to Vancouver Island ($2,000 minimum)

Maternal/Paternal leave (as self-employed people, neither qualified for government support)

Birth Doula ($1,400)

Postpartum care ($800)

Various baby items (clothes, blankets, etc.)

Thank You!

Emily Rivers

From Madhavi:

I am very humbled by this opportunity to receive support as we step into parenthood! I resisted the idea for a long time, and am very grateful to Shanti, Emily and other dear friends encouraging me (for months) to say yes. Our little miracle baby came as a total surprise after many many years of infertility, and we were not prepared at all! It has been a scramble to try to finish our tiny home (still in progress!) as well as save as much as we can for the reality of leaving our rural home for the birthing window. Daniel needs to take more time off work than we expected because of this move. It's a big stretch in many ways, but we need to move closer to the midwife we are working with near Nanaimo, as the midwives in our area are not equipped to support us due to my medical circumstances. In previous years there was a subsidized program to help rural families relocate for birth, but it doesn't exist anymore. Reaching out for community support feels really hard and humbling, as I know times are tight for many. We are really grateful for any kind of support, big or small, prayers and kind wishes included! 

With very grateful hearts, Madhavi, Daniel and baby to come