Hi, my name is Amy and I am creating this fundraiser for my nephew Mark, his fiancé Nastassja and their sweet premature baby girl, Peyton.

Mark and Nastassja have been together for six years and have been working with the Immigration Service to bring her to the United States from the Philippines. While working six to seven days a week to save up the money for his new family Mark collapsed just outside his home on December 23, 2022. Mark was rushed to the Emergency room in Burlington. The doctors ran several tests but could not figure out what was wrong. As each hour passed, his symptoms got worse and worse.

From tingling in his feet to his legs going numb and then full-blown paralysis within hours. Luckily after the shift change, he received a new doctor who ran additional tests. He was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome; an auto-immune disease that attacks the nervous system. Mark was told if he had gone home like suggested by his first doctor, he would have died.

He was in the ICU for two weeks and then an additional week at the UVM Medical Center waiting for a room at the Fanny Allen rehabilitation center. The doctors have told him that he will recover, but it is going to take several months. He is working hard on his physical therapy, but in the meantime, he cannot work or live independently, and they have told him to plan for a minimum of six months to be out of work.

As if that were not bad enough on Monday, January 30th Mark received a phone call from Nastassja that her water broke, and she was in premature labor. The fear set in because she was only 32 weeks along. She was admitted to the Makati Medical Center in the Philippines, and due to complications, she was brought to the operating room to have an emergency cesarian section. Peyton Elisabeth came into the world weighing 3lb 14oz. She was immediately taken to the NICU because her heart and lungs are not fully developed. They then found out that she would also need to fight a blood infection and they are still waiting on the results of the cultures. The estimated in the NICU is six weeks.

Mark and Nastassja are dealing with a lot emotionally, physically, and financially. Due to Mark and Peyton's medical issues and no income, the expenses are very overwhelming. I am asking the community to help in any way we can – beyond your prayers, love, and support, let's help this sweet family financially as well. Funds will help them pay for medical expenses, travel expenses, cost of living, and future costs that they may have.