Help Jonathan, Ariadne, and Anna-Lucia Jeffers

Jon and Ari were married just a little over 2 years ago and are overjoyed to be expecting their first baby. While on a Memorial Day weekend visit to her parents, Ari went into labor at 25 weeks' gestation and was hopitalized; she was later transported by ambulance to a hospital in Madison with a regional NICU center. As of this writing, she is still in labor having contractions in spite of medication to try to stop the labor contractions. The medication will be discontinued tomorrow morning. If labor does not progress, she will be hospitalized until the birth of the baby...the longer the better! If she does have intensified labor, she will need an emergency C-section due to breech presentation. The baby will need to remain in the NICU for 3 to 4 months. Jon and Ari live hours away from the hospital location, and this will be very difficult for them. Medical costs for both Ari and the baby could easily hit $500,000. The cost of traveling back and forth with current gas prices will be a struggle for their budget. Jon needs to be able to take some time off work during this crisis period to be with his wife and baby. Unfortunately, this would be unpaid time off under FMLA.

Let's band together as friends, family, and others who care to help them through this difficult time. If you are able to help in any amount, we have set up a secure donation site for this purpose. Thank you for your generosity, especially your prayers, and your love for this couple just beginning their family together in such a traumatic way.               

Ariadne's blog:  http://annaluciafaith.weebly.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

UPDATE #1: Annalucia was born by C-section on May 30, 2012, weighing just 2 lbs. 6 oz. She and her parents need your help to get through the next 3 to 4 months of her life in the NICU unit at the hospital.      

 UPDATE #2:  Hi everyone, we are in the Ronald McDonald House now and we feel as lost and as stressed as ever. It is hard now that we aren't even in the same building as Annalucia. Yes, we're not far, but it is hard to get used to not having her and elevator ride away. We got to hold her today for the very first time and made our hearts melt. When the nurse handed Annalucia to me, it was so scary and exciting! I felt so amazed to know that I was holding my daughter, no other feeling can top the way I felt when I first held her. The next 3-4 months are going to be that much harder now that we have held her. All we want to do is be able to take her home and be a family. Thank you for all your prayers and support in this difficult time. Love Jon, Ari and Annalucia ♥                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

UPDATE #3: (6/6/12)