Harper's Stocking Fundraiser

This holiday season and beyond, please consider donating to The Allo Hope Foundation and help fill our stocking honoring Harper’s battle with Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn and Fetus, also known as HDFN. Your donation provides life saving care, educational resources, specialist referrals, research, support and so much more to alloimmunized mothers and babies around the world. No mother or baby should have to face this diagnosis alone.

The Allo Hope Foundation explains it best. “Maternal alloimmunization occurs when a woman makes red blood cell antibodies after being exposed to a blood type that is different from her own. These antibodies can cross the placenta and attack her unborn child, a disease called Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN). HDFN can have devastating consequences including anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and death. With close monitoring and timely treatment, babies with HDFN have a very high survival rate.”

Our story:

At just 12 weeks pregnant, my husband EJ and I were shocked to find out our unborn baby was at risk of HDFN. We had no idea I had developed red blood cell antibodies after receiving a blood transfusion as a result of hemorrhaging four days post-partum after giving birth to Harper’s big sister, Quinn. We were referred to a high-risk obstetrician, which is never how you imagine your pregnancy going, and joy quickly turned to fear. Scared of the unkown, EJ and I turned to resources like The Allo Hope Foundation to learn more about the risks associated with an alloimmunized pregnancy. 

At 39 weeks, Harper was born mildly anemic and was diagnosed with HDFN. Harper endured five days of photolight therapy due to high bilirubin levels and endured countless blood tests to monitor her anemia. After Harper was released from the hospital, she was seen multiple times by a pediatric hematologist for follow-up care. We were relieved that Harper’s anemia remained just above treatment levels and we are grateful to say she is a happy, healthy baby today!

Unfortunately though, the care we received from our high-risk obstetrician was not up to current recommendations for the management of an alloimmunized pregnancy. Without resources like The Allo Hope Foundation, our regular obstetrician team would not have been able to learn about HDFN and step in to make up for the lack of care from our high risk obstetrician. With donations like yours, The Allo Hope Foundation is helping to improve the diagnosis, treatment and awareness of this incredibly rare pregnancy complication. EJ and I are forever grateful to the Allo Hope Foundation, our team of regular obstetricians for stepping up, our neonatologist/NICU team and our pediatric hematologist. Without all of them, Harper might not be here today. 

Every dollar helps fund hope for families like mine. Your generous donation, love and support means to the world to our little family. 

To learn more about HDFN and The Allo Hope Foundation, please visit: https://allohopefoundation.org