Stella Strong

Joy & Dustin Schwobe welcomed their sweet girl Stella Darlene on 4/20/2022 via emergency c-section. Stella was not breathing when she was delivered and had to be resuscitated for 20 minutes before being stabilized and transferred to the NICU at the University of Iowa. Stella was labeled as having hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) after birth, meaning she suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen to her brain.  

Stella has been in the NICU for over a month and has shown that she is a fighter! After starting off her life intubated and having seizures, she is now off all respiratory support and has been weaned off of one of her two seizure medications. She passed her hearing test and is now working on her sucking reflex to hopefully be able to do oral feeds. 

The diagnosis of HIE unfortunately leaves more questions than answers for Stella, and only time will tell what Stella’s path will look like. Dustin and Joy have been bravely fighting for their little girl every day, spending nearly every hour they can with Stella while balancing caring for Stella’s two older sisters at home, Aria (4) and Leah (2). They have been staying at the Ronald McDonald House and Aria and Leah join them on the weekends.  

Dustin & Joy are not people to ask for help – this GoFundMe has been established because of an outpouring from others wanting to help support the Schwobe’s during this time. Donations will help with gas, food, extended leave time, and potential future cares for Stella. Thank you for your support!