My name is Ginger, and Petra is my daughter-in-law. On Tuesday, August 26th, while running some errands with Joey and Leo, she felt something unusual. She was only 26 weeks along in her pregnancy, but it felt like her water broke. They immediately went to the ER, and unfortunately, that is in fact what happened.

She was given steroids, antibiotics, and magnesium for preventative purposes for her and the baby in the event that this was preterm labor. She wasn’t contracting and is slightly dilated.

So the plan is to keep monitoring baby Mila with non-stress tests and ultrasounds. As long as infection, contractions, and dilation stay away, we are okay.

She will be in the hospital until she delivers. They are hoping to at least get her to between 34 and 36 weeks, but are prepared if that doesn’t happen. The road ahead will be much harder; every day in is better than 2 days out right now.

Most of you know that they are a one-income family, with Petra working and Joey being a stay-at-home dad. Petra has short-term disability and maternity leave, but the short-term doesn’t start right away and is a big cut from her normal salary. In addition to normal expenses right now, they have added gas back and forth from the hospital, parking, food (even though they bring the majority from home) for Joey and Leo, etc.

Any help would be appreciated, as well as prayers, healing, and healthy thoughts for this beautiful little family.