Hello, my name is Maria (though a lot of my friends call me Lily), and my husband’s name is Adrian. We recently welcomed our baby boy, Sebastian, into the world but his arrival was nothing like we imagined.

Nothing prepares you for the moment your world turns upside down. Bringing a baby into the world is supposed to be one of life’s most joyful moments, but for us it’s been a journey filled with both heartbreak and hope.

Late in my pregnancy, I developed preeclampsia, and everything started to unravel faster than anyone expected. I suffered a placental abruption, and within moments, my delivery turned into an emergency. Doctors rushed me off to perform an emergency C-section to save both of our lives.

I’ll never forget those few seconds after he was born. They brought him close and told me I could give him a quick kiss but just as I did, I heard someone say, “He’s not breathing.” In an instant, they rushed him out of the room. I was still lying on the surgical table, helpless, watching my baby being taken away before I even got to hold him. That moment is forever etched in my memory.

Our son was born prematurely and immediately taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where he spent 20 long days fighting to grow stronger. The NICU became our second home. Those first few days grew into weeks and were a complete blur of monitors beeping, sleepless nights, tears, and prayers. Every day, we watched our tiny miracle fight to grow stronger as he was connected to wires and surrounded by nurses and doctors who became our heroes. Together, we celebrated every tiny victory: every steady breath, every ounce gained, every tube that came out.

After 20 long days in the NICU, we finally brought him home. But while we’re endlessly grateful he’s here with us, the reality of the financial aftermath has hit us hard.

Just the bill for our baby’s NICU stay came to $175,000, not including my delivery, my readmission for postpartum preeclampsia, or the many specialists who cared for him during his hospital stay.

On top of the medical bills, we’re now navigating life with a premature newborn, managing unique medical needs, and trying to make ends meet, life not permitting us both to return to work, as Maria (Lily) will need to stay home with Sebastian providing around the clock care. All of these things on top of formula, diapers, wipes, and basic living expenses, it’s been incredibly difficult to keep up. We’ve always worked hard and never imagined ourselves needing help, but this experience has been humbling in every way.

We’re creating this GoFundMe to ask for help from anyone willing to lend a hand. We’re hoping to cover the heavy costs from his NICU stay and to get through this challenging season as we focus on our baby’s healing and growth.

Every donation, share, and prayer truly makes a difference. Your kindness helps lighten our load, every little bit helps us breathe a little easier and focus on what truly matters: helping our little miracle continue to grow, heal, and thrive by giving him care and stability he deserves.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading our story, for caring, and for helping us give our son the start in life he fought so hard for.

With love and gratitude,

Adrian and Maria (Lily)