This Thanksgiving gave us more to be thankful for than we could have ever imagined — and more fear than we thought our hearts could handle.

What started as a normal holiday quickly became a weekend full of chaos and emotion. On Thursday night, we rushed Edmund’s mom to the hospital after she passed out and couldn’t get her heart rate under control. We soon learned she was in atrial fibrillation and had a blood clot in each lung. Though serious, we still felt hopeful that a few months of medication would help her recover.

But everything changed Friday morning at 10:30 AM.

We received a call that she had coded, her heart had stopped, and doctors were performing chest compressions to save her. That terrifying episode turned into three more episodes of Code Blue. She was placed on a ventilator, sedated, and eventually airlifted by helicopter to a Level 1 trauma hospital to give her the best possible care.

Saturday brought a small glimmer of hope — less sedation, stronger breathing. Sunday morning, they removed the ventilator, and she fought bravely to breathe on her own. Although bruised and fragile from everything her body endured, she was miraculously stable.

Standing up in the waiting room that morning, relieved and exhausted, I suddenly realized something wasn’t right with me.

I asked the nurse to check my blood pressure — just to be safe.

Within minutes, it became clear that I was not doing well either. My blood pressure was rising rapidly. My pregnancy — already high-risk — was spiraling into a medical emergency. I had fluid in my lungs preventing my ability to breath clearly. Doctors warned that we were nearing the point where both myself and our unborn daughter could be at risk if we didn’t act immediately.

In a blur of fear, urgency, and prayer, I was rushed into surgery.

At just 26 weeks gestation, our tiny miracle — Mairin Sloane — was delivered by emergency C-section on November 30th at 3:43 PM.

She weighed just over 2.2 pounds and entered this world needing every bit of strength she had.

While we were still reeling from Edmund’s mom’s fight for her life, a few floors away, our baby girl began her own fight to survive. Two Bowmans in two different ICU units — all in the same hospital — all in the same weekend.

We never imagined this would be our story.

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✨ Part 2 — Mairin’s Fight in the NICU

Tiny but Mighty — Supporting Mairin’s Battle

Our brave girl has shown incredible strength from the moment she arrived.

At just 26 weeks old and barely over two pounds, Baby Mairin is now being cared for around the clock in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where she will remain for many months as she continues to develop and grow. We are frantically trying to get time off from work to

be with her. Edmund being a school marketing teacher is limited with his available time that doesn’t risk our livelihood.

She has already made progress that has amazed her care team — strong heart rate and blood pressure, breathing with a mask rather than full intubation, and accepting donor milk when her body allows.

But preemie life is unpredictable, and these last few days have been especially challenging.

Mairin has taken a few steps backward:

    •    She is struggling to breathe independently and now requires heavier oxygen support

    •    She has been aspirating after eating, and has yet to pass stool, so feedings have been stopped for now. She will

remain NPO until she can pass stool.

    •    She is receiving fluids and glucose to allow her lungs and digestive system to rest

    •    She is still at high risk for infection, brain bleeds, and oxygen instability

Every breath is work.

Every moment is monitored.

Every day is critical.

And yet… our little girl is a fighter.

She surprises us constantly with her strength.

We remain hopeful — but we know this journey will be long, and we cannot do it alone. With travel costs, time away from work, medical expenses, and the needs of our sweet Sullivan, many have asked how to help. Your support will go toward:

    •    Uncovered medical expenses

    •    Hospital lodging & travel

    •    Food and essentials during our prolonged stay

    •    Anything Mairin needs to grow stronger each day.

Whether you are able to give, to pray, or simply share her story — we are deeply grateful. Your kindness and love are carrying us forward.

Thank you for standing with our tiny warrior as she fights for her future.

Here early, because the world needed her.

— The Bowman Family