Our family is breaking under medical and legal pressure and we need help

If you know me, you know I wear a lot of hats — business owner, wedding planner, fundraiser organizer, cheer mom, basketball mom — but most importantly, I’m Braeden, Lyla, and Jaxson’s mom.

I’m used to handling chaos that is my job!

But this past year and a half has completely shaken our family.

Right now, we are facing two life-changing battles at the same time:

• Our baby’s complex medical journey

• A home-building disaster that turned into a major legal fight

And we can’t do it alone anymore.

Braeden is scheduled for a super last min surgery next week!

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Braeden’s Medical Journey

Braeden has been medically complex since he was just 4 weeks old. At only a few weeks old, he stopped being able to have bowel movements on his own. What we thought might be something simple quickly turned into countless hospital stays, invasive testing, procedures, and endless specialist appointments. He was later diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s disease, along with autoimmune complications and severe motility issues.

His colon does not function properly, and when his GI system struggles, his entire body struggles. He becomes so full that he projectile vomits everything. He doesn’t sleep longer than an hour at a time most nights because he is uncomfortable and in pain. He does not eat solid food, No toddler should have to live like that.

He battles recurring fevers, infections, and hospital admissions because his little body cannot fight illness the way it should. We travel for monthly cleanouts, manage feeding therapy, medications, and daily calls and appointments with specialists — all while trying to protect him from infections that could land him right back in the hospital.

He is only a toddler, yet he has endured more pain and medical trauma than most adults will ever experience. And still, he smiles. Still, he fights.

He is our bravest little warrior — and we will continue fighting right alongside him every single day.

What He Lives With

Braeden has been medically complex since 4 weeks old. His diagnoses and complications include: (and still seeking more answers)

• Hirschsprung’s disease

• Severe motility disorder

• Autoimmune complications

• Failure to thrive

• Chronic constipation with bowel dysfunction

• Swallowing dysfunction and feeding difficulties

• Reactive airway disease

• Chronic eczema

• Recurrent infections

• Recurrent ear infections

• Severe sleep disturbances

• Daily abdominal pain

Ongoing Medical Interventions & Care:

• 21-day stretches with no sleep

• Monthly NG tube clean-outs at Boston Children’s Hospital

• Daily medications just to try to create basic bowel function

• Custom formula and strict feeding schedules

• Botox injections every 2–3 months

• Ongoing feeding and swallowing therapy

• Weekly in-home therapy services

• 3–4 abdominal X-rays per month

• At-home balloon gravity enemas

• Chiropractic care to assist with constipation

• Over 15 specialists involved in his care

• Recurring hospital admissions

What People Don’t See:

When Braeden tries to have a bowel movement, he can scream for 48 hours or longer. He withholds his stool because passing it is so painful. He will scream until he is exhausted. He curls into the fetal position. Sometimes he screams until the pain stops. Sometimes he screams until he simply gives up.

He lives in daily discomfort. He doesn’t sleep more than short stretches because he is full, nauseated, or in pain. There are times he becomes so backed up that he projectile vomits everything.

This is our toddler’s normal.

And we fight for him every single day.

When his stomach flares, his autoimmune symptoms flare. When he gets sick, everything worsens. It’s a cycle that’s incredibly hard to break.

When he feels good, he is the happiest, sweetest little boy.

That’s what we’re fighting for — more good days.

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Upcoming Surgery

Braeden is scheduled for a cecostomy/ appendicostomy tube procedure on March 9th.

He is very young for this surgery, but right now it is our only option to give him relief until he’s old enough for formal motility testing.

This will require:

• At least one full week in the hospital

• 4–6 weeks of recovery

• Continued follow-up and care

For a 21-month-old baby, that is a lot.

Even with insurance, we still face:

• Frequent travel to Boston

• Gas, food, and hospital parking (often $500+ per trip)

• Co-pays and medications

• Specialized formula and medical supplies

• Equipment and out-of-pocket treatments

It adds up quickly.

