Fighting for Faith “help our miracle 6 months old baby with her battle to live”

FIGHTING FOR FAITH

I am Rose Ann Pili a preemie-mother and I am raising money for the medical expenses / hospitalization cost of my daughter FAITH CATHERINE PILI who was born only 6 months old and currently admitted at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Her every breath is assisted with a ventilator and she is inside an incubator that will keep her warm and safe from exposure from infection. Faith has fought so well and she is continuously fighting. As her mother I am asking for your financial support to help us keep on FIGHTING FOR FAITH.

The Backstory

After losing my 1^st child at 14 weeks 2 years ago, my husband and I were overjoyed when we found out that I was pregnant again. During the first week of my pregnancy I experienced bleeding due to Sub chorionic Hemorrhage. I was put on medication and having also been diagnosed with Incompetent Cervix I was put on bed rest right from the start of my pregnancy until I give birth.

My OB instructed me to have my Ultrasound every two weeks to monitor not only the progress of the baby but also to monitor my cervix for any funneling and dilation. During my Ultrasound on my 14^th week we found out that cervix has started to funnel and my OB informed us that I would have to go through a procedure called Cerclage. Cervical cerclage refers to a procedure that use sutures to reinforce the cervix during pregnancy.

I was continuously monitored by my OB and the pregnancy progressed well after the Cerclage was placed, until one morning during my 23^rd week, I woke up with water flowing, having lost my 1^st pregnancy on the same manner my heart was filled with fear. My husband rushed me to the hospital, doctors confirmed a ruptured Bag of Water and the amniotic fluid that the baby needed to survive is already closed to none. I was put on Intensive Care for monitoring, my husband and I prayed for the leak to stop, for my body to eventually replenish the fluid needed by my baby to survive and that there would be no infection on the baby and myself.

The next day after a series of blood test it was determined that I have an infection and I was told that I would need to deliver and with just 24 weeks, the survival of the baby is very slim. Armed with prayers, faith and hope we agreed to push through with the delivery. I was brought to the OR for my Cerclage removal and was placed on Intensive Care and monitoring, I was under induced labor for 2 days and that 2 days has allowed my baby to complete the steroids shots that could help her survival.

I was able to have a normal delivery for the baby at 7:56 pm September 10, by God’s grace our little baby FAITH CATHERINE was able to pull through against all the odds. Doctors said that despite not having fluids for almost 48 hours the baby’s appearance was good, her skin is pink and was even able to let out a faint cry. Our baby FAITH CATHERINE was born 24 weeks and just 500g.

Baby Faith is born a micro-preemie. Premature babies born at 23 to 24 weeks are called micro preemies. Faith weigh just over a pound and measure about 12 inches long. She was covered with fine hair and her skin is also very thin and delicate. Most of the body's systems are underdeveloped at this stage. The lower airways are only beginning to develop, so a 24-weekers will need respiratory support for long periods of time.

Faith is intubated and her breathing is assisted by mechanical ventilator. She is kept inside an incubator (isolette) because preemies lack body fat, and they are less able to regulate body temperature. It also protects Baby Faith from infection, allergens, or excessive noise or light levels that can cause harm to her tiny delicate body.

How you can help

FAITH CATHERINE’s daily hospital needs cost an average of 650 USD or 35,000 PHP, this does not include the professional fees of the Doctors looking after her. The doctors told us that FAITH CATHERINE is expected to have minimum stay in NICU of 120 days. The cost mentioned above includes the following facilities and medication cost.

Room Rate:2,500 PHP per day

Incubator:1,200 PHP per day

Mech. Ventilator:1,800 PHP per day

Cardiac Monitor:1,500 PHP per day

BP Apparatus:600 PHP per day

Pulse Oximeter:1,000 PHP per day

Syringe Pump:1,500 PHP per day (500x3)

Suction Machine:400 PHP per day

New Born Care (Intube): 1,000 PHP per day

Oxygen:1,680 PHP per day

Compressed Air:1,680 PHP per day

Various Medication (Antibiotics, TPN, Inotropes, Insulin): 8,000 PHP per day

Laboratories and Test:3,000 PHP per day

Other needs (Blood Transfusion, ray, ultrasound and other supplies): 3,000 PHP per day

*Based on the current billing received from the hospital

*PHP to USD conversion based on current rate of 1 USD is to 53 PHP

Why this means so much to me

We are blessed to have our baby FAITH CATHERINE, she is still in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), our daughter has fought so well and would still need to continue to fight, this campaign “FIGHTING FOR FAITH” is very important to me and my husband as this will allow us to support our daughter’s continued battle to live. The funds that we will be able to gather from this campaign will not only support her medical needs and hospital stay but will also allow us to soon be able to bring our precious child home and be able to take care of her, and express our love for her just like other parents are able to do for their child.

Thank You

If you could support “FIGHTING FOR FAITH” campaign by making a donation and sharing it with your network, my family and I will greatly appreciate it. I know that money could be tight, so please know that even the smallest amount would help us support FAITH CATHERINE’s fight and you would be able to help a precious little child soon come home to her parents. I pray that God will continue to bless you and reward your generosity a thousand folds. Philippians 4:19. "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."