Hi everyone,

Our little family has been through an incredibly hard season, and we’ve reached a point where we truly need help. Asking for help is not something we do easily, but right now it’s our only option.

At the beginning of this year, we were overjoyed to learn we were pregnant after many heartbreaking miscarriages. Despite some scares early on, things looked good and we were so hopeful. Unfortunately, life quickly became overwhelming with one struggle after another.

First, my husband unexpectedly lost his job due to weather-related layoffs. Not long after, in May, he suffered his first seizure out of nowhere. He had another one just 20 minutes later. Since then, he’s had multiple seizures, been placed on anti-seizure medication, and is now under the care of a neurologist and cardiologist due to ongoing symptoms and a dangerously low heart rate. This has made it nearly impossible for him to work, especially in the hard labor jobs he’s always done.

While dealing with all of this, we faced another crisis just days ago. At 32 weeks pregnant, I thought I was experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. My husband urged me to go to the ER to be safe—and thank God he did. Within minutes, doctors discovered my placenta was tearing from my uterus and I had blood in the amniotic fluid. It was too dangerous to transfer me to another hospital, so I was rushed into emergency surgery under general anesthesia.

Our baby boy was born weighing 4 lbs 11 oz and immediately taken to the NICU at Covenant in Saginaw. Thankfully, he is strong and fighting—his main challenge right now is with his lungs, which is common for preemies. He’s on CPAP support and light therapy, but overall he’s shocking even the doctors with how well he’s doing.

We are beyond grateful that both baby and I are stable, but with my husband unable to work, medical trips piling up, and now our baby needing NICU care, we are struggling more than ever. We are trying to get into a Ronald McDonald-type housing so we can stay close to our son, but nothing has come through yet.

This is not easy for us—we are not people who ask for help—but we’re reaching out in hopes that our community can lift us up in this time. Any donation, no matter how small, will go toward:

Gas, food, and temporary housing while our baby is in the NICU

Covering bills and necessities while my husband cannot work

Medical expenses and follow-up care for both my husband and our baby

If you’re unable to give, prayers and shares mean the world to us. We know times are hard for many, and we are grateful for any kindness shown.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us keep our family strong.