Dear friends, family, and supportive souls,
As I sit here, trying to find the right words, my heart is overflowing with a mix of emotions – gratitude, fear, hope, and above all, love. First and foremost, thank you. Thank you for being here, for clicking on this link, for choosing to be part of our story. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or you’re just joining our journey, your presence means the world to us.
For those who have supported us financially through our GoFundMe, I wish I could hug each one of you. Your generosity is helping to ease a burden I wasn’t sure how we’d carry. And for those considering supporting us, please know that every single contribution, no matter the size, is a thread of hope in this tapestry we’re weaving.
Now, let’s talk about what’s really going on. I won’t sugarcoat it – this is major. In just a few weeks, my baby girl Genesis will be undergoing a surgery that terrifies me as much as it gives me hope. It’s called Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy (PTE), and it’s currently the only known cure for the CTEPH (Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension) that Genesis has been battling.
This 8-10 hour surgery is complex and risky, but it’s also our beacon of hope. We need all the prayers, good vibes, positive thoughts – whatever you’ve got – sent our way. I truly believe in the power of collective hope and faith, and right now, we’re gathering as much of that power as we can.
In the coming days and weeks, I’ll be using this space to keep you updated on our journey. We fly out to San Diego on September 23rd, with Genesis’ surgery scheduled for September 30th. We’ll be there for up to 30 days for the procedure and initial recovery.
I’ll do my best to post updates regularly, but please bear with me if there are days when I’m quiet. Some days might be tough, and I might need to focus all my energy on Genesis. But know that even in the silence, we feel your support.
What we’re hoping for – what we’re believing for – is nothing short of a miracle. We’ve seen Genesis overcome incredible odds before, and we believe she’ll do it again. We want you to witness this miracle in the making, to see our brave girl beat the odds once more and recover beautifully.
If you’re wondering how you can help, here are some practical ways:
- Prayers and positive thoughts: Keep them coming. They’re the fuel for our hope.
- Share our GoFundMe: If you’re comfortable, sharing our fundraiser can help ease the financial burden of this journey.
- Check in on our family: If you’re local, maybe you could drop off a meal or offer to babysit my other children? My husband could use the support while Genesis and I are away.
- Send a message: Your words of encouragement mean more than you know. They’re little lifelines on tough days.
- Follow this blog: Your presence here, reading these words, is a form of support in itself.
As we embark on this next chapter, I’m reminded of a quote I once read: “The most beautiful things in life are not things. They’re people, and places, and memories, and pictures. They’re feelings, and moments, and smiles, and laughter.” You, our community, are creating those beautiful things for us right now.
So here we go, taking this leap of faith together. Thank you for being our safety net, our cheerleaders, our prayer warriors. In the words of my brave Genesis, “We’ve got this, Mom.” And you know what? With all of you by our side, I believe we do.
With a heart full of gratitude and hope, Rachel Fox.
P.S. I’ll be fasting from one meal a day and staying off social media from September 1st until Genesis is released. If you feel called to join in any way, we’d be honored to have you with us in this act of faith.
