Support Lilja, Joseph, and Baby Girl During a Critical Time

Help Support Lilja, Joseph, and Baby Girl During a Critical Time

Please help us rally to support our dear friend Lilja, who is preparing to welcome her first baby while facing an incredibly difficult and unexpected season.

Since August, Lilja has been working full-time at MAP St. Louis, a local Montessori middle and high school, in a grant-funded position doing the meaningful, community-rooted work she loves. But on March 28, the federal funding that sustained her role was abruptly terminated—leaving her without the income she had been depending on during this critical time in her life.

To make matters even more challenging, Lilja’s husband, Joseph—a beloved movement educator working with elementary students—has just been diagnosed with a rare tissue cancer called sarcoma. Surgery is certain, but the full scope of the illness and treatment path is still unknown. His diagnosis has also placed his employment and income at risk.

As Lilja and Joseph prepare for the arrival of their baby girl, they are facing overwhelming financial and emotional uncertainty—loss of income, looming medical expenses, and the weight of the unknown.

Anyone who has met Lilja knows that her heart overflows with compassion, she shows up for others with joy, and she carries an outlook of hope, even in the hardest moments. Now, as she prepares to welcome her first child amidst extreme hardship, we have a chance to show up for her in the way she has shown up for so many. We’ve created this GoFundMe to surround Lilja and her family with love, stability, and support. Any contribution—no matter the size—will help ease the burden and allow them to focus on recovering and welcoming their daughter into the world.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity.