My name is Andréa and I’m raising funds for my friend who’s currently in the hospital. Here’s her story:
Whitley is a warrior who fought and overcame ovarian cancer but in what seemed like an impossible twist of fate, Whitley defied the odds after cancer treatments left her medically sterile. Against all expectations, she found herself pregnant again and this journey has been anything but easy.
From the very beginning of her pregnancy, Whitley faced severe complications. She lost over 30 lbs in the first trimester alone, despite trying various medications and receiving fluids several times a week. Her symptoms were unlike anything she had ever experienced. To help manage her nausea, she has been on a Zofran pump, which continuously delivers anti-nausea medication. But the challenges didn’t stop there.
At her first ultrasound, the shocking news came: she was pregnant with twins. Unfortunately, the babies were diagnosed with TRAP (Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome), a rare condition that caused her to undergo an amniocentesis followed by a difficult procedure to cut the cord between the twins. Tragically, Baby B passed away within seconds.
But the journey was far from over. At just 24 weeks, Whitley’s water broke, and her doctors have been working tirelessly to keep both her and Baby A safe. Now, at 26 weeks, Whitley is in constant pain due to an allergic reaction to the medication keeping her stable. Though the medication is causing discomfort, it’s the best chance she has to ensure Baby A’s survival. However, due to the TRAP syndrome, Baby A may face health issues that will require extra care after birth, and it’s unclear how long she will need to stay in the NICU.
To make matters even more difficult, Whitley is currently in the hospital an hour away from her home. With four children at home who are all homeschooled, arrangements have had to be made for family members to step in. Her husband, who is in the military, has been doing his best to balance his responsibilities, but they are facing mounting costs for travel back and forth.
The financial burden of traveling to visit her and the ongoing care for their children has become overwhelming. On top of these physical and emotional struggles, Whitley has also lost her income while in the hospital, which has placed an even greater strain on her family.
The doctors are hoping that they can keep Little Willow (Baby A) nice and warm until Whitley is 34 weeks which is 2 months away, then the NICU stay which we aren’t sure how long it will be for now.
That’s where you come in. We are asking for your help to ease the burden on this courageous family. Every donation will go directly to supporting their daily needs—helping with travel expenses and providing the support they need to care for their children while Whitley fights for her health and the survival of Baby A.
Please consider donating, sharing this page, and keeping Whitley and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Your generosity will make all the difference during this incredibly difficult time.
Hatch for baby sleep is kindly donating some devices for Willow’s arrival.