My son Michael was due on January 13th, but he surprised us by arriving on December 18th at just 36 weeks and 2 days. Because his lungs are not fully developed, he had trouble breathing and took in a big gulp of fluids at birth. He was quickly transferred to Akron Children's Hospital NICU, where he is working hard to meet the milestones he needs before he can come home.

This has been a challenging time for our family. I had to have a c-section, and my boyfriend DJ missed work to be by my side at the hospital. Now, DJ is on a work shutdown until the new year, with no pay or holiday pay. With very little left until he returns to work in January, we are struggling to cover the costs of traveling back and forth to the hospital twice a day, as well as food and care for our other children at home.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our story. Anything you can give means so much to us. We know Christmas is right around the corner, and we would love to be able to spend it together as a family, visiting our son and caring for our kids. Thank you for your kindness and support during this difficult time.