On Tuesday, April 22, I woke up with a sharp pain in my lower abdomen. My baby boy, Jay’Siah, had already been diagnosed with growth restriction, and I knew something was wrong. My husband called an ambulance, and I was rushed to Montefiore, then transferred to Bronx North Central. Jay’Siah was born on April 23, weighing 4 pounds and 8.6 ounces, but tragically, he passed away. Immediately after, I experienced severe complications and required 20 blood transfusions and multiple life-saving procedures. I spent two days under anesthesia, fighting for my life.
This loss has been devastating for our family. My husband took four weeks off work to care for me and our children, but because he recently changed job locations, he didn’t qualify for paid family leave. My sister and mother-in-law stepped in to care for our twins, providing the support we desperately needed. We used our last savings, meant for a family car, to cover Jay’Siah’s cremation and are now facing overwhelming bills that we couldn’t pay at that time. Our two-bedroom apartment is home to six people, and moving to a better space feels out of reach right now. But I would love to continue to work towards that goal.
I was raised in the foster care system and have never had the chance to build a strong support network. Asking for help is difficult, but today I am reaching out for any support—whether it’s a donation, a share, a kind word, or advice. Every bit of encouragement means the world to me and my family as we try to recover and move forward from this unimaginable loss. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any help you can offer.
