What event triggered you applying for assistance?Premature birth, NICU stay

Why did you apply for assistance? We were staying in a hotel in order to stay near our daughter and costs were adding up quickly.

What assistance did you receive? Hotel/Extended stay assistance

Explain what this help meant to you. What effect did it have on your family short-term and long-term? It was such a relief to not have to worry about hotel bills for a bit and just focus on our daughter’s needs.

If you had not gotten the help you did, what would that have meant for your family? We would have had to spend more of our savings in order to remain near our daughter.

Tell us as much as you want to share about your family’s story. Our daughter was born at 24 weeks and 4 days. I was in the hospital over two weeks before she arrived and she was in the NICU for 89 days. It was a long road but we have been very fortunate. Our little girl had no surgeries and is now almost 9mo old. She is off oxygen and almost all medicines and is doing so well! I am so glad I was able to spend the time with her during and after our NICU stay to help her along her journey.

What has happened since asking for help? Bring us up to date. We are home and our daughter is thriving! She just started solid foods!

What would you say to another family going through this same process? Just keep swimming. The days are long and hard and it’s so scary but it’s so worth it to take your little one home and watch them grow!

What do you now know that you wish you had known previously? There are no guarantees just enjoy each day with your little one as best you can.