Support Nina & Derek in the loss of Sophia

We are Shelley and Becky. Nina Trader is our best friend of 20 years. We have been through everything together, but we never imagined that we'd ever be setting up a GoFundMe for this reason.

 

Nina and Derek struggled with infertility for years and in 2021 they started the IVF process. This process was hard on them mentally and physically but they remained so positive. They were later able to implant a healthy embryo and Nina was officially pregnant! We were all SO excited.

 

At the beginning of April 2022, when Nina was approximately 22 weeks pregnant, she developed high blood pressure. Nina had to stay in the hospital for weeks with round-the-clock observation and care, which was extremely taxing for the family. The doctors finally decided Sophia needed to come out, or else both mama and baby were at risk for health complications.

 

Sophia Louise Braasch entered this world on April 21, 2022, weighing 15.5 ounces and measuring just 11 inches long. She was immediately taken to the NICU as her lungs were underdeveloped due to early delivery. Thus began the fight of Sophia's life. In true Taurus fashion, she was incredibly stubborn and fought so hard to stay with her mommy and daddy.

 

Nina and Derek spent the next five and a half weeks on a rollercoaster traveling back and forth to the NICU all day, not having any time to take care of themselves. They devoted their entire existence to the care of little Sophia Louise. On May 26, Sophia's doctors decided that she needed a higher level of care than they could provide and therefore requested she be transferred to Lurie Children's Hospital. Sophia endured this trip with flying colors. When they got to Lurie, they were able to get her stable for a few days.

 

However, on Monday, May 30, Sophia's condition deteriorated and the staff at Lurie called Nina and Derek (who were showering and eating nearby) to come to her bedside. When they walked in, the entire room was filled with nurses and doctors performing life saving techniques on Sophia. Sophia had coded. They were able to stabilize her but only a few minutes later she coded again and Nina and Derek were forced to make the crushing decision to let her go.

 

Sophia passed in the afternoon of May 30, 2022. She touched ALL of us in her short 40 days on Earth. We will never forget little Sophia and the impact she had in this world.

 

Nina and Derek are shattered. In the same week they were originally supposed to have their baby shower, they are preparing for a funeral. This is an unimaginable loss for both of them and their families and we must be there to lift them up during this dark moment in their lives.

 

Nina and Derek are currently on partial wage FMLA and unpaid FMLA, respectively. Between the costs of the funeral, the hospital bills they are receiving, and maintaining their mortgage and bills, this is going to be an incredibly costly time for them. My hope here is that they don't have to worry about money while going through this traumatic time in their lives.

 

Please consider any donation amount (even $5 helps) and please keep them in your prayers.

 

You can read more about their journey at https://www.facebook.com/sophiestrong22

 

With love,

Shelley Jacobs and Becky Crawford