Vitals and Valor

The ER… the place we all hate but hate to admit we know too well.

Every single time before I dial 911 and grab my hospital bags … I cry…. Because for most people it’s a “quick trip” to the ER… but for us it’s never quick. It’s usually a week to a month of our life.

Most of the time we arrive between 1–3 AM exhausted before we even walk through the doors. I answer the same questions over and over again while barely keeping my eyes open.

“What brought you in tonight?”
“When did the fever start?”
“Has she been vomiting?”

I literally already told the doctor, Then shift change happens and now I’m repeating myself again.. My eyes are bloodshot red, my brain is foggy and I’m trying to stay awake while my oldest daughter sleeps curled up in a chair beside me.

Then another nurse walks in.
More questionss

“She started a fever yesterday. I had it under control… then in the middle of the night she started vomiting”

And silently in my head I’m thinking why the FCK can’t they just write this down and pass the information on ???

I look over at both of my girls completely drained. Ny’eema is uncomfortable and exhausted. Ny’anna is tired of being poked over and over again!

Eventually we get maybe an hour of sleep before they wake us up again to move us upstairs. It’s 4:45 in the morning & my feet are dragging through the halls as we head from the ER to the NICU. I’m exhausted, my kids exhausted. but also relieved because at least there’s a little more space upstairs. Still I already know it’ll be another hour before I can actually rest.

Then the doctor comes in and asks the same questions all over again.
Then the nurse comes in.
Again. And Again!

By that point I don’t even know what answers I’m giving anymore because my body and mind are completely running on empty.

The scariest part is how normal this life starts to feel.

ER trips are hard.
Not just physically but emotionally.
The fear, the exhaustion, the waiting the repeating the uncertainty… it all takes a piece out of you every single time.

- Vitals & Valor

People see the bags packed and think it’s just a trip. What they don’t see is the strength it takes to carry a life in medical supplies, medications, machines, schedules, and prayers. This is only a small glimpse into medical mom life. Heavy on the heart, heavy on the hands… but I’ll carry it every single time for my baby.

- Vitals And Valor



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As many of you know, on August 28th, we’ll be celebrating Ny’anna’s 10th birthday in a truly unforgettable way. After months of trying to decide what her Make-A-Wish should be, God gently placed something so powerful on our hearts to use her wish not for ourselves, but to bless others.

Because we’ve spent so much of our lives in the hospital, we know what it feels like to be there the long nights, the silent prayers, the weight of the unknown. So instead of choosing something just for her, Ny’anna and our family decided to give back. With the help of Make-A-Wish Michigan, we are preparing to bless over 600 families with care packages filled with love, hope, and compassion.

These tags you see will be placed on each package a small piece of her heart wrapped in every single one. I can’t describe what it feels like to be on this side of the blessing. It’s overwhelming in the most beautiful way.

What started as a search for one little girl’s wish has turned into something so much greater. I pray this is just the beginning the first ripple in a wave of impact far beyond what we can imagine. God is truly doing something special, and I’m so grateful He’s using our story to touch others.

Ny’anna’s life is proof that even the smallest hands can make the biggest difference. ✨💗

Adding A Little Joy Project to Ny’anna’s Make a Wish. Thanks to Make-A-Wish Michigan for making this wish come true!

This mini-kit includes sticky notes and colorful markers to help you spread kindness during your hospital stay. Inspired by Ny’eema and her big-hearted spirit, this project is all about leaving uplifting messages in unexpected places — like elevators, waiting rooms, or nurses’ stations. A few words can make a big difference. Write a note. Leave it behind. Make someone smile.

Ny’eema had her very first Soccer in the Sand tournament this weekend and her team brought home the championship! We didn’t fully know what to expect, but one thing was clear: the presence of the Lord was felt every step of the way.

And just look at these amazing soccer dads in action helping our warrior princess Ny’anna make it to the sand so she wouldn’t miss a moment of the games.

Thank you to these incredible men for showing up with such kindness and care. You made sure Ny’anna was part of the experience, and we’re so grateful!

This is exactly why it’s so important for all spaces and events to be wheelchair accessible so that everyone can truly enjoy the experience together. Accessibility matters, always. ♿️💗

Beautiful 🫶🏽

✨ Here’s some awesome news we’d like to share with you all !! ✨

It truly breaks my heart that over the past year, Ny’anna spent more time in the hospital than she ever should have. Because of that, she wasn’t able to fulfill her Make-A-Wish trip to Disneyland. (Unfortunately, vehicles aren’t covered by Make-A-Wish.) We tried so hard to figure out the right path, but we just couldn’t decide… until God placed something heavy and beautiful on my heart.

Instead of focusing on what we missed, we’re choosing to bless others.

For Ny’anna’s 10th birthday, we’re partnering with Make-A-Wish Michigan to deliver care packages to OVER 600 families currently in the hospital — families just like ours. Each package will include thoughtful goodies, gift cards, and comforting items that I know, from experience, can make even the hardest days a little lighter.

This is our way of paying it forward — as a Medical Mom, for other Medical Moms. For the siblings who wait and worry. For the brave children who spend their birthdays, holidays, and everyday moments in hospital beds. I see you. I hear you. Your cries are my cries.

We often feel invisible in this journey — but I want you to know you’re not alone. You are seen. You are loved. And if we can bring even a little comfort, a little hope — then we are walking exactly where God has led us to be.

With love,
Xoxo,
-Ny’anna’s Journey ✨
-Vitals & Valor 🫶🏽