Help Support Baby Ellie’s NICU Journey ❤️

What was supposed to be a normal appointment quickly turned into one of the scariest days of our lives. At 35 weeks pregnant, I had a emergency c section due to being unexpectedly diagnosed with preeclampsia and a stomach tumor measuring at 12cm — and just like that, we were told our baby girl needed to come much sooner than planned. On November 24th at 4:01 PM, our beautiful Ellie made her arrival, weighing a strong 8 lbs 6 oz.

While we are so grateful she is here, the hours since her birth have been overwhelming. Due to my Type 1 diabetes, Ellie’s tiny body has been working overtime to produce extra insulin — something that was necessary during pregnancy but now is causing her blood sugar to continuously crash. Her levels have been dropping dangerously low, starting at 15 but now staying around 30, when she should be around 60-70. which can cause serious neurological damage if not quickly corrected.

Doctors have been working tirelessly to help stabilize her. She now needs a PICC line placed into her heart so she can receive the nutrients and support her body can’t manage on its own right now. At this point, we don’t know how long she will remain in the NICU — it could be weeks before she’s strong enough to come home.

Once I’m discharged, we will be traveling multiple times a day from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to sacred heart children’s hospital in Spokane, Washington just to be by her side. I will also be out of work much earlier than expected, and as many of you know, I’m a mom to a 14-year-old and a small business owner — this creates an unexpected and heavy financial setback. With mounting medical expenses, fuel costs, time away from work, and the emotional toll of the NICU during the holidays, the stress feels endless.

We are reaching out because we truly need our village right now.

Any help — whether it is a donation, sharing our story, or sending love and prayers — means more to us than we could ever express. Your support allows us to focus on what matters most: helping our baby girl heal and grow stronger each day. As well as my recovery from a very severe c section procedure.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for lifting us up during the most frightening and uncertain chapter of our journey. We can’t wait for the day we finally get to bring Ellie home.

With love and gratitude,

Our little family