On December 29th, our lives changed forever. What began as a normal, healthy pregnancy and birth turned into a nightmare we never saw coming. After coming home from the hospital, Verity seemed perfect. But on her second day home, things felt "off." She had a raspy voice and was working hard to breathe. We followed every parental instinct: we took her to the ER in the morning (where tests came back normal) and to the pediatrician at 3:00 PM (where we were told she was fine). By 8:00 PM that night, the unthinkable happened: Verity stopped breathing in Scott’s arms. While Scott was on the phone with 911, I performed CPR to bring our daughter back to life. She was rushed to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital via LifeFlight helicopter, fighting for every second.
The Diagnosis
We soon learned that Verity had contracted an E. coli infection during birth. While this bacteria is a normal part of the human microbiome, in Verity’s case, it entered her bloodstream—a rare 1 in 5,000 occurrence.
The infection spread rapidly, leading to:
- Meningitis & Sepsis, which progressed to septic shock.
- Widespread organ damage due to the overwhelming infection.
- Necrotizing Pneumonia: A secondary lung infection developed during her extended time on a ventilator, causing tissue death in her upper right lung lobe.
Where We Are Now
Verity has been in the ICU for over a month now. She is a fighter—most of her organs have made tremendous progress in healing—but her lungs have a long way to go. We have faced the heartbreak and trauma of two failed extubations, and she remains on antibiotics and respiratory support to manage the damage to her lungs. When we started this journey, we never expected to be here this long. With no clear discharge date in sight, the reality of our situation has become overwhelming.
Why We Need Your Help
We tried our best to avoid fundraising, but the mounting costs are no longer something we can manage alone. While we focus on being by Verity's side, the hidden costs of a long-term ICU stay are adding up:
- Medical Bills: Anticipated costs for specialized care, LifeFlight, and long-term recovery.
- Daily Survival: Food and travel costs while living out of the hospital.
- Home Support: Ensuring our pets are cared for while we are away from home.
How You Can Help
Any contribution, no matter how small, allows us to keep our focus exactly where it needs to be: on Verity’s healing. If you cannot donate, please consider sharing her story or keeping our girl in your thoughts and prayers.
Verity has already proven she is a miracle. We are just trying to get her to the finish line and finally bring her home for good.
With eternal love and gratitude,
Scott, Kelsey, and Verity Vincenti