The Taka-Simpson Family Needs Our Help

Friends, family, and kind internet strangers (who surely would be friends if Suzie had anything to say about it), the Taka-Simpson family needs our help. Their spring and summer were meant to be a time filled with joy and making memories as a family of 5, but instead, it's been a neverending rollercoaster (and not a fun one) that they can't get off. Last week, things went from tough to worse.

In May, Suzie, Sarah, and their son Avi welcomed adorable twin babies into their world. Ezra and Morley were born 5 weeks premature, and despite the early entrance, it appeared everyone was doing well. That joy quickly turned to fear when first one and then the other twin developed a serious infection. The boys spent time at Hamilton's McMaster Children's Hospital, requiring Suzie and Sarah to travel back and forth and delaying Suzie's return to work. For 18 very long and scary days, the boys remained in the hospital fighting.

Once everyone was safely able to come home, another trauma came calling. Suzie's mom became seriously ill, once again separating Suzie from parts of her family to be by her mother's side and again requiring more time off work. The trauma of seeing her precious babies in the hospital fighting so hard followed immediately by her mother, leaves a permanent mark.

Just when they thought things had settled down, the boys got sick. Even a regular cold can be dangerous for premature infants, and this one turned scary quickly. While dealing with sleepless nights and babies who couldn't eat, Suzie began experiencing extreme abdominal pain. Forever putting family first, she delayed seeking care for herself for as long as she could tolerate, only to end up in the ER needing emergency surgery for appendicitis.

Suzie was then discharged home, but the reunion was short-lived. The twins needed urgent care for the illness they'd been battling, so back to the ER the family went. Ezra and Morely are still in the hospital now, receiving oxygen support and 24/7 care. Suzie and Sarah are taking shifts at their sides and attempting to scrape together what little rest they can while caring for their preschooler. For Suzie, this is all happening while trying to recover from surgery.

As you can imagine, the emotional and financial toll of the last 5 months has been immense. It's been medically advised that Suzie take leave from work to adequately recover from surgery, preserve her mental health, and take care of her family. Suzie was completely out of paid leave from work before the most recent hospitalizations, and her workplace does not offer short term disability. Due to this lack of paid sick time, the Taka-Simpson family has no choice but to live off of only Sarah's parental leave benefits.

While we wish we could carry some of the emotional and mental load for them, we'd like to at least ease some of the financial stress. Grabbing quick meals, gas, parking fees, lost wages, and medical expenses all add up very quickly. We're asking you to please help us get this amazing family get back to a place of good health and let these goofs fill their home with full-belly laughs, happiness, and peace again.

[Huge thanks to our dear friend, Steph Duncan, for writing their story with so much love - and accuracy!]