Oliver's story has only just begun. After defying the odds over and over again, we think it's important to look back to better understand his journey.

At 24 weeks, my water broke. Oliver managed to stay put, stay healthy and keep growing for almost 4 more weeks. He was born, a super preemie, a little over 3 months early. His chances of survival, let alone a typical life, were extremely low.

But out he came, a fighter.

He fought to grow big and strong in the NICU for 91 days. He made strides, had some setbacks, but our smiling boy’s attitude never faltered.

When Ollie was ready, we finally got discharged from the hospital. We can't tell you how amazing it was to hold and kiss our son without wearing a mask. To finally have him sleeping in his bassinet in our bedroom. To be able to walk around holding him, snuggle him in our pajamas, show him what outside looks and feels like, and introduce him to his four-legged sisters. We were all under one roof, we were all finally home.

Our family's normal is not your typical normal. We came home with a list of specialists, follow-up appointments and therapies for him to start. He gets his nutrition through a feeding tube versus a bottle, and there’s a never ending heightened worry about catching a virus that will re-hospitalize our strong little boy. We’ve lived in a small bubble, and the majority of our extended family still has not gotten to meet Oliver.

In January, our hearts broke and our stomachs dropped when we were told Oliver has a genetic disease that can potentially alter almost every aspect of his life. There are only 130 people in the world with this diagnosis, and he is the third person ever to have this genetic disease as a mosaicism, meaning it’s not in all of his cells and it varies throughout his body. The mosaicism aspect of this diagnosis is what is keeping our hearts afloat. We are hoping that a low percentage of cells are affected in his body, resulting in fewer symptoms. What weighs on us, is there are currently no tests to determine the extent of affected cells. He's a bit of a medical mystery and a medical miracle.

With the help of Ollie's medical team, we are still seeking answers.

We have a brain MRI scheduled in April that will let us know if and how his brain function is being affected by his diagnosis. A big piece of the puzzle. Oliver is also scheduled for a G Tube surgery at the end of April. He will no longer have a tube coming out of his nose, which we lovingly refer to as his whisker. The G tube will be a small port into his stomach, making it easier to feed him and his face tube free.

With his past NICU stay, the upcoming surgery, and ongoing therapies and medical attention Oliver will need, we are launching this campaign to help raise funds for Oliver's medical bills. We hope to inspire you that no matter what the odds are, you can do hard things and you are strong. Strong like Ollie.

Our family can not thank you enough for your continued support, the love you share for our son and your generosity through this journey.

All our love,

Nichole, Andy & Oliver

Strong like Ollie Apparel