Join the Fight for Baby Faith
Donation protected
The Need
Baby Faith is in critical need of help. She is fighting RSV - a virus that can be life-threatening to vulnerable infants like her.
The Story
Faith is a miracle baby. She was an unexpected (but very welcome!) surprise to my aunt Carla who, at 45, had struggled for years with infertility. Although she had hoped and prayed for a child for years, my aunt was not financially prepared when she found out that she was 25 weeks pregnant last summer. Even though she knew it would likely be a struggle to make ends meet, she embraced the pregnancy with joy and hope.
Faith was born 10 weeks later at 35 weeks. After spending 2 weeks by her side in the neonatal intensive care unit, my aunt - exhausted but elated - brought her baby home. Because she had already had to use up most of her vacation hours on bed rest toward the end of her pregnancy, the few weeks she got to spend at home with her baby were on unpaid leave from work.
On New Years Eve, when Faith was 5 weeks old, she suddenly began throwing up, stopped breathing, and her nose began bleeding. My aunt called 911 and the amazing first responders administered CPR until Faith could breathe again. Later at the hospital, the doctors said Faith had suffered a cardiac arrest. The story made local headlines, and the officers who saved her got to meet her again when they were recently honored for saving her life.
Faith returned home and soon their life as a new family got into a 'normal' routine - my aunt was back at work, Faith was in a good day care, and they even got to cheer the Broncos to a Superbowl victory together.
Faith turns three months old today and she is back in the hospital, this time with RSV. What started as a cough quickly progressed and soon Faith was struggling for each breath. Now she is sedated and hooked up to a number of machines that are helping her live. She just had a new breathing tube put in this morning. She will likely be in the hospital for at least another week.
The Ask
I am creating this page for my aunt because as a new mom myself, I empathize with how helpless she is feeling right now. Having a sick baby is hard enough, but she also has to deal with a number of other stressors, not least of which is being able to handle the financial repurcussions of Faith's unstable health. My aunt ran out of vacation days awhile ago, and the costs of rent, day care, food and utilities don't 'pause' when the rest of your life goes on hold.
Funds raised through this campaign will go directly toward offsetting the cost of Faith's continued care and recovery. They will be used to help my aunt pay for rent, day care, and other necessities to give Faith as healthy and stable a start to life as she can have.
Thousands of people expressed support and goodwill when they learned about Faith's fight for life. I hope that some of you can now take a moment from your day to donate to this cause and join the fight for Faith.
Thank you.
Baby Faith is in critical need of help. She is fighting RSV - a virus that can be life-threatening to vulnerable infants like her.
The Story
Faith is a miracle baby. She was an unexpected (but very welcome!) surprise to my aunt Carla who, at 45, had struggled for years with infertility. Although she had hoped and prayed for a child for years, my aunt was not financially prepared when she found out that she was 25 weeks pregnant last summer. Even though she knew it would likely be a struggle to make ends meet, she embraced the pregnancy with joy and hope.
Faith was born 10 weeks later at 35 weeks. After spending 2 weeks by her side in the neonatal intensive care unit, my aunt - exhausted but elated - brought her baby home. Because she had already had to use up most of her vacation hours on bed rest toward the end of her pregnancy, the few weeks she got to spend at home with her baby were on unpaid leave from work.
On New Years Eve, when Faith was 5 weeks old, she suddenly began throwing up, stopped breathing, and her nose began bleeding. My aunt called 911 and the amazing first responders administered CPR until Faith could breathe again. Later at the hospital, the doctors said Faith had suffered a cardiac arrest. The story made local headlines, and the officers who saved her got to meet her again when they were recently honored for saving her life.
Faith returned home and soon their life as a new family got into a 'normal' routine - my aunt was back at work, Faith was in a good day care, and they even got to cheer the Broncos to a Superbowl victory together.
Faith turns three months old today and she is back in the hospital, this time with RSV. What started as a cough quickly progressed and soon Faith was struggling for each breath. Now she is sedated and hooked up to a number of machines that are helping her live. She just had a new breathing tube put in this morning. She will likely be in the hospital for at least another week.
The Ask
I am creating this page for my aunt because as a new mom myself, I empathize with how helpless she is feeling right now. Having a sick baby is hard enough, but she also has to deal with a number of other stressors, not least of which is being able to handle the financial repurcussions of Faith's unstable health. My aunt ran out of vacation days awhile ago, and the costs of rent, day care, food and utilities don't 'pause' when the rest of your life goes on hold.
Funds raised through this campaign will go directly toward offsetting the cost of Faith's continued care and recovery. They will be used to help my aunt pay for rent, day care, and other necessities to give Faith as healthy and stable a start to life as she can have.
Thousands of people expressed support and goodwill when they learned about Faith's fight for life. I hope that some of you can now take a moment from your day to donate to this cause and join the fight for Faith.
Thank you.
Organizer and beneficiary
Megan Kelley
Organizer
La Vista, NE
Carla Hunter
Beneficiary
