Help our little granddaughter and her family

Her name is Noelle Margaret. Born Christmas Eve 2023 to Michelle and Colin Moriarity. Our beautiful, perfect, 8lb 7oz, little bundle brought us immense joy.

My name is Marie Moriarity and I am her Grandmother.

Just a few hours after Noelles birth, her parents and hospital staff at Vasser Hospital in Poughkeepsie NY noticed that Noelle was spitting up green. This is a huge red flag in infants so the decision was made to transfer her that evening to Albany Medical Center where they have a level 4 NICU, the highest level for the most seriously ill newborns. There, a team of doctors and nurses began working to find out what was going on. They performed x-rays, gastrointestinal tract imaging and blood work. What they found was that nothing was passing through her small intestine. During the first trimester of Michelle's pregnancy, Noelle's small intestine had rotated twice, cutting off the blood supply and causing the tissue to die off.

On Christmas morning, while most families were opening gifts, Noelle was taken into emergency surgery.

Colin was with Noelle but mom, Michelle, having just given birth was still at Vasser hospital being treated for post-partum pre-eclampsia and aspiration pneumonia. Because of the serious nature of Noelles condition, Michelle was soon transferred to Albany Medical Center to be with her family.

I will never forget the pain in Colin’s voice when he told me that Noelle had to have her small intestine removed. He and Michelle, while still at 2 different hospitals, were given the choice to save their precious little girl or to make her comfortable and just let her go. The decision was obvious to them so the doctors went to work to save her, and removed all but 7cm of small intestine, inserted a Broviac line (a tube inserted into a central vein for Trans Parenteral Nutrition or TPN) and a G-Tube for feeding directly into the stomach.

Noelle spent 37 days in the NICU at Albany Medical Center. Her parents traveled the 87 miles each way, every day, to not only be with their precious newborn, but to also keep some normalcy for their two other daughters Amber and Arabella. During Noelle's time in the NICU she was given blood transfusions, had numerous tests, been intubated, and started her life with Short Bowel Syndrome. She now faces a lifetime of tests, surgical procedures and doctor appointments in Albany, Mount Sanai in NYC, and possibly Pittsburgh. She also faces the possibility of an intestinal transplant.

Noelle needs specialized care and will not be able to attend daycare or preschool. She will need in-home care due to her high risk of infection.

The expenses are daunting. While insurance will cover some of the costs, the financial burden on this young family is overwhelming. Travel, child care, meals, medical bills, medical supplies, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

We ask for your prayers for Noelle as well as any financial assistance you can give. Any amount will help.

Thank you for reading Noelle’s story. We appreciate your love, compassion and prayers. May God bless you all.