On December 20th, 2021, our son Charlie entered the world at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Erie at only 28 weeks gestation, after an emergency C-section due to a placental abruption. He has been through so much in such a short period of time.

Charlie was born with a pneumothorax, which is a type of collapsed lung where air collects inside the chest cavity, between the lungs and the chest wall. In the beginning of his treatment, the lung was not responding well to the medicines and procedures being done to heal the hole in his lung. Two chest tubes were put in place to try and relieve the air. After about nine days, things were beginning to look better. Both chest tubes had been removed, and mom and dad finally were able to hold Charlie.

We were made aware that a pneumothorax could cause intraventricular hemorrhages, or bleeding into the fluid-filled areas, or ventricles, surrounded by the brain. The first scan showed a stage 2 brain hemorrhage. At stage 2, they just monitor the bleeding and make sure it’s not spreading. About a week later, they did another brain scan to check the bleeding and it showed a stage 3 hemorrhage. At that point it became too serious for St. Vincent of Erie to treat and we had to be moved to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh because Charlie will need surgery to help drain the fluid in his brain.

Mom has been out of work since December 20th, and will remain at the Children’s Hospital caring for Charlie and providing him the food and nutrition he needs to grow. Any and all proceeds will go toward hospital bills, gas to allow dad to come visit Charlie on weekends, and any other necessities that come along with Charlie’s NICU Journey. As I’m sure you could imagine, money is a stressor right now with mom out of work to care for little Charlie. All help will allow mom to stay and continue to care for Charlie and help dad visit as well.

Thank you all so much for your continued support, love, prayers, and donations to help our family during this time. It is appreciated more than you’ll ever know. I will post updates and pictures as we continue on through sweet Little Charlie’s NICU Journey!

Before you go, please enjoy these pictures of our sweet little man!