Support for High-Risk Pregnancy: Help Us Welcome Our Son

Dearest Family and Friends,

I am happy to share that my husband and I are expecting our first child, our son, into this world very soon. We couldn’t be happier that our dreams have become a reality as we never thought this day would come. But the same with any journey in life, you come across a few bumps in the road. Before I became pregnant, I had type 2 diabetes. It was controlled and slowly going down with every doctor’s visit I followed up with. Once I got pregnant, my usual medications weren’t working for my fasting or after meal glucose numbers. My OBGYN had to prescribe me 2 different insulin shots and has had to adjust my medication to a higher dosage about 4 times. On top of my ongoing medical condition, I developed High Blood Pressure. Both are not great to have while pregnant because it could have a major effect on my son. With high blood sugars, it could cause my son to be overweight, birth defects, stillbirth, and possibly a type 1 diabetic once he is born. High Blood Pressure could lead to less blood flow to the placenta, slowed or decreased fetal growth, premature delivery, or preeclampsia (which could be harmful and possibly deadly for both baby and I) With that being said, my OBGYN and the specialist I am seeing for my conditions have both agreed it is within my son’s best interest if I were to give birth off island at a hospital with a NICU equipped to give my son the best chance, whatever the outcome may be. That location will be St. Luke’s in the Philippines.

Because I am considered a high risk pregnancy, the doctor is requiring that I fly out at 30 weeks to be reevaluated in the Philippines due to the fact that airlines will turn away pregnant women at a certain point in their pregnancy as a liability. Sadly, that means 2 months prior to when I actually planned to be out of work knowing that I wouldn’t be able to make income for my family.

While we have tried our best to prepare for his arrival, it has become too costly to support my trip to the Philippines for the amount of time I will be out there and my husband being the only one working and still taking care of what needs to be taken care of here on Guam.

We kindly ask for donations to help with medical costs, lodging, and all other expenses we may acquire during this trip to welcome our son.

Thank you in advance to all those who have helped and continue to help my growing family.