Tomorrow is my daughter’s 21st birthday, and instead of celebrating the way we always imagined, she will still be in the hospital fighting through something we still don’t fully have answers for. It has been one of the hardest and most emotional weeks our family has ever faced.

What makes this even more heartbreaking is that she still cannot eat or keep anything down, so we can’t even celebrate with a traditional birthday cake or a special birthday dinner. Something as simple as sharing a meal or singing around a cake is something we would give anything for right now. Seeing her spend her 21st birthday in a hospital room instead of surrounded by joy and celebration is incredibly painful.

She has been trying so hard to stay strong, but emotionally this has been very hard on her. She is sad, exhausted, overwhelmed, and struggling through everything that comes with being sick, uncomfortable, scared, and uncertain about what is happening to her body. As her mom, it hurts deeply watching her go through this and not being able to take the pain away.

I decided to create a GoFundMe for her birthday this year, not only to help with the financial stress and household expenses she still has while being hospitalized, but also to remind her how loved and supported she truly is. I would love for people to fill her page with love, encouragement, prayers, and support so she knows she is not facing this alone.

If anyone feels led to donate, no matter how small, we are beyond grateful. But more than anything, I am asking for prayers.

Please pray for:

* Healing and strength

* Answers from the doctors

* Peace and comfort emotionally and physically

* Relief from the nausea and sickness

* That she can finally eat and feel normal again

* Encouragement and hope during this difficult time

If you cannot donate, please do not feel bad at all. A prayer, a share, or even a kind comment would mean so much to her and to our family.

Thank you to everyone who has checked in, prayed, supported us, and shown love during this difficult week. We truly appreciate every message, every prayer, and every bit of support more than words can express.

Happy 21st birthday to my beautiful daughter. I pray next year we get to celebrate you healthy, smiling, surrounded by family, laughter, and the biggest birthday cake imaginable. We love you endlessly and are standing beside you every step of the way. ❤️