Hello, my name is Marissa, and I’m Stevie Pitt’s cousin-in-law. Yesterday afternoon, on 12/22/2025, Stevie suffered a severe asthma attack that has left her in the ICU. She is currently on a ventilator and is in critical condition, and her family is facing an incredibly difficult and uncertain time.

Stevie has lived with severe asthma for most of her life and has been battling a serious upper respiratory infection for several weeks. She had just finished her final round of antibiotics and was planning to have her wife, Maria, take her to the doctor later that day, when she experienced the asthma attack while home alone.

Thankfully, Stevie had the strength and presence of mind to call 911 as she began to lose her ability to breathe. She lost consciousness, stopped breathing, and had to be intubated by paramedics in the field. She is currently on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma. She is in critical, but stable condition.

Maria received the call from the St. Charles Police Department while she was driving home. All I can say is how incredibly grateful we are that Stevie found the strength to save herself, saving Maria and their daughter from coming home to an unthinkable tragedy.

Since being admitted into the ICU, Stevie has undergone a heart echocardiogram and an emergent cardiac catheterization. Doctors have determined that she is now experiencing stress-induced cardiomyopathy, which makes the process of removing her from the ventilator and waking her from sedation even more challenging.

Stevie came into our lives a few years ago when she and Maria began dating, and it didn’t take long for her to become part of our family. Her quick wit, warmth, loyalty, and ready-to-help attitude make her impossible not to love. When she fell in love with Maria, she also embraced the role of stepmom to their 9-year-old daughter, London, seamlessly becoming an essential and deeply cherished part of our family.

Stevie is a provider, protector, and constant source of love and stability for Maria, London, and their pets. She works incredibly hard every day to support her family, and at this time, we do not know how long she will be unable to work, or how long that time will be unpaid. Her doctors have shared that Stevie has a vey long and challenging recovery ahead of her, which may include years of physical therapy. Maria is now carrying the weight of childcare, bills, household responsibilities, and everything else that comes with this situation, all while refusing to leave Stevie’s side. She has turned the ICU waiting room into Santa’s workshop, wrapping presents so Stevie feels supported and so London can still experience as normal and joyful a Christmas morning as possible.

Everything happened so suddenly, and there are still many unknowns regarding Stevie’s care and recovery. Both Stevie and Maria are currently unable to work, and the financial uncertainty is overwhelming, especially during a time of year that is already challenging for so many families.

Stevie and Maria are two of the most generous, loving, and giving people I have ever known. Last year, when I was facing financial hardship, they surprised me with an envelope full of cash so I could give my own daughter the Christmas of her dreams. Over the summer, when my AC unit broke, Stevie showed up unasked with a replacement because she was worried about my daughter and me in the heat. They show up for everyone in their lives, and now they need us to show up for them.

I understand that times are tough for many people, but any contribution, no matter the amount, means the world to their family as they navigate this unexpected and frightening journey. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser. Most importantly, please keep Stevie, Maria, and London in your thoughts and prayers and send them love and strength.

You can also help by donating or making a meal for their family at - https://www.giveinkind.com/inkinds/J1I1D2M