My name is Gabrielle, and I’m reaching out for help as our family faces the most difficult chapter of our lives. Our daughter, Liana, was born just eight days ago with a congenital heart malformation. She is currently in the NICU at Vanderbilt’s Monroe Carell Children’s Hospital, nearly six hours from our home in Kingsport, TN. Liana will need open heart surgery before she can come home, and while we are grateful she’s in the best possible hands, being so far from home has left us separated from our support system, our jobs, and the comfort of our community.

Due to the timing of Liana’s birth, my job will not extend paid maternity leave until February. This means we are faced with the impossible choice of leaving our medically fragile infant alone in a hospital far from home in order to pay our rent, car payment, and bills. Any funds donated will go directly to living expenses—rent, utilities, meals—as well as travel expenses like our car payment and gas while we stay in Nashville. We have been fortunate to receive temporary housing through our insurance, but the other necessities remain a challenge.

As a social worker, I have always done my best to help families in need. Now, I find myself needing to ask for help for my own family. Right now, Liana needs her parents by her side. She needs to be held, comforted, and surrounded by the love and presence of her mom and dad—these things are so important for her healing and development. As her mother, I desperately need to be with my baby, to hold her, feed her, and watch her breathe. Your support will help us stay together during this critical time, and we are deeply grateful for any help you can give.