Cheyenne, my little cousin, just turned 18 and is in her second trimester of pregnancy. Recently, our family received some difficult news—her baby has been diagnosed with gastroschisis, a rare condition where the intestines develop outside the body. This means Cheyenne will need to have a C-section at 37 weeks in Omaha, and her baby will require immediate surgery after birth. The doctors have told us that the baby will need to stay in the NICU for at least 6-8 weeks, and possibly longer depending on how the surgery and recovery go.

This is an overwhelming and emotional time for Cheyenne as a first-time mother. She will need to stay in Omaha for several weeks to be close to her baby, which means she’ll have extra expenses for food, daily necessities, and travel, on top of the mounting medical bills. Our family is doing everything we can to support her, but we know we can’t do it alone.

We want to thank everyone who is praying for our family in this time of need. We also appreciate any help we can get. Being a first-time mother and facing something so scary is hard, and knowing how many people support Cheyenne will make a difference. Your kindness and generosity will help Cheyenne focus on her baby’s recovery and bring hope to our family during this challenging journey.