My name is Rachel and I am raising funds for my sister-in-law Makenna Janis and my brother John Janis. Their 3-year-old Serena is currently in the PICU fighting acute respiratory failure due to complications from RSV and pneumonia. She went from a fun-loving exuberant toddler to a paralyzed, sedated, and vent-dependent baby girl in a matter of a few days. While she had a pre-existing tracheostomy (trach) to help with structural issues with her nose due to her Apert Syndrome, she had been doing great and enjoying life and school, but unfortunately, the trach makes her more susceptible to infection.

Serena was gearing up to undergo a capped sleep study in April that would have led to taking the trach out, but this is going to be a major setback. John, Makenna, and Serena will be in the PICU for a minimum of a week but most likely closer to a month before transferring to the main floor of the hospital or have acute care for some time.

The immediate reason why I want to raise funds is to keep John and Makenna well-fed as they care for Serena in the hospital. Because they are in the PICU, there isn't a good way to buy and store groceries and they are solely dependent on the hospital cafe or takeout. This of course adds up and will inevitably lead to more stress, and I want them to be able to completely focus on what matters: being there for their baby girl.

$2000 is our main goal for food expenses. However, there are of course medical and transportation expenses so please donate what you can. Even small donations help purchase a cup of coffee to keep these two dedicated parents going. Much love to John and Makenna's community. Let's help them get through this!