In 2014, The Cosimos started the journey of trying to grow their sweet family. After a year of trying to conceive, Alanna experienced a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy in 2015 that required emergency surgery and caused irreparable damage to her reproductive system. This led to three years of infertility and a diagnosis of premature ovarian failure. Despite the odds, they did not give up.

After three rounds of IVF, they finally got pregnant in Fall 2017. However, the joy of their first pregnancy was eclipsed by severe preeclampsia, leading to emergency surgery on January 6, 2018. Their miracle, Salvatore Cosimo V (Gino), was born at just 28 weeks, weighing 2lbs 10oz. He spent 70 days in the NICU at Duke, followed by three minor surgeries related to his prematurity.

In 2022, the Cosimos faced another heartbreaking challenge. They became pregnant through IVF in the summer of 2022. At 18 weeks, they discovered that their daughter Giabella was growth-restricted. Little Giabella was stillborn at 22 weeks on December 29, 2022. Despite the immense grief, The Cosimos still felt their family was incomplete.

They bravely decided to try again and underwent four IVF transfers in 2023-24. The fourth transfer “stuck,” and Alanna continued under close supervision of Duke Maternal-Fetal Medicine. At the 18-week scan for this pregnancy, the Cosimos faced unrelated complications to pregnancy, including Vasa Previa, Placenta Previa, Placenta Accreta, and preeclampsia. Due to the complexity of the circumstance, the cost of infertility went beyond medical appointments into acupuncture, additional medications, and countless trips back and forth to appointments. At 30 weeks, Alanna was hospitalized with the hopes of making it to 34 weeks. She had to finish the school year early, resulting in days without pay.

After two days in the hospital with Giavanni, an ultrasound revealed severe preeclampsia, which slowed down Giavanni’s growth and severely impacted Alanna’s health. To prevent seizure or stroke, she was administered magnesium, and within 15 minutes, the baby’s heart rate dropped, necessitating an urgent C-section. Giavanni was born at 31 weeks on June 2, at 11:04 am, weighing 2lbs 15oz. They are now navigating another NICU journey, with each day bringing new uncertainties. They are celebrating the miracle of their baby boy!

How You Can Help:

The medical costs, frequent hospital stays, and unpaid days from work have created a financial burden that is hard to shoulder alone. They are humbly asking for your support to help cover:

No matter how small, every donation will make a significant difference in their lives and help them provide the best care for their baby during this critical time.

Thank you for reading their story and for any support you can offer. They are incredibly grateful for your kindness and generosity.