Erica Oliveira

I joined the movement to create positive change for moms and babies everywhere, especially those most at risk. My personal reasons are my son being preterm, fertility issues and miscarriage.

With preterm birth and maternal death rates continuing to rise, I’m committed to raising funds so that every family gets the best possible start. But I need your help.

Here's my story written in my husband's words...

   My wife experienced complications after having our first son in January of 2011. After meeting with 3 separate fertility specialists and multiple rounds of IUI’s (two unsuccessful, one ending in a miscarriage) we decided to focus our attention on our one and only son we were blessed to have. Eight years later, my wife surprised me on Father’s Day with an ultrasound. We could not have been more shocked and excited to finally have another child. The 2nd baby we always wanted. 

   In August 2019, we decided to spend some time in Boston as a family. On our last day there, my wife wasn’t feeling well, we thought we lost the baby. We rushed out of the hotel and drove back to New Jersey as quickly as we could to make sure everything was ok. To our surprise, we were relieved to hear the baby’s heartbeat. Although, this was when my wife was diagnosed with placenta previa. We didn’t know much about this, but we would soon find out. At this time, we were considered high risk and would be monitored often. We spent the next three months scared, in and out of the emergency room, and visiting specialists to diagnose the severity of my wife’s condition. All to ensure the safety of our unborn son. 

   Thanksgiving Day my wife was not feeling well again and ran to the bathroom. The crying and screaming we heard were something out of a horror movie. It was that day; we are convinced her water began to leak slowly. From October to December, we were averaging one (1) visit a week to the emergency room. 

   My wife has always been a strong woman and in 12 years I have never seen her so scared. On December 10, 2019, around 10pm, my wife just did not feel well but she was also tired of spending that time in a hospital. She had enough and went to sleep which, is something she would have never done. The next morning on December 11, 2019, at 5am, I was on the way to the gym when my wife called me in a panic. She believes her water broke. Since hospital visits became our new normal and with 9 weeks to go. I did not think we would be having our baby that day. Multiple high-risk doctors came in to see us and confirmed there was a slow leak. They were convinced she could remain in the hospital under these conditions for the remainder of her pregnancy if the baby was not under stress. 

   A few hours later, that changed. The baby’s heart rate began to elevate, and we had to move quickly. At 5:41pm on December 11th, our son, Enzo, was born weighing 3lbs 10 ounces. We could only kiss his head before they quickly took him off to rhe NICU. It was two long weeks before we were able to hold him. Enzo spent 4 weeks in the NICU at St. Barnabas Medical Center before we could finally bring him home. 

Please visit my fundraising page to make a donation. Together we’ll be part of a movement to make America a more equitable place and ensure that every mom and baby is healthy.