Reynel’s Journey 💙👶 On August 20, 2025, at just 29 weeks and 3 days, our sweet boy Reynel made his entrance into the world far earlier than we ever expected. He was so tiny, yet so incredibly strong. Instead of being placed in our arms after birth, Reynel was whisked away to the NICU, where a team of doctors and nurses immediately began caring for him. Being born that early meant Reynel needed help with everything — breathing, eating, keeping his body temperature stable, and simply growing outside the womb. He started his life surrounded by monitors, tubes, and machines, but also surrounded by love and prayer. From the very beginning, he has shown us what it means to be a fighter. He slowly began learning how to bottle feed, building strength to breathe on his own, and