The Gardiner Family Needs Your Love & Support

Hi, my name is Talya. I'm sharing this on behalf of a dear friend and colleague who needs the love and support of her community more than ever.

 

*Trigger warning: this post discusses topics related to infertility / preterm labor.

 

On Aug. 15th, 2021, after six years of infertility, Cameron and Lizzie announced to their friends about their miracle baby, who had officially made it safely through their first term.

On Sept. 21st, 2021, Thinkful, the company Cameron worked for, laid off over 50% of their staff. Cam included.

 

And despite their car breaking down, an impending layoff, on Oct. 2nd, Lizzie and Cameron remained true to their optimistic spirits. They gathered with friends and family to discover the gender of their blessing - a girl. They couldn't have been more excited.

Four days later, Lizzie was in the hospital.

 

On Oct. 6th, Lizzie shared the following:

 

This (see campaign image) is how we told our parents they were becoming grandparents.

 

Today I choose hope. And I'll keep choosing it until only grief is available to me.

 

They told us we'd likely never conceive. They said we weren't even eligible for fertility treatment b/c our chances were nil. Even if we tried treatment, it would be "highly improbable" for us to get pregnant, and it would certainly take several rounds.

 

It didn't.

 

Our miracle baby was conceived our first round of IUI. Then they said we shouldn't be surprised if she didn't live past the first trimester.

 

She did.

 

And this week has been the worst of my life. They said I should be prepared to go into preterm labor at any moment-- that baby girl likely wouldn't live past our first day in the hospital.

 

She did.

 

Her amniotic sac ruptured, so she wouldn't make it past the first two or three days.

 

She did.

 

We've been here a week and she keeps growing in my womb and in our hearts with every passing minute. It's not that the doctors were wrong; it's that miracles like ours need odds to defy. She has overcome every. single. one... so far. There are so many more to go.

 

We've been given impossible choices; asked to consider what we might do with our baby's body if she passes away. We've had to embrace bewildering uncertainty about the risk to my life and hers and been forced into deeply uncomfortable physical restrains in hopes of making it just one day more.

 

I truly can't express how painful and humbling this week has been...how profoundly grateful I am for every tiny kick, every vital sign check-in that is status quo. Every sweet nurse who holds my hand and offers words of comfort and exceptional care. Every doctor who tells us the bleak facts, but let's us hope in the face of them. Every custodian who cleans the hospital room and makes us laugh. Every meal delivered. Every text from loved ones. Every call. Every favor done for us so we can be here fighting for her. Every hour that inches us closer and closer to a more favorable outcome.

 

She's always been our miracle baby and always will be, no matter how this ends.

 

This is who Lizzie is. In the face of great odds, a person believes in the miraculous, finds joy in the small things, and never ceases to see possibility.

 

As Lizzie, her daughter, and her husband Cam face uncertainty and rising hospital bills. There's one thing we as their community can do to help them in their time of need to ensure their primary focus can be Lizzie and her daughter's welfare.

All funds raised will go directly to the Gardiner family to provide the additional financial support needed to focus on what truly matters - each other.

Thank you so much for your contribution!