Riya’s Heroic Journey to Help Other Babies

Fundraiser Summary:  We set up this GoFundMe page in loving memory of our little warrior daughter Riya Gandhi Prajapati. Children’s Health will receive all the donations, which will support prematurity research so babies like Riya have a chance to come home with their parents. In addition to funding prematurity research, we’re hoping to raise enough support to dedicate a NICU room to honor Riya, where a plaque would be placed outside of the room where she spent the majority of her time. The NICU staff still refer to D37 as Riya’s room, and it’s this loving thought that inspired us to create this GoFundMe.

Riya’s Amazing Fight: Riya was born at a little over 25 weeks weighing 0.75 pounds. The NICU staff instantly named her “tiny and mighty” because she already overcame so much to be born.  She was challenged daily in the NICU, but every day she fought to live and we fought alongside with her.  Riya’s prematurity unfortunately brought along many challenges.  She overcame almost all challenges with unimaginable grace until about 42 weeks when she was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension.  Then, other complications continued to mount for her and her health continued to decline. 

 

Mom and Dad Remembering Riya: We find comfort in knowing she is not being tested in NICU any longer.  Never did we think we would outlive our little girl.  No parent should have to experience the pain and grief of losing their child.  Riya was a miracle baby, and we are honored to be the parents of a warrior.  We witnessed firsthand, her battles over the span of 4.5 months.  We will miss her and always think of her.

 

Our families, relatives, friends, and colleagues have supported us through this process by calling, sending cards, flowers, chimes, etc., and we appreciate the love and support we’ve received.  We continue to receive calls/texts/emails on what else they could do to support us, so we’ve created this GoFundMe page to raise money for prematurity research so more babies can go home healthy and happy with their parents.  We believe that supporting the hospital that gave Riya a fighting chance is the best way to honor Riya. 

 

Love,

Alpi and Mitesh