On January 4, 2026, my girlfriend Nicole and I experienced an unexpected medical emergency while visiting Ontario, Canada—one that changed our lives in an instant.

Nicole was rushed into an emergency C-section and gave birth to our daughter, Olivia Nicole, at just 26 weeks gestation. Olivia weighed 2.5 pounds and measured 14.5 inches at birth. Shortly after delivery, Nicole developed severe respiratory complications caused by a virus that affected her ability to breathe. She was placed into a medically induced coma, transferred to another hospital within 24 hours, and remained intubated for five days before beginning physical therapy. She was finally discharged on January 11.

Our daughter Olivia is currently in the NICU, where she will remain until she is strong enough to be released safely. While we are incredibly grateful for the medical teams caring for both Nicole and Olivia, the situation has created challenges we never could have anticipated.

Because Olivia was born unexpectedly while we were out of the country, she is now a Canadian citizen, while Nicole is a U.S. citizen. As a Canadian resident, I was able to register Olivia so she can receive the medical benefits available to Canadian citizens. However, many other expenses are not covered and remain unknown.

At this time:

Nicole and I are temporarily staying at a Ronald McDonald House near the hospital, with no clear timeline for how long we can remain

We have had to rent a car to travel between the hospital and housing

Nicole cannot return to the U.S. for several weeks, as Olivia depends on her to pump breast milk daily and be present for her care

We are facing ongoing living, transportation, medical, and travel expenses

Once Olivia is cleared for discharge, we will still need to arrange international travel back to the United States

We are taking everything day by day, unsure of how long Olivia’s NICU stay will be or what resources will be needed when she is finally able to come home. Any support—whether through donations or sharing—helps relieve some of the financial burden so we can focus fully on Olivia’s health and recovery.

Thank you for reading, supporting, and keeping our family in your thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.

What funds will be used for: