Help Baby Delaney's Medical Care Needs

Along with their extended families, A.J., Katelyn, and big brother Kayson were overjoyed to welcome our sweet Delaney Grace Weinstein into the world on March 25th. She is a beautiful, tiny miracle, and we all couldn't wait to watch her grow. We are now starting this fundraiser with heavy hearts but immense hope for Delaney and her wonderful parents.

Now, at nearly 3 months for Delaney, what began as a worrying time has turned into an uncertain medical journey. Earlier this month, after a few days in the hospital for significant feeding issues, Katelyn and A.J. were relieved to bring Delaney back home. But that relief was short-lived, as the problems returned, this time with more questions than answers despite following every instruction from doctors and nurses, little Delaney is still struggling to gain weight.

On June 17th, the scale confirmed every parent's fear: at nearly three months old, she had lost weight and weighed only 6 lbs 11 oz. The local doctors knew she needed more specialized care and made the decision to send her to the incredible team at Children's of Alabama in Birmingham, over 2 hours from A.J. and Katelyn's home in Florence, AL.

As you can imagine, this has been an emotional rollercoaster. We've had moments of hope—her white blood cell count is now good, and a case of thrush is getting better. Delaney and her parents are working as a team and fighting so hard. However, the primary challenge remains Delaney's inability to consistently gain and maintain weight. The doctors have now confirmed that Delaney will need an extended stay at the hospital until she can gain at least another pound and show she is consistently growing. She is meeting other milestones, but needs to gain weight to continue to stay healthy.

How Your Support Will Help

As you can imagine, this extended hospital stay, far from home, places an immense emotional and financial strain on Delaney's parents. To allow them to focus completely on her care without the overwhelming weight of financial stress, we are humbly asking for your support.

Your donation will go directly to helping them manage the mounting costs associated with Delaney's medical needs:

Medical Bills: While they have insurance, many costs are not fully covered. Donations will help pay for specialist consultations, co-pays, and any specific treatments or therapies Delaney may need.

Travel and Accommodation: The hospital is in Birmingham has been wonderful, and A.J. and Katelyn are staying at the hospital with Delaney and they get two meal vouches a day, but there are other significant expenses. For an extended stay, funds will be critical for accommodation, allowing her parents to remain constantly by her side.

Lost Income: Being at the hospital 24/7 means significant time away from work. Your support will help supplement the lost income, providing a crucial safety net so they can focus on their daughter without the fear of losing their financial stability.

Daily Living Expenses: Even while life is on hold at the hospital, the regular bills for their mortgage, utilities, and car payments are not. Donations will help ensure they don't fall behind during this crisis with the lost income while out on Family Medical Leave.

A Buffer for the Unexpected: This journey has been full of unknowns. A small portion of our goal will serve as a buffer for any unexpected medical needs or costs that may arise as the doctors continue to work on a plan for Delaney.

Every single donation, no matter the size, will be a profound blessing that lessens the burden on this young family. If you are unable to contribute financially at this time, we would be so grateful if you could simply share this fundraiser with your own network of friends and family.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers, your support, and your kindness. We will continue to post updates on our sweet Delaney's progress. 

If you prefer to use Venmo, you can send it directly to @LisaDWPhotographyandArt and I will transfer directly to AJ's account.