Lisa and Linden Potts have been my lifelong friends, and right now, they are facing a challenge no parent should ever have to endure. In January, during the birth of their daughter, Alayna Hope Potts, Lisa underwent a sudden emergency C-section without anesthesia. When Alayna was delivered, she had no heartbeat for 18 minutes outside the womb. Miraculously, doctors were able to revive her, but the prolonged lack of oxygen caused potentially significant damage. Only time — and continued advanced medical care — will tell. Since that moment, Alayna has been fighting every day, and her journey will require extensive, ongoing medical care and therapy to help her reach milestones and live the fullest life possible.

To give Alayna access to the best possible treatment, Lisa and Linden must make an incredibly difficult decision: leave their home, farm, animals, and the life they built in Flora, Mississippi, and relocate their entire family to Rochester, Minnesota. There, they can be close to the Mayo Clinic, where Alayna will receive specialized care. This means moving with their two young sons, starting over in a new state, and trying to build a new home while navigating the reality of Alayna’s medical needs. The financial burden is overwhelming, with medical bills from Alayna’s birth and ongoing care, therapies and specialized treatments, relocation expenses, and the need for a down payment on a home near the Mayo Clinic.

Lisa and Linden are loving, devoted parents who are doing everything possible to give their daughter the care and opportunities she deserves. Right now, they need their community around them. If you feel led to give, any amount helps. If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing this page and praying for Alayna and the Potts family. Your support will help lift an unimaginable burden and allow this family to focus on what matters most — loving and caring for their precious girl, Alayna Hope.