Help Monica Stanley & Brian Wood after loss of son

Julie Pinkham is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Monica Stanley.

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I'm reaching out on behalf of my daughter, Monica Stanley. Anyone who has had the privilege of knowing her, knows she is an old soul full of love, artistic, usually singing & dancing, dependable, extremely hard working, an entrepreneur & the best daughter & Auntie ever. Our family was blessed the day she was born.
You wouldn't know it by looking at her but she hasn't had the easiest life, somehow she always manages to stay positive through it all & be that support for anyone in need. Well now it is time for us to be that support for her.
Her biggest dream above anything else is to be a Mother and have a big family, but that hasn't been part of her journey yet. Now in her early 30's, she has had several miscarriages, but finally her recent pregnancy was going strong with a healthy baby boy. Her dream was finally coming true. The joy, the baby shower, the nursery, the picking of a name, the kicks and punches felt from within, the future plans...they all came to a crashing halt.
Monica knew something was wrong & immediately sought medical attention. There she learned her cervix was shortening & was put on steroids, progesterone and monitored closely for 2 days...on day 3...... it was time, this healthy baby boy wanted to meet his family he could hear talking and singing to him, but it was too soon, he still had several weeks before he was due. Nothing could've prepared them for what was about to happen. Monica wanted a natural birth but not like this.
Julian Michael Wood was born a fighter. He had his Mommy's lips and his Daddy's feet for sure. He was born at MDI Hospital just as Monica was, but there isn't a NICU there. It was nasty weather and life flight wouldn't run, nor was it easy finding an ambulance to brave the road conditions. There, the medical personnel on duty and those that came rushing in to assist, some never even removing their jackets, worked their magic to keep Julian alive while waiting for the specialist to transport him to Northern Light in Bangor.
During this time Monica would not leave Julian's side, but needed surgery as soon as he was taken to remove her placenta as she was bleeding severely & ended up having 3 blood transfusions. Brian followed the ambulance, my husband, Monica's sister and myself stayed with her until she woke from surgery. Now it was time for another ambulance to brave the roads to get Monica to her son.
Upon arrival to Northern Light, Monica was given everything she needed to begin pumping breast milk for Julian. Shortly after, the head NICU doctor looked at her, not able to hold his tears back, all of the nurses and the specialist who braved the roads for Julian's ambulance were still there. No one wanted to leave Julian's side, but it was his time to go. His levels were so grim and everything they were doing to save this beautiful baby boy was just doing damage, his lungs just weren't strong enough, he was too fragile and weighed so little.
Monica, Brian & Julian were able to be together as a family for such a short time. They sat for hours rocking their son while they gazed out the window praying for a miracle, an eagle was flying by, and they knew in that instant that Julian wasn't suffering anymore. He took his last breaths in their arms and went to be with God. They didn't want to let their baby go, how could this be happening. They were able to have a photographer come in after Julian passed, those photos will always be cherished, for Julian lived.
Giving birth was supposed to be the happiest experience of their lives, but turned into an indescribable one. Instead of leaving the hospital days later with their baby boy, they were given a memorial box with Julian's belongings and his foot & hand prints, then needing to head straight to the funeral home for arrangements.
It is unimaginable to comprehend what they've gone through. There is nothing that can be done to ease the pain, they will never stop loving, missing and grieving the loss of their son Julian Michael Wood.
The hardships that follow laying a child to rest, the healing after delivery, packing all of Julian's belongings away, the mental stress and just holding their relationship together can take a toll on a couple, but they are still going strong being there for each other.
With missed wages during this time, the stacking of medical bills, recent major car repairs due to horrible road conditions, new dental and eye doctor expenses for Monica, it seems they just can't get ahead or enjoy the things we all take for granted......like a date night out, a hair cut, a massage to ease the tension etc. All money is going to get rid of these medical bills that constantly remind them of losing Julian.
Going forward with concieving again, now with being high risk, Monica's specialist is a 7 hour round trip, which means extra gas expenses, possible hotel stays, more loss of wages & having to pay for appointments during the time of visit. Luckily there are procedures and precautions in place to hopefully help carry a full term pregnancy while their angel watches over them. They will also seek surrogacy or adoption if they cannot carry full term on their own this time, which isn't cheap❤ All Monica wants in this life is to have a family.
Your donations will help give them the financial assistance they need to pay off these stacking medical bills as well as personal bills, present and future specialist appointments and just stand tall and take a deep breath, maybe even smile again. Monica has suffered in silence until now.
Anyone who knows her knows she has NEVER asked for anything, she's the giver. She started working at the age of eleven and has paid her own way for everything since, always being very independent. Her first REAL job once she got her workers permit was as a waitress and she worked at the same spot for 13 years, she has always been financially stable.
With Julian's predicted due date upon us and also Mother's day approaching, it seems the grieving is never ending. I would love for them to be able to take a well needed weekend getaway to relax and not have to worry about the expense, maybe these donations can help with that as well.
If you would like to contribute to helping Monica & Brian but don't feel comfortable through this page, please reach out or ask in a comment below to get an address or more information to help.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this. Please share this GoFundMe page as much as you can. Any donation helps more than you'll ever know and we are forever grateful for all of you that can donate and especially all of the medical personnel who we know will never forget baby Julian❤

Forever in our hearts until we can see him again.
Julian Michael Wood 1/5/19-1/6/19