Somehow, 9 years have flown by.

This year, we decided to switch gears and support Project Sweet Peas, which directly benefits Morristown Medical Center’s NICU through various projects throughout the year.

A few years ago, we were asked to share our story during a virtual fundraiser for March of Dimes, and once a year, we revisit it from the archives.

Today, Isabelle is a vibrant third grader who has made incredible progress this school year. She continues to love dance, ice skating, and cheer, and she recently picked up tennis — and absolutely loves it. She has made amazing friends and has a heart bigger than words can describe. We are endlessly proud of her and still find ourselves in awe of the little girl we know today after witnessing such a difficult start to life.

So here we go…

Early in the morning on May 8, 2017, at exactly 31 weeks gestation, Isabelle Lillian was born.

A few days earlier, signs of preeclampsia began to appear, quickly progressing to eclampsia and, within hours, to a dangerous subset called HELLP syndrome. HELLP syndrome puts mothers at serious risk due to dangerously low platelet levels and, in my case, multiple organ failure. When the worst-case scenario unfolded on May 8th, the only option left was an emergency C-section.

The days following delivery were fragile and terrifying for our family, filled with lifesaving medical intervention. It is never lost on us how lucky we are to be here today.

Thankfully, action had been taken in the days leading up to Isabelle’s birth to prepare for the possibility that she would arrive early. At 31 weeks, babies are not fully prepared to breathe on their own, their eye muscles are still developing, and they have not yet benefited from the critical final weeks of weight gain before delivery.

Isabelle was born weighing just 2 pounds, 13 ounces, and thanks to steroids administered before delivery, she amazed everyone with how quickly she transitioned to room air. Throughout her NICU stay, Isabelle flew through milestones like a champ — a true reflection of the determined personality we know today.

She came home on June 19, 2017, and is now on the cusp of turning 9 years old.

There have been so many milestones and moments we once didn’t know would be possible, and every year feels like an opportunity to reflect on them.

Because the anniversary of this terrifying experience coincides with the birthday of such an amazing little girl, we choose to advocate. On Isabelle’s first birthday, we promised ourselves we would honor her fragile beginnings by fundraising and doing our part to help other families walking a similar road, and we are proud to say we have followed through every year since.

Since Isabelle’s birth, we have also been lucky enough to welcome Charlotte Fritzi (6½) and Ryland Genevieve (4). Prenatal care during both pregnancies looked very different than it did with Isabelle, with many precautions taken based on years of research surrounding HELLP syndrome and efforts to prevent it from happening again.

Someday, we’ll be able to share all the stories and photos with Isabelle. For now, we hope that by continuing to explain her story in ways she can understand — and by taking action each year — we are honoring it the best we can.

We were lifted up when we were at our lowest, and so many people showed up for us. I still remember receiving a care package from Project Sweet Peas. We still have the isolette blanket, and it makes me smile thinking about how much it brightened our hospital room during some very scary days.

We spent our first Mother’s Day and Father’s Day in the NICU at MMC, and the small acts of kindness that lifted us up made all the difference.

Thank you for considering this pledge. Here’s to many more years to come!

Isabelle, Vicky, John, Charlotte & Ryland

Belle's Brigade Fundraiser

In honor of Isabelle's Birthday