D’Amato Family

Close friends of the D’Amato family have set up this GoFundMe for the D’Amato’s. We want to raise funds for them so that they don’t have to worry about finances while they climb this difficult mountain together. Please read their story below from Chrissy D’Amato:

As many of you know, Aubrie was born with a significant spinal deformity. God graciously preserved her life while in the womb where she survived a D&C, and from that moment to today, we have seen His hand working in her life, despite the many obstacles we have faced. She is joyful, and if you’ve ever met Aubrie, she truly loves God and knows His love for her. (Her favorite verse is Psalm 139… how amazing is that?!) She was born to the song “Walking on Sunshine” and she is truly our sunshine babe. 

On April 1st, Aubrie will head into surgery to place a halo at the Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. She will be in halo-gravity traction for several months, with the goal of straightening her severe spinal curves. Aubrie’s spine is missing several vertebrae, is fused in several places (from the womb), it not only curves side to side but now bends as well, and it is limiting her lung function as well as pushing into her stomach, causing her not to gain weight. 

In the past year, we have watched our daughter’s body significantly change and her pain increase. It feels all so rapid in the moment, but it hasn’t been rapid at all. This is our life that we have lived with her, many of you have been along with us in our journey. 

When the best correction is achieved from her time in the halo, Aubrie will have a very serious surgery removing vertebrae and affixing rods throughout her spine. This will be a complicated and very long surgery. (More on that closer to the date… just to not feel overwhelmed by typing this out.) 

If I’m honest, we are broken and grieving for our daughter and all the changes coming in just a few short days. We worry, naturally, about how we can manage all of this. However, we fully know the Lord is holding us together. Also, there should be an instruction manual for how to do all of this with a family (and a baby specifically). God is guiding and we know that full well. Below are ways to pray for our family specifically. I will add ways that you can support us another day (so many have reached out asking and I haven’t really been able to answer- frankly because I am so overwhelmed with trying to be prepared for life away and our family split). 

Our biggest prayer request (also listed below) is that we don’t know if we will be able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. This typically would be ok in other situations where we would find alternate housing. But for our family, because Austin is 9 months old and still nursing, the RMH is directly across the street and would accommodate me to go back and forth, as needed. To have my children close and be able to navigate life in close proximity, would be the best for our family. The nearest hotels and such are a bit away from the hospital, and although we would strive to make that work, the RMH would be ideal. Also, we would just really like to plan what our lives will look like in the next few days and are praying that we can have clarity with the RMH. Please pray for us specially for that to happen immediately. 

Here’s how you can pray for our family:

• Pray that we would rest in God’s wisdom and direction. 

• Pray for Aubrie and her preparation for such a long road. That she would feel the Lord’s perfect peace and comfort as we care for her. (And that she would be comfortable in her halo, not only for pain but also in how she looks.)

• Pray for Ali, Andrew, (and Austin too) as they adjust for the next few months. Andrew feels afraid of what life will look like (understandably). Ali is struggling with not having me (Chrissy) at home. They both are scared for their sister. 

• Pray that we would see our children’s needs and meet them in the best ways that we can. That they would see the Lord’s hand in all of this. 

• Pray for protection for Ryan and Ali as they travel weekly back and forth to San Diego. 

• Pray for Teresa (Chrissy’s mom) as she cares daily for Austin and Andrew in San Diego and also travels back and forth when Ryan is in San Diego. 

• Pray as we manage finances and life a part for several months. 

• Pray for the RMH to open a room, so that we can have a place to stay close to Aubrie.

Lastly, we just wanted to thank each of you for your heart for our family. Thank you for your words of encouragement and for coming alongside of us. We know we don’t walk this journey alone and words can’t truly convey how much of an impact you have made on our family. I really wish I could tell each of you personally the ways you have encouraged me (and how God has used that to hold me together). Truly, thank you. May you fully see the Lord’s goodness in our journey.