My son and daughter in law Jeremy and Haley Jones gave us the best Christmas present ever! They told me that we were going to be grandparents! We were so excited!
 Then  it soon came to worry when we learned that something was wrong with our little granddaughter. Her intestines were on the outside of her little body.  It’s a condition called gastroschisis.
htpps://www.cdc.gov>birthdefects 
Haley’s pregnancy  was at risk now. She had to start seeing extra doctors at the Prentice women’s hospital in Chicago and our granddaughter now has a team of doctors at Lurie children’s hospital in Chicago.
Every visit, every week, they monitored Haley and our tiny baby girl . Everyone  was continually praying for both all of them. 
She was not due until July 19th but on June 28th they said they couldn’t wait anymore and that they must induce Haley and bring this little miracle into this world.  
They were worried because she was not gaining weight anymore.
During the inducing her little heart was showing trouble so they had to do an emergency C-section. Haley and Jeremy stayed strong and kept their faith and we all kept saying “God’s got this”  
They explained to all of us how when the baby was born they would bag her and move her to the Lurie children’s hospital where a team of ten doctors and nurses would be taking care of her. Haley would have to stay at Prentice.
No one can truly prepare you enough for what you will see or go through. Jeremy had to leave his wife and go with their baby feeling torn between trying to comfort her and the fear of looking at his baby girl and worried if she was going to be ok.
When I finally got to see Haley she showed great strength and sadness at the same time. She never got to see her little baby because they had to whisk her away so quickly but she said “ I know they are taking great care of her and that’s more important to me than the hurt of not seeing her because I know she is in good hands and I will see her soon” I could hardly hold back the tears!
We did not get to see our little granddaughter until Jeremy took a picture of her to send Haley and all of us. She was 5lbs and 1 oz and 17 inches long.  Her intestines were out side wrapped in a bag.
They told us she would be in Lurie children’s hospital and they would have to put her intestines in a cylo like sac over her little body.
When we went back to see her the next day we really did not know what to expect. Jeremy told me, “ Mom, that was the hardest thing to do and see!” He started to cry and said all he wanted to do is hold her and somehow make her all better.

When we walked in her room we looked and there  she lay with wires running from her little body to so many machines. A machine to help her breath. A machine to watch her little heart. Several machines giving her medicine so she felt no pain and several to give her what ever else she needed and to monitor everything.

Jeremy and Haley were by her side each and every day and minute that they could. Jeremy would wheel Haley to her every time the nurse would let her come.  The second day we were there they announced her name.  Olivia Annalynn.


Each day was a new obstacle but one Olivia would overcome. Her strength was showing through each and every day. We would always tell her that every days a better day and we would pray over her every day to give her more strength.
They began to put the intestines back in with the help of gravity and and little push and tying off method.
By July 6 they were able to get the intestines in  and surgery was successful.

Still a long way to go and now Jeremy must leave his wife and baby to go back to work because they need to stay in Chicago with Olivia and well, we all know it’s expensive. Now they not only worry about Olivia but where will they stay to be close to her.  They were put on a list for the Ronald McDonald house and the Lurie children’s hospital gave them a sleep room for a few days. That ran out and still not able to get into the Ronald McDonald house. They had no choice but to get a hotel room. 
At this point the cost of staying in Chicago eating there and the gas back and forth was getting very difficult on top of worries for Olivia. 
Finally a month goes by. Olivia is one month old and they were finally accepted into the Ronald McDonald house. It was truly a blessing.
Olivia was getting better and better each day.


They finally got to hold her for the first time on June 18. Each day is a better day and there have been a few set backs with tube feeding and infection but she still has a way to go.
They started tube feeding her breast milk through her nose around 2 months old. She was doing pretty good but then got an infection in her intestines and had to stop to heal up the infection. With in 5 days the went back to feeding but slowly. 

She is 3 months old now .  She knows nothing but the hospital and machines hooked up to her with wires everywhere.  Every day is a better day again with Olivia. 
Its been very costly and now the medical bills are coming in too. 
I am asking for prayers. We are asking for help for them to ease the financial burdens and to help get donations for Lurie children’s hospital and the Ronald McDonald house. We are truly grateful for Lurie children’s hospital and Ronald McDonald.
Thank you  for all your help and prayers for Olivia, Jeremy and Haley