Help us survive our NICU, turned PICU stay.

5/27!
We've spent E V E R Y holiday here, and soon we will celebrate Ziba’s FIRST BIRTHDAY as well! Wish. This has been a wild and unpredictable 11 months. Crazy to think we thought we’d only be here 2 months.

10/20
UPDATE:
What started out as a “2 month NICU stay” has quickly turned into a 4 month stay, and to be honest we don’t know when we’ll make it home. Our Ziba has hit a lot of speed bumps, and although she is making it over them they have slowed down our journey. Her lung disease is a bit worse than we had anticipated and it’s looking like she’ll be coming home with a trach. Just needing a little extra support to get us throughthis next stretch!
Thank you *so* much to all of you who have contributed in any way. We couldn’t do this without ya’ll. 

I’m not good at this sort of thing, but I know it takes a village.

As you all know, I *was* 6 months pregnant about a week ago. What none of us knew, was that in addition to being pregnant, I was severely anemic and dealing with a nasty case of preeclampsia, which culminated in early delivery. My daughter, Ziba, was born on 6/17/2021 at a gestational age of 25 weeks and 2 days. She is what science likes to call, a micro-preemie, weighing in at less than a pound.

My higher risk pregnancy had already made it difficult for me to work, but with Ziba’s unexpected delivery via emergency c-section, remaining preeclampsia symptoms, and now, a lengthy stay in the NICU, it will be impossible for me to work, for at least, the next two months. 

After taking a week off of work my partner, Danridge, has had to return.  And even with him working, we still need support to make sure we can keep up with all of life’s responsibilities. The money raised will go towards rent, utilities, gas-to-and from NICU, medical bills, and food for the next three months, while Ziba and I build up our strength for the journey home.

Ziba has been in the NICU for a week now, and it is terrifying. There is nothing that can prepare you for life in the NICU. But my Ziba is such a strong girl, and as her mama, it’s my job to be strong as well. So here I am, pride aside, asking for what we need to survive.

I’d like to thank you all in advance, for your love and support, during the hardest time we’ve ever had to deal with, for I know we won’t be able to survive without it.

<3 Shäkiah