In Support of Jamie & Joe

My sweet niece arrived so soon. Amara Alice DiLorenzo was born on June 20 weighing 1 pound and 6 ounces. Since that day she's fought for every breath, literally. Not only is Amara a preemie, she has been diagnosed with a condition called complete tracheal rings, which means her airway is so narrow that doctors can't even intubate her for support. So, the very first thing we learned about this little girl is that she's strong-willed. She's a fighter.

After months in the NICU, Amara has grown to 5 pounds, but she now faces the challenge of a complex surgery to open her airway. In the coming days, she’ll be transported by plane from Hartford, CT to Cincinnati Children's Hospital, where she will receive the specialized care she needs. Her journey will require a lengthy stay in Ohio—weeks to months—and her parents, Jamie and Joe, want to be by her side as much as they can while also navigating time off from work and caring for their 3-year-old Malcolm.

It's hard to ask for help, even when we need it most. So I'm making the ask. Please join me in providing Jamie and Joe support during the next phase of Amara's journey. While we don’t yet know the extent of the medical bills, we do know that the cost of flights between Connecticut and Ohio, lodging near the hospital, renting a car, and taking care of basic needs during this time will be significant. Our goal is to help ease their financial burden so they can focus on what truly matters: bringing their baby girl home. Their hope is to have Amara home for her first Christmas.

Every contribution, no matter the size, is one way we can show our support during this incredibly stressful time. Let’s give Jamie and Joe the space to focus on their daughter without the worry of finances hanging over them.

Thank you so very much,

Kris and Joe Mercuri