Hello everyone, my name is Rachel Mathias a close friend of the Reynolds-Corden family. As you all may know, Mark and Jess recently welcomed Benjamin (Benji) Andrew into the world, much earlier than anticipated, at 32 weeks pregnant. When Benji was born, without a heartbeat and not breathing, it was quickly determined that something besides Myasthenia Gravis was going on. (If you’ve followed Jess’s story at all, you know this is not her first experience with a medically-complex newborn. Her first daughter, Poppy, had a lengthy NICU stay with Myasthenia Gravis at birth.) After ventilating Benji immediately after birth, they discovered a lot of fluid in his chest, abdomen and lungs. It’s a condition called “Hydrops Fetalis”. Hydrops is not a diagnosis, but rather a description of an issue. And it’s not good. If you google it (please don’t), the mortality rates are incredibly high. 50% of babies don’t survive birth. Mark and Jess have spent these past days wondering whether they even had a chance of taking a live baby home. Needless to say, the days since Benji’s arrival has been a whirlwind of ups and downs, and the doctors are still without answers as to why Benji is suffering from hydrops fetalis. Many more tests are in Benji’s future as Jess, Mark and Poppy navigate what life looks like with a critically-ill newborn in a NICU an hour away. Many of you have reached out to both myself and the family asking how you can help, and the number one answer to that question: PRAYER. Please pray for.. - miraculous healing and finding the root cause of Benji’s condition - for knowledge/precision for the doctors and the rest of Benji’s care team - that Benji can begin to breathe without his ventilator. If you’re feeling led to give to the family to offset costs for meals, taxis to/from the hospital, parking costs and other miscellaneous needs at this time- please accept my sincerest thanks on behalf of Mark, Jess and Poppy. Mark and Jess are stretched thin right now mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually as they spend their days running to and from the hospital- while trying to care for Poppy as well. Please continue to keep them in your prayers. Thank you!

Jiwon Chong

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