Hello Everyone! My name is Hope, a co worker of Jena's. I would like to tell you about this adorable baby girl!

At 25 weeks during a routine ultrasound, Faith’s bladder was noted to be looking full and larger than normal. It can be common for babies to not urinate in the time it takes for the ultrasound to be completed.

Jena was diagnosed with gestational diabetes around this time, which can make babies grow larger than moms who do not have it. At another routine visit, Faith was measuring “big” or ahead of her due date. Jena's primary OB doctor sent her for a same-day growth ultrasound to check on Faith. The large bladder was noted again along with a large amount of amniotic fluid. Due to both of these abnormalities, she was scheduled for a more in-depth ultrasound and follow-up with a perinatologist the next day.

The next visit held the same results, and a referral was placed to follow with Midwest Fetal Center the following week. Spencer and Jena spent the weekend anxiously awaiting the visit so they could meet a team of specialists to better understand why her bladder was enlarged and how it would be treated.

After completing a new ultrasound and fetal echo (ultrasound of the heart), they met with both a pediatric cardiologist and perinatologist. Thankfully, her heart was normal - praise God!

Sadly, they suspected that the bladder was related to megacysstic-microcolon-intestinal-hypoperistalsis-syndrome (MMIHS). A rare genetic mutation that can cause many difficulties as it affects multiple systems within the body. It also has a low life expectancy due to the many complications and infection risk associated with it. Mom and dad's hearts were extremely heavy and fearful as they processed the information.

The next couple of weeks held more testing and follow-up visits. At the last follow-up visit before birth, it was noted that Faith had a new heart abnormality. During those couple of weeks, Jenna admitted twice with preterm labor. Thankfully, she was given several medications to protect Faith’s brain and lungs.

Words from Mom:

In the early days, Spence and I kept asking each other how we would get through this if we didn’t have our faith in God. We had to lean into him and trust in his plan for her - no matter what the outcome would be. Ultimately, that was how she got her name, because we have faith to help us overcome the fear, anxiety, worry, sadness, and whatever other emotions that come along with this journey.

Faith Elizabeth, our little fighter has already overcome so much and through the power of prayer and her great medical team, we trust she will continue to beat the odds.

I am setting up this gofundme in hopes of helping Jena and Spencer with the cost of medical needs for Faith which is ongoing, and financial support for all the family since taking care of Faith is a full time job in itself! Anything will help, thank you so much!