Please check back for updates in the coming months.
This is our journey of sadness and of hope.
On behalf of my sister, Leigha, and
brother-in-law, Brandon, I am here to share their story and ask for your help.
Leigha and Brandon met when they
were just 12 years old and over the years, through growing up and growing
apart, they reconnected for a final time at age 25. Then, on May 9th,
2009, after two years of dating, Leigha and Brandon exchanged vows and
immediately planned on starting a family.
After many months of trying to
conceive, Leigha and Brandon were told by their doctor to begin looking into
alternative methods of conception. So, in late 2009 Leigha began her first
round of fertility shots. In late 2010 Leigha then began taking hormone injections
and doctors were able to extract two healthy eggs for fertilization. In January
2011 Leigha underwent her first round of in vetro fertilization. This, however,
would not be the happy ending they were hoping for. Only one embryo was
surviving and at 7 weeks that embryo, too, had resulted in a miscarriage.
Leigha and Brandon found out they had lost their baby on their second wedding
anniversary.
She then began another round of
fertility shots in October 2012. They were, again, excited to find out that they
were pregnant. And, again they were heartbroken when they miscarried on
Christmas day 2012.
Then in February 2013 Leigha found
out, once again, that she was pregnant. The surprise came when they found out
that they would be having twins. Everything was progressing smoothly and
everyone was growing and feeling fine. At 20 weeks they were finally able to
determine that they would be having a little boy, Xavier, and girl, Athena –
the best of both worlds. As the weeks passed they were looking and developing
well at all of their appointments. Then, at 24 weeks, our family got the shock
that we never expected - we had lost Xavier. Doctors are unclear about what
happened to our little boy, and our family still struggles to understand.
However, for the sake of Athena, doctors decided the best thing for her was to
keep her brother inside until she was ready to deliver.
Now, going to two separate doctors
every week, Leigha passes her 25th week of pregnancy with no new
issues. Week 26, however, Leigha’s 32nd birthday, earned her a trip
to the hospital for the remainder of her pregnancy, as we learned she was 2cm
dilated. She was on a myriad of medications to help protect Athena, help her
develop and help to stop Leigha’s contractions. After a week in the hospital on
bed rest her situation began to get even more desperate.
On Wednesday, August 14th
Leigha was transferred to a birthing suite at 4cm dilated and having
contractions. Given magnesium to protect Athena’s brain and to stop
contractions, we were all holding our breath at this point. At the end of the
night we all felt optimistic that Leigha’s body would cooperate and Athena
would be able to hold on. Then at 4am on Thursday, August 15th we
received the call that Leigha was being prepped for surgery – she would be
delivering her babies at only 27 weeks.
Xavier was born at 4:40am and his
little sister was delivered at 4:42. Being three months premature, Athena was
cleaned up, placed in her incubator and wheeled straight to the NICU, not even
getting to see her Mommy.
Although she was delivered breathing on her
own, she was intubated to stabilize her oxygen levels, given medicine to help open
and develop her lungs, and has spent most of her short life under a Bili light
for her jaundice. Her heart, brain and lungs are under close monitor and she is
already up to 2lbs 3oz.
What We Need
I am attempting to raise at least
$20,000 for my sister, brother-in-law and baby Athena to help them offset some
of the costs associated with the journey that they are taking.
Athena will be spending the first
three (3) months of her life growing and developing in the NICU. That, in
combination with Leigha’s countless hospital trips for complications, doctor
appointments, and her weeklong hospital stay is resulting in an incredible amount
of bills. While we are thankful that insurance is paying a portion, the
difference is still extremely substantial. They are living off of one income due
to Leigha’s complications and Brandon has missed countless time at work during
their journey. When baby Athena is finally able to join her mommy and daddy at
home, Brandon dreams of taking time off to spend with his little girl, but with
the mounting hospital bills that dream is not as realistic as it once was.
Other Ways You Can Help
Please help to spread our story and
share this campaign with all of your family and friends – and request that they
do the same.
Anything and everything is
appreciated, from the bottom of our hearts. I cannot begin to thank you enough,
on behalf of my family, for your contribution, for your thoughts, prayers and
every ounce of help that has been given or offered.
