After my water broke 10 weeks early, I was hospitalized for two weeks—away from my two children—before delivering our daughter 8 weeks early. She then spent 7 weeks in the NICU before she was finally able to come home. Nothing about this experience was something we could have prepared for physically, emotionally, or financially, and it has been overwhelming for our entire family.

While we are beyond grateful to now have our daughter home with us, the challenges have not ended. We are facing significant medical bills from both of our hospital stays, many of which were only partially covered by insurance. Because of her prematurity, our daughter requires a specialized formula that is not covered, adding another ongoing expense. At the same time, I was forced to leave work unexpectedly, resulting in lost income, and my partner had to take time away from work to care for me during my hospitalization and to support our daughter once she arrived. These sudden financial strains have made it difficult for us to regain stability with our household expenses and keep up with our day-to-day needs.

Any contribution—no matter the size—will go directly toward medical expenses, essential care for our daughter, and helping our family get back on their feet. If you are unable to give, simply sharing our story would mean so much to us. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for supporting our family during this incredibly difficult time.