Help us after emergency preterm birth our baby in Amsterdam

Dear friends and kind strangers,

My name is Rishikesh Gupta, and I am writing this with a heavy heart and a sense of urgency that I never anticipated. My wife, Sarita, and I were on our way to Boston, USA, from where I was supposed to traveling to Nashville, TN and about to begin my new job as a postdoctoral fellow at Vanderbilt University. Our baby was due in a couple of months, and we had everything planned out for a smooth journey and new beginnings. However, life took an unexpected turn.

On October 7th, during a layover at Amsterdam Airport, Sarita, who was 7 months pregnant, began experiencing severe cramps and blood spotting. We rushed to the airport hospital, where they confirmed that she was going into preterm labor. They urgently referred us to a hospital in the city and granted us emergency clearance to leave the airport despite not having a visa for the Netherlands.

After a night of intense labor, on the morning of October 8th, our beautiful baby boy was born—two months early. While we are incredibly thankful that both Sarita and the baby are safe, our little one has been in the NICU since birth and will need to stay there until early December to complete his full term.

This situation has left us in a country far from home, without the support of family or friends, trying to navigate this emotionally and financially overwhelming time. While the doctors are doing everything they can for our baby, the costs of his care, our unexpected stay in Amsterdam, and the delay in my ability to start work are adding up quickly.

We are reaching out for your support to help us cover the following costs:

1. NICU expenses for our baby’s ongoing care.

2. Accommodation and living expenses for the extended stay in Amsterdam, as we were unprepared for this unforeseen situation.

3. Medical and legal fees to obtain necessary documents, including our baby’s passport, so we can travel back home once he is discharged.

4. Travel expenses back to India or to the USA, depending on the circumstances.

We never imagined we’d be in a situation like this, and asking for help is one of the hardest things to do. But we know that we can’t do this alone. Any contribution, no matter how small, would mean the world to us and would help us focus on what matters most—getting our baby healthy and ready to come home.

Even if you’re unable to donate, sharing this campaign with your network would be immensely helpful. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your support, your kindness, and your prayers during this difficult time.

With gratitude,

Sarita and Rishikesh