Charlie Garlic, 2.2.22 Miracle Baby

Hello, my name is Kelsie and I’m fundraising for my family. On 2/2/22, we were blessed with an absolute miracle, in the birth of our unexpected first child.

 

My wife, Nicci, and I had been trying to get pregnant since 2014 (the year we married), and had been unsuccessful. We sought care and expertise from numerous doctors including prenatal, fertility, therapists, and OBGYNs; and discovered that my wife had complications with ovulation and rarely experienced periods; but more concerning was her high blood pressure, even if she were to get pregnant.

Being a licensed (LBS1) Special Education Teacher with the State of Illinois, and an experienced middle school teacher, my wife is a truly unique person, passionate with empathy and compassion that knows no bounds.

The news of her inability to bare child wore on her, and at times our relationship. She became depressed and started therapy as she struggled to understand how she could dedicate her collegiate education and career, including childhood dreams of just becoming a mother to a child but could not bare on her own.

Soon after marrying in 2014, Nicci and I both saddened with the news of being unable to bear child, we started to foster dogs. We currently have four dogs (a Pug, a Puggle, a Miniature Pinscur mix, and a Boston Terrier; all senior dogs in 2022). In additions to our “foster failures” (because we ended up keeping them) we recused 5 additional dogs to long term adoptive homes after rehabilitation.

In 2019, we continued our foster journey with children, when we decided to became foster parents with DCFS and the State of Illinois. Upon becoming certified, we were quickly matched up with two boys, who changed our lives forever. As of 2022, both boys, one aged 4 and one aged 6, are exceeding our wildest expectations and have been in our care for nearly 2 years. While the goal of all foster children is to return home and reunification, we welcome and would be blessed with the opportunity to continue our legal guardianship journey permanently. 

On Wednesday 2/1/22, my wife called me to tell me she was leaving school early to go to urgent care because her stomach was in pain and she felt weak. She came home, and I drove her to the Urgent Care for an afternoon appointment. After dropping her off, I left to pick up our foster children for their Karate and Basketball activities. While at Karate, with both foster children, my wife called me to tell me she’s pregnant, not only pregnant but 34 weeks pregnant and she needs to go to the emergency room. At the emergency room, the doctors at Northwestern Medicine explained that her blood pressure is very high (over 220), she has preeclampsia, and in the best interest of her health and the baby’s they’d need to do an emergency “C” section immediately. On 2/2/22, at 12:25am we were blessed with a beautiful miracle baby boy named Charlie Keith Garlic.

From having no children just a few short years ago, to having a family of 5, (one 4 year old boy, one 6 year old boy, and now one newborn boy), my wife and I could not be happier, but are deeply afraid of our financial future and are asking for any assistance.

My wife does not have any paid maternity leave, is recovering from her “C” section, preparing for life with a newborn, upcoming hospital bills, and we’re continuing to guide our foster children through all of this while working continuously on their long term development goals.

 

We have been blessed time and time again, and hope to continue giving back our boundless love. This experience has been unbelievable, and I cannot stop weeping with joy, so much so that I felt compelled to tell you my story.

I wish you the very best and even if you can’t help, I hope this encouraged you to make someone’s life just a little bit better today. Whatever that means for you. You never know what someone may be struggling with <3