Bring Baby Tyus Home!

Friends and family of Diamond, Markus, Amare, and Tyus Palmer — this is an urgent call to help a great family in a difficult time. Baby Tyus has fought for his health since July at Monmouth Medical Center’s neonatal intensive care unit, and he has recently been transferred to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia due to serious pulmonary complications. On July 13, 2022, Diamond, Markus, and Amare welcomed Tyus James Palmer to the world. Just three days after Diamond’s baby shower, Tyus was born unexpectedly at 26 weeks. He weighed a little over one pound and needed critical care from the start. Tyus has been a nicu warrior from day one. Over the course of five and a half months, baby Tyus has met many challenges as a micro preemie. Some days have been harder than others. Among the setbacks, procedures, frightening news, milestones, and progress, mama Diamond and daddy Markus spent their days and nights at Monmouth Medical. The nicu’s early mornings, mid-days, and late nights were filled with Diamond and Markus’s voices singing songs, reading books, and speaking sweetly to baby Ty Ty — loving on him and teaching him who he is: a Palmer, a tiny fighter, and a blessing. Despite the uncertainty of nicu life, Diamond and Markus still thought of others. They recently organized a holiday fundraiser for the families and staff. They gave care packages to families who lived far away but would spend the holidays with their babies, and they provided three days’ worth of meals to the staff during Christmas. In retrospect, this gesture would be the Palmer’s goodbye gift to the Monmouth Medical nicu families and team. On December 31st, Diamond got a call that no parent wants to get: Tyus’s tiny, fighting lungs struggled to give him the oxygen he needed; he had been put back on life support. Tyus would be transferred 70 miles away to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for an undetermined amount of time. The Palmers had become one of the families they just helped, and their own baby would now be far from home. The Palmers’ new year looked very different than imagined. Diamond and Markus trekked to Philadelphia with a few packed bags and a list of unanswerable questions: How would they balance life in Long Branch — their home, family, sweet dog Duke, and beautiful first son Amare — with Tyus fighting for life in Philadelphia? How long will Tyus need to be there? What kind of care will he need? How will Diamond and Markus make the miles between their sons feel smaller? How could this new life be sustainable? We now have a chance to give back to this wonderful family, who even in their own darkest moments, give their time and energy to others. Let’s show the Palmers the love they deserve by easing some of their day-to-day burdens. When you donate to this cause, you’re helping Diamond and Markus navigate nicu life while miles and miles from home. It funds travel to and from Philadelphia. It funds a night in a hotel room. It funds nourishing meals in the early mornings and after long days in the nicu. Every dollar helps Diamond, Markus, Amare, and Tyus meet the challenges they face today. Let’s show the Palmers the love that they have always shown to others. If any family deserves their community to come together for them, it’s this one. Thank you for contributing any amount you can to help Diamond and Markus make it through this difficult time.