Kwe'/Hello. My name is Tania Knockwood. I am creating this fundraiser to help my stepson, Billy Knockwood, his wife Kassandra Knockwood, along with their son, Henry, and their brand new baby, Dorothea 'Dottie.'

Here is their story:

Dorothea (Dottie) Roswyn Wanda Knockwood

Newborn daughter of Billy & Kassandra Knockwood, of Scotchfort Prince Edward Island.

Our Dottie girl was born premature on February 3rd at 5:30pm, 32 weeks and 2 days gestation. She weighs 3lbs 12oz and is 40cm long. Kass's pregnancy was a high risk pregnancy after discovering a rare congenital heart defect at Dottie's anatomy scan at 22 weeks gestation. At 28 weeks gestation mama and baby suffered from PPROM (Preterm premature rupture of membranes) and were admitted to the IWK to keep baby Dottie in the womb until she was born 32 weeks and 2 days.

Our Dottie’s heart defect is called Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum - an already rare and dangerous congenital heart defect that is now complicated further by prematurity. Our original health plan was for her to receive immediate open heart surgery after birth to begin the long process of correcting her heart defect, but this will not be possible until she reaches at least 2000 grams. At birth she was 1705 grams, and with the trend of losing weight before gaining, we are looking at a minimum of 4 weeks before she is eligible for her first operation.

Dottie’s health journey will be lifelong and will include 3 heart surgeries by the time she is 3 years old, two in her first year of life. Dottie’s congenital heart defect was detected so early due to extra prenatal screening for Kassandra and baby after the family lost their son, Bennett, to unexplainable PPROM in April of 2024 at 18 weeks gestation.

This fundraiser will help because we expect Kass and Bill to have to stay in Halifax for a minimum of 8 weeks because of Dottie's prematurity, and she will also have to undergo surgery as soon as it is safe to do so, and there will be a recovery time attached to that as well. Right now, they are only getting one income as Kass' photography business is on hold until Dottie is home. Bill will also have reduced hours at work so as to be able to be with Kass and Dottie at the IWK. They still have expenses as Henry will not be able to join them in Halifax right away.

Our family is grateful for all of the love, support, and prayers they have received thus far. Please donate and/or share our gofundme with your friends and family via social media.

Many thanks and deepest gratitude on behalf of Kass, Bill, Henry, Dorothea, and our family.