Help for Harper
Donation protected
Last year, my wife Nelly, fought a bout with cervical cancer. After two surgeries, we were told that if we wanted to have children, we should start trying immediately. Having been told that it might now happen for us, miraculously we got pregnant right after we started trying, in October 2018.
The pregnancy was hard on my wife, but she battled through, every day, to make sure that our baby was ok. We saw either the OB or Maternal Fetal Medicine every week the entire pregnancy to make sure the baby was progressing on schedule, and developing as she should.
However, likely due to the compromised cervix and other difficulties, our baby came at 32 weeks, and Harper Rose was born at 11:57 pm on May 13th 2019. She was immediately admitted to the NICU, unable to breathe on her own, unable to eat, and incapable of keeping herself warm. We are now three weeks in, and Harper is breathing on her own without assistance, and maintaining her body temperature, but is still unable to eat unassisted. She will continue to be in the NICU for a while as she continues to progress to where she should be as a new born. She is strong, and is a fighter - it is just going to take time.
There are a number of unanswered questions, but the only thing that matters now is the growth and development of our baby girl, Harper. All we want is to give her everything she needs to thrive in this world. That is going to mean extended time off work for my wife, specialists to assist her growth, and therapists to aid in her development. Harper needs her mother with her for longer than usual for a typical newborn, and to do that we are going to need a little bit of help right now. This help will go to funding the support Harper is going to need and the time my wife is going to need to be with her.
There is no way to "plan" for something like this. And the thought of reaching out to others isn't something that would normally cross my mind. I am usually one to donate to causes like this, rather than seek their assistance. But as happens in life, sometimes we find ourselves to be the one's in need.
This little girl is special, and there is nothing I wouldn't do for her. This support will mean everything to my wife and me so that we don't have to worry about the "how", enabling us to focus on the "what" that Harper needs right now.
No one ever expects to be in this situation, and we’re uncomfortable asking for help, but there isn’t anything We wouldn’t do for this baby girl.
Thank you for your consideration and support, and know that this girl is going to grow up to do great things and be a very special part of this world. Helping us out now, you will have been a part of that. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
The pregnancy was hard on my wife, but she battled through, every day, to make sure that our baby was ok. We saw either the OB or Maternal Fetal Medicine every week the entire pregnancy to make sure the baby was progressing on schedule, and developing as she should.
However, likely due to the compromised cervix and other difficulties, our baby came at 32 weeks, and Harper Rose was born at 11:57 pm on May 13th 2019. She was immediately admitted to the NICU, unable to breathe on her own, unable to eat, and incapable of keeping herself warm. We are now three weeks in, and Harper is breathing on her own without assistance, and maintaining her body temperature, but is still unable to eat unassisted. She will continue to be in the NICU for a while as she continues to progress to where she should be as a new born. She is strong, and is a fighter - it is just going to take time.
There are a number of unanswered questions, but the only thing that matters now is the growth and development of our baby girl, Harper. All we want is to give her everything she needs to thrive in this world. That is going to mean extended time off work for my wife, specialists to assist her growth, and therapists to aid in her development. Harper needs her mother with her for longer than usual for a typical newborn, and to do that we are going to need a little bit of help right now. This help will go to funding the support Harper is going to need and the time my wife is going to need to be with her.
There is no way to "plan" for something like this. And the thought of reaching out to others isn't something that would normally cross my mind. I am usually one to donate to causes like this, rather than seek their assistance. But as happens in life, sometimes we find ourselves to be the one's in need.
This little girl is special, and there is nothing I wouldn't do for her. This support will mean everything to my wife and me so that we don't have to worry about the "how", enabling us to focus on the "what" that Harper needs right now.
No one ever expects to be in this situation, and we’re uncomfortable asking for help, but there isn’t anything We wouldn’t do for this baby girl.
Thank you for your consideration and support, and know that this girl is going to grow up to do great things and be a very special part of this world. Helping us out now, you will have been a part of that. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Organizer
Wesley R. Harden IV
Organizer
Ashburn, VA
