This post raises money for a new mother and baby!

Hello Steemian Friends,

I am currently seated in Bloomington Hospital waiting for my dear friend, Lili, to deliver her precious baby boy. I thought I would do a post on her behalf since she is a single mother whose own mother has passed on. While she’s surrounded by loving friends and family at this time, her pregnancy has been fraught with difficulty, including two moves. One to a home she planned to stay in for years, and one last night from that apartment to a new one.

Lili resting and receiving oxygen.

I met Lili last night outside her new apartment. She was have short, irregular contractions. Since this is her first pregnancy, I knew that meant she could still be days away from delivery. We said goodbye, and her brother took her home. He stayed with her overnight.

This morning, our mutual friend, April, texted me just after my girls were off to school. I was at my usual haunt, Hoosier Athletic Club. I told my coach, “My friend is having a baby! I have to leave!” And Jenna hustled me out the door and signed me out of class with joyful well-wishes.

Lili receiving love from her birth team of friends.

The gym is just up the street from the hospital so it took me 5 minutes to get from the gym to Lili’s hospital room. I’m so happy she was happy to see me. And even happier to see her! This is a huge moment in her life. She is having a baby just a few days before her own birthday. And while she has family here, the father is not involved.

A little about Lili— I’ve written about her plenty of times, but as she gets in a quick nap, I want to share that she is basically a huge heart. What I mean is she is one of the kindest, most thoughtful women I have ever met. I am consistently surprised by her sense of self, articulation of boundaries and the personal strength both these things and becoming a single mother require.

Lili’s exhausted brother napping as Lili naps. He deserves it! He packed up her apartment and got her to her new place to sign her lease, then brought her to the hospital in the early morning.

I could not be more excited to support Lili as she labors and delivers, and I am delighted at the opportunity to continue supporting her with care after her baby arrives.

Here are just a few things she has done that are amazing:

signed up for Medicaid
found all free resources and made use of them
created a family helper business and budget and always showed up
never spent beyond her means
asked for help when she needed it but was extremely respectful of others’ needs and boundaries when doing so
moved to a healthier mother/baby location
moved again while in early labor
completed two semesters of college
showed up and done service for those in her life who needed it while she was in great need of support

Probably the most amazing of all is how Lili has worked to heal from the loss of her mother at a young age as she becomes a mother.

If you would like to support Lili, give this post an upvote. Resteeming is great. I will donate the equivalent of all Steem AND SBD to Lili.

Lili VERY excited her epidural is working.

If you would like to support her directly, here is her meal train site where you can donate gift cards and USD. https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/34enww

Whatever support you decide to give, know Lili is grateful. As am I. Times are lean right now. Thank you for you love.

xoxo,

Shawna

P.S. I will be back with a second baby update post!