We did everything we could to prepare for a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and baby boy.. Though sometimes things don’t go exactly how you planned.

Riley was brought into this world via emergency C-section after his heart rate plummeted on day three of our induction. We were told I had high amniotic fluid around my baby with no understanding as to why, it just happens sometimes. Induction was highly recommended to prevent complications, though when it was time to push, Riley’s heart rate started dropping fast.

“Momma, I’m sorry but we’ve got to go NOW” the nurse said frantically, and all I can remember following that sentence was being rushed down the hall to the OR with my hand on my belly just praying that my baby would make it out on the other side. Next thing I know I’m drifting off to sleep and waking back up to ask if my baby was okay.

Riley was born with Pierre Robin sequence and came into this world fighting for air.

He had been taken to the NICU and we were told he had a cleft palate, an underdeveloped jaw, and a backward displacement of his tongue which was causing an upper airway obstruction.

Upon seeing him for the first time, they had him hooked up to oxygen and all of these devices. It wasn’t what I expected, but my heart felt so much joy just knowing he was alive.

Through all of this Riley has been transported to Levines Children’s Hospital for jaw distraction surgery to allow him to breathe freely, along with an additional surgery for a g-tube placement in his stomach for him to get in his nutrition.

In 6 months to a year he will need surgery on his cleft palate and have numerous appointments with speech therapy, physical therapy, gastroenterology, surgical teams, and more. Aside from all of this, he will also need special care and accessories for his unique situation moving forward.

We’re saddened to say Riley hasn’t been able to come home yet, and we’ve been stacking up debt since our hospital stay.

We are deciding it’s time to ask for help. Any donation for Riley’s treatments and future needs would mean the world to our family.

Though Riley came into this world fighting, we know he will grow to be so much stronger because of it, and this will be his story.