Marda Mengesha

Hi everyone! Thank you so much for all your help so far! We have great news!! Please see the update below from baby Paulette’s mom: Yesterday, Paulette was discharged after a two-month hospital stay. She successfully underwent the gastrostomy surgery! Now, we need to continue specialist care (cardiologist, neurologist, pulmonologist, gastroenterologist, and nutritionist) and keep up with therapies such as respiratory, swallowing, and occupational therapy. We are so grateful for your help; without it, it would be impossible to continue supporting our baby.

My name is Marda, and I am creating this GoFundMe campaign on behalf of my dear friends in Ecuador, Jenny and Steven, and their beautiful daughter, Paulette. I met Jenny and Steven when I went to Ecuador in March and I was so moved at seeing their deep love and dedication to their daughter. Below is a message from Paulette's mother, Jenny, sharing their family's story. Any support you can provide—whether through a donation or by sharing this campaign—would mean more than words can express. My name is Jenny, and I am the mother of our precious little girl, Paulette. Paulette is just 7 months old. From the moment we learned I was pregnant, we were filled with hope and excitement—especially when we found out we were expecting a daughter. Throughout most of my pregnancy, everything appeared to be progressing normally. However, during an ultrasound at 37 weeks, doctors discovered that Paulette was much smaller than expected for her gestational age, particularly the size of her head. Additional testing confirmed intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and I underwent an emergency C-section that same day. Since her birth, Paulette has been diagnosed with several serious neurological conditions, including microcephaly, lissencephaly (pachygyria), enlarged brain ventricles (ventricular dilation), and dysgenesis of the corpus callosum. These congenital conditions have caused severe, difficult-to-control epilepsy, resulting in frequent seizures, repeated hospitalizations, and ongoing medical complications throughout her young life. She is currently hospitalized in Manta, Ecuador, where she has been waiting for several days to be transferred to a specialized medical facility. She urgently needs a gastrostomy feeding tube so she can receive nutrition safely. Caring for Paulette requires around-the-clock attention, frequent hospital stays, transportation to medical appointments, therapies, diagnostic tests, medications, and specialized treatments. The financial burden has become overwhelming, and we have only been able to manage thanks to the kindness and generosity of friends and loved ones. We are now asking for your help as we face the next stage of Paulette's medical journey. Every donation, no matter the amount, will go directly toward her medical care and related expenses. If you are unable to donate, sharing this campaign with others would also make a tremendous difference. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, your prayers, and your support. Your generosity gives us hope and helps us continue fighting to give our sweet Paulette the best possible quality of life.