While there is family housing available near hospitals, it is often full an you get waitlisted — especially during busy seasons. And even when we are able to secure a spot, the cost of housing can quickly add up depending on where we are placed and how long. On top of that, there are daily parking fees, travel expenses and meals.

The little things add up fast during long medical stays, and it becomes overwhelming very quickly.

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The Home & Legal Crisis

In August 2024, we began building our forever home on family land.

It should have been one of the happiest times of our lives.

Instead, our contractor:

• Took all project funds

• Left subcontractors unpaid

• Charged us for work others were doing

We later discovered:

• The septic system must be redone

• Both foundations are unusable

• The driveway and culvert were installed incorrectly

• The well must be replaced after sitting unused for two winters

• The entire project must start over

Not buildable house!!!!

He refused to sign the bank paperwork over to our new GC so we could not continue on with the project.

Our current living condition although greatful for a home are not ideal with a medically complex baby.

To avoid liens, we had to pay subcontractors ourselves — some we didn’t even know were hired and the kicker was our contractor had this money to pay them.

So far, we have paid nearly $400,000.00 out-of-pocket just to clean up the damage.

After legal fees, we expect to be at $450,000.00–$500,000.00 before this is over or more.

We have mediation in March and owe $7,500 in legal fees just to move forward.

We’ve considered walking away.

But we can’t allow someone to financially devastate our family without accountability.

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Why We’re Asking for Help

We both work full-time but it isn’t enough.

My husband travels constantly for work.

I am currently in my off-season for business so work is slow.

My mom has taken on multiple jobs to help us stay afloat.

We are not giving up.

But two massive crises at the same time…. a medically complex baby and an over six-figure construction disaster — has stretched us beyond capacity.

Life doesn’t stop because your child is sick.

Bills don’t stop.

Stress doesn’t stop.

And neither do we.

But sometimes strength means asking for help.

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How Donations Will Help

Funds raised will go toward:

• Travel and lodging for hospital visits

• Out-of-pocket procedures and medications

• Specialized formula and treatments

• Ongoing Botox procedures

• Medical equipment and supplies

•Feeding therapy needs

• Legal fees leading up to mediation

• Stabilizing our family while we navigate both crises

Our family is doing everything we can to keep life as normal as possible for our other kids. They are busy, active, involved in sports and activities, and we have tried so hard to make sure their world doesn’t pause because of everything going on with Braeden and the house.

We fundraise like crazy to make sure my daughter’s cheer bill gets paid, and I donate my time to help with Jaxson & Lylas activities and support the teams and programs they’re part of. We show up, we volunteer, we hustle — because they deserve every opportunity just like any other child.

They deserve stability, joy, and the chance to just be kids and we work every single day to protect that for them, even in the middle of hospital stays, appointments, house disaster and uncertainty.

If you know me, you know I give my all to everyone. I donate my time for events, help plan and run fundraisers for so many different groups, and I always show up. I show up for my kids. I show up for my teams. I show up for my community. I show up for my clients. If I commit to something, I give it 110%.

I’m the mom helping get other kids where they need to be. I’m the friend offering a hand when someone is struggling. You need a break? Send your kids over I got you!

I’m the one organizing, coordinating, donating my time, and pouring into others. I’ve even given away weddings to couples in need simply out of the kindness of my heart and with the support of my team. I am always giving.

But being a medical mom is a different kind of exhaustion. It’s sleepless nights, constant worry, nonstop appointments, and carrying the emotional weight of your child’s pain every single day. I will always fight for my family, and I will never stop showing up — but I am tired.

And sometimes, even the ones who give the most need help too.

Thank you for helping our family during such a painful and overwhelming time. The love and support you’ve shown Braeden truly means more to us than you could ever imagine.

Even families who have good jobs, strong support systems, and a “put together” life sometimes need help. And right now, your kindness is helping carry us through.

From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.