

Liam's Stocking Fundraiser 2024
“I want to take this chance to thank the Allo Hope Foundation for the way they walked with me throughout my pregnancy and even after delivery. If not for their support both financially and emotionally I don't think my baby would be alive. My baby girl is now one year old and very healthy, I will forever be grateful to God that I met this group after having 2 stillbirths my hope was restored. My heart is full of gratitude.”- From Essie, Njeri’s Mother (relocated by Allo Hope Foundation for life saving care)
This Giving Tuesday and during the Christmas season, we are again raising money for The Allo Hope Foundation to honor Liam’s battle with HDFN (Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn) and to help protect other babies from preventable and unnecessary death. Please join me in sharing hope with those who need it most by contributing to Liam’s Stocking Fundraiser.
We are so grateful to our family and friends for showering our family with so much love and support since Liam was born. He is a light in our lives, and we are so lucky to have him here with us. You have been with us from the beginning, and we understand that that a donation may not be possible every year. However, I have seen firsthand what the difference of just $10 dollars can make and how far this money can go in directly impacting families. Last year, funds raised from stocking fundraisers went to the following initiatives:
1.Rhesus Solution Initiative (RSI): An organization who supports awareness and
administration of Rh Immunoglobulin for Rh-negative pregnant women to help
prevent HDFN in Nigeria
2. Antibody Testing: Funded accurate antibody screening for 19 women in Kenya,
necessary for diagnosis
3. Rh Immunoglobulin Doses in Kenya: Provided 5 doses of Rh Immunoglobulin
monthly to Rh-negative pregnant women, helping provide access to a medication
that is otherwise often unattainable due to cost.
4. Saving Njeri: Assisted in relocating a mother to Ethiopia for life-saving
treatment, resulting in the successful birth of her daughter, Njeri.
5. Collaboration with the O Negative Foundation: Contributed to a network of
O-Negative blood donors in Kenya, improving access to emergency blood
donations for IUTs and post birth transfusions
For those of you who are not familiar with Liam's story, our pregnancy was severely complicated by maternal alloimmunization. This can cause destruction of fetal red blood cells and lead to anemia, hydrops, jaundice and heart failure. Unfortunately, during our pregnancy Liam did become anemic and required four intrauterine blood transfusions. When he was born, he fought through a NICU stay with respiratory support, phototherapy and transfusions. He needed weekly labs for the first five months of his life and an additional four blood transfusions. These are all medical advancements that are not available globally and we just happened to live in a city that could provide treatment. However, even in Boston, I had to do a fair bit of advocating for the right care and AHF was a lifeline to me throughout my pregnancy for resources and support. They remain a lifeline to me now as I start to process all that we have been through and work to prevent negative outcomes for other families.
In honor of those who donate to Liam’s fundraiser, donors will have their name written on a card and placed with a teddy bear inside his stocking on Christmas Eve. We can’t think of a better gift for Liam on Christmas than to share life and hope with other families facing this battle. There are so many times throughout my work that I have come to the very harsh reality that Liam easily could not be here with us today. If we can help just one other family going through what we have been through and help prevent unnecessary loss, that would be the greatest Christmas gift of all.
If you are unable to donate, raising awareness about alloimmunization and HDFN is equally as important to our family. Knowing your blood type and the importance of Rh Immunoglobulin, donating blood (Liam had a total of 8 blood transfusions in his life), reading about HDFN on the Allo Hope Foundation website or sharing this fundraiser would also mean the world to us. Thank you for your generosity but also for taking the time to lift us up in learning about HDFN. We hope you have a beautiful holiday season.
Learn more about The Allo Hope Foundation here: https://allohopefoundation.org
