On October 14, 2023, after a long and difficult pregnancy, Andriena gave birth to Elias Jayce Battaglia (EJ) at only 25 weeks old.

Throughout her pregnancy, Andriena battled consistent morning sickness, extreme exhaustion and fatigue, swelling, coughing, mouth ulcers, and was eventually put on bed-rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. These "normal pregnancy symptoms," per her OBGYN, continued for 5 months... After the pain and these symptoms got too severe, her and Mike (father) rushed to the hospital. EJ's heart was slowing down, so they made the difficult decision to have a C-section at only 25 weeks gestation for the safety of Andriena and the baby. Once born, EJ was immediately sent to Valley Children's Hospital in Madera, CA where he was placed in an incubator for a little over 3 months (10 weeks). For those 3 months, Andriena and Mike were not able to hold their baby while he battled for his life.

Meanwhile, as doctors and nurses were working around the clock to save EJ (including one major heart surgery to unblock a valve in his heart), Andriena's health was deteriorating. After birth, her C-section was not healing properly and her pregnancy symptoms continued for 2 weeks. She became unable to walk, talk, or eat due to excruciating pain and tightness in her muscles. She ended up in the hospital and underwent numerous tests to determine what was causing her deterioration, with no answers. After 15 days of testing, she was eventually diagnosed with Lupus--an incurable inflammatory disease caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues. It can cause pregnancy complications and kidney failure (along with many other things). On top of the Lupus diagnosis, she also underwent a Pericardial surgery due to excess fluid around her heart. Due to the rarity of her condition, the hospital struggled to find a doctor experienced enough with Lupus to begin treating Andriena. Eventually, she was admitted to Stanford where she began treatment and will remain for the coming weeks due is a Pancreatic cyst that they are trying to work around without causing additional problems.

Since his birth, EJ has continued to grow stronger and stronger with each passing day. They still have a long road ahead as it pertains to EJ's health, but it looks bright and full of hope!

Nothing could have prepared Mike and Andriena for these devastating events. They have tackled each hurdle as it has come, but with the treatment required for both Andriena and EJ, their medical bills continue to grow. We are asking for any support you can provide to the Battaglia family during this incredibly difficult time. Anything helps. Our hope is that once Andriena and EJ return home, they won't have to stress about anything more than taking care of their babies. Please consider helping Andriena and EJ.