Help Emily & Baby Liam Prepare for a Safe Delivery
Hi friends, family, and kind hearts,
We are reaching out with humble hearts as we prepare for the arrival of our baby boy, Liam. His story—and mine—has been anything but ordinary.
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My Journey Through Motherhood
I became a mom for the first time on May 12, 2011, when our son Landon was born at just 32 weeks due to severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. His NICU stay was hard, but today he is thriving and reminds us daily of God’s faithfulness.
In 2013, I faced tragedy when a catastrophic uterine rupture took our second son, Ezra’s, life. Emergency surgery saved mine, but required mesh across my entire abdomen, anchored with 42 titanium screws.
On December 21, 2021, life changed again when a car accident left me with a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) that made it hard to walk or talk for months. Recovery revealed the accident had caused even more conditions, including POTS (causing daily fainting and heart problems) and MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome), which has made life especially fragile.
- With MCAS, my body reacts to things most people never think about—fillers, dyes, detergents, even hospital sheets. Medications are especially dangerous, and every hospital stay is risky because there is almost nothing safe for me to eat. To survive, all of my food has to be prepared fresh, from scratch, and sourced directly from family farms.
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Lifelong Medical Costs
One of the hardest realities is that my medications are not temporary—they are lifelong.
• I spend about $800 every month on prescription copays just to stay stable.
• I also see multiple specialists every month ($100 each), plus weekly OB visits ($50 each).
That means $1,400+ every single month just in medical costs—before food, gas, or baby needs. These expenses won’t go away after pregnancy; they are a permanent part of my life with MCAS.
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Liam’s Story & The Risk We Face
Against all odds, I am now 23 weeks pregnant, Liam — a 1-in-a-million miracle. He has already shown us how eager he is to meet the world. I’ve been repeatedly placed back on bedrest to keep him safe inside as long as possible.
From the beginning, doctors planned to deliver him early at 36 weeks to protect us both. But now, every week feels like a victory. Every extra day he stays inside is a blessing. Our prayer is to keep him safe and growing until his scheduled arrival, or as close as possible.
Because of my medical history, Liam’s delivery will be a very complex C-section, and both of us are expected to face longer hospital stays—with me likely in ICU and Liam possibly in NICU at OU Children’s Hospital, the best NICU in Oklahoma.
Why This Surgery Is So Complex
• A typical C-section takes 30 minutes. Mine will take 4–5 hours if everything goes right.
• Emergency risk: If Liam comes early and needs an emergency C-section, doctors may not reach him in time.
• Mesh complications: You cannot place new mesh over old. After they cut me open, there will be no perfect way to close my abdomen. This means multiple future surgeries and a permanently weak abdominal wall.
• Permanent limitations: My abdominal muscles cannot be fully closed. I will always have a gap, making hernias almost unavoidable. I’ll also have a lifelong lifting restriction under 10 lbs.
• Recovery: For 10–12 weeks I won’t be able to bend or lift at all, making basic newborn care incredibly difficult.
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How the Funds Will Help
We’ve tried to be transparent about what this fundraiser will cover:
Preparation Before Birth (Now–Dec)
• Medical care: $4,200 (meds + specialists + OB visits)
• Recovery supplies for home: $4,650 (upright freezer, stand-up chair, hospital bed mattress, sheets, over-bed table, food prep supplies, ect.)
• Baby essentials (new & safe items): $2,100 (crib mattress, bottles, formula, diapers/wipes, air purifier, second car seat, etc.)
Delivery & Recovery (Dec–Feb)
• Hospital stay costs for family: ~$2,000 (gas, food, possible hotel near OU Children’s)
• Medical copays during recovery: ~$2,800 (meds, specialists, follow-up)
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Goal: $25,000
Unknown Hospital Costs: ICU and NICU bills are unpredictable and could add thousands more beyond this budget.
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A Flexible Plan
This budget is our best plan right now, but the truth is things could change at a moment’s notice.
• I may need to be hospitalized weeks (or even a month) before Liam’s birth.
• Liam could require a longer NICU stay.
• I may need an extended ICU stay after surgery.
• That would mean added gas, food, and lodging costs for my husband and son while they support us.
• Hospital bills themselves are completely unknown—and could add thousands more beyond what insurance covers.
• Future reconstructive surgeries that are inevitable
Your support gives us a safety net for the unknown, so we can focus on what matters most: keeping Liam safe and getting us both home.
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Ways to Give
Donate here on GoFundMe
Venmo – @Mom_Z_
PayPal – @emilyzingg
Gift Registries: Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/baby-reg/emily-zingg-december-2025-kingfisher/1J7QQJVR3ZB5E
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Every prayer, kind word, share, and donation makes a difference. We don’t expect miracles (like a car!)—we just want to be transparent about what we’re facing and how hard we are working to prepare.
With gratitude and love,
The Zingg Family
Organizer
