Lighten the Load for the Daakes
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Important note: please read the most recent update for an urgent update --thanks so much for your continued prayers and generous financial giving!
Hi friends! Meet Nicole and Tyson Daake and their four little ones. I met Nicole five years ago just before our oldest daughters were born. She has become a great friend as we’ve shared life together over coffee, projects, folding laundry, and wiping snotty noses. Nicole is one of the most selfless people I’ve met and always has a smile to share regardless of her circumstances.
She has been through a lot as a mama—pregnancy and caring for a newborn while her husband was deployed, unplanned c-sections, and delivery complications after her son’s birth that landed her in and out of the hospital multiple times during the following year. This year though has proven to be even harder. After a difficult pregnancy, Nicole and Tyson’s newest daughter, Amari—meaning “miracle,” was born months too early and spent a very long time in the NICU. While still trying to care for their three "older" ones (ages 5 and under), Nicole drove an hour away every day to be with Amari as she grew. It was a very long spring and summer for all of them, and they were beyond relieved when Amari was finally released to go home.
Amari is doing well, but she still faces ongoing health challenges. Small colds have sent her back to the children’s hospital a couple times as she continues to develop her lungs, and she recently had surgery for a G-tube to help with nutrition. Meanwhile her three siblings still need normal daily care and mama snuggles, and Mount Laundry is getting taller every day.
When a new baby is born, meals often pour in, offers of childcare are available, and help comes readily. But many months later as your little baby still struggles to meet her first milestones and your small children start catching colds and need extra attention, the spotlight has faded. You find yourself desperately trying to balance all the littles’ essential needs and manage your delicate baby’s health while running on very little sleep and way too much caffeine. And never mind Mount Laundry.
This Christmas season we would love to bless Nicole and her family and remind them that they are still loved and still seen and not forgotten. Would you join us in blessing the Daakes in one of these ways?
1) If you are local and can offer your time, caring for one or more of their older children for a few hours or a day or two this year so Nicole can get some rest or get some moving boxes unpacked would be a tremendous blessing. If you like to roll up your sleeves and work, help with housework or laundry would be wonderful. They have also recently moved to a beautiful older house with many projects awaiting, so I’m sure handy man assistance would also be welcomed.
2) Donate to join us in getting the Daakes some cleaning help and childcare for the coming year. I’m sure many of us have made at least one frivolous purchase this season—an ugly sweater for a one-hour party, special Christmas treats, or too much caffeine in fancy cups. Consider the difference just a few generously offered dollars can make for an overwhelmed mama with a heavy load to bear.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas—and thank you so much for partnering with us in giving our best gifts of time and resources and to make the Daake family’s Christmas a little lighter and merrier this season!
Hi friends! Meet Nicole and Tyson Daake and their four little ones. I met Nicole five years ago just before our oldest daughters were born. She has become a great friend as we’ve shared life together over coffee, projects, folding laundry, and wiping snotty noses. Nicole is one of the most selfless people I’ve met and always has a smile to share regardless of her circumstances.
She has been through a lot as a mama—pregnancy and caring for a newborn while her husband was deployed, unplanned c-sections, and delivery complications after her son’s birth that landed her in and out of the hospital multiple times during the following year. This year though has proven to be even harder. After a difficult pregnancy, Nicole and Tyson’s newest daughter, Amari—meaning “miracle,” was born months too early and spent a very long time in the NICU. While still trying to care for their three "older" ones (ages 5 and under), Nicole drove an hour away every day to be with Amari as she grew. It was a very long spring and summer for all of them, and they were beyond relieved when Amari was finally released to go home.
Amari is doing well, but she still faces ongoing health challenges. Small colds have sent her back to the children’s hospital a couple times as she continues to develop her lungs, and she recently had surgery for a G-tube to help with nutrition. Meanwhile her three siblings still need normal daily care and mama snuggles, and Mount Laundry is getting taller every day.
When a new baby is born, meals often pour in, offers of childcare are available, and help comes readily. But many months later as your little baby still struggles to meet her first milestones and your small children start catching colds and need extra attention, the spotlight has faded. You find yourself desperately trying to balance all the littles’ essential needs and manage your delicate baby’s health while running on very little sleep and way too much caffeine. And never mind Mount Laundry.
This Christmas season we would love to bless Nicole and her family and remind them that they are still loved and still seen and not forgotten. Would you join us in blessing the Daakes in one of these ways?
1) If you are local and can offer your time, caring for one or more of their older children for a few hours or a day or two this year so Nicole can get some rest or get some moving boxes unpacked would be a tremendous blessing. If you like to roll up your sleeves and work, help with housework or laundry would be wonderful. They have also recently moved to a beautiful older house with many projects awaiting, so I’m sure handy man assistance would also be welcomed.
2) Donate to join us in getting the Daakes some cleaning help and childcare for the coming year. I’m sure many of us have made at least one frivolous purchase this season—an ugly sweater for a one-hour party, special Christmas treats, or too much caffeine in fancy cups. Consider the difference just a few generously offered dollars can make for an overwhelmed mama with a heavy load to bear.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas—and thank you so much for partnering with us in giving our best gifts of time and resources and to make the Daake family’s Christmas a little lighter and merrier this season!
Organizer
Mae Verheyden
Organizer
Marion, IN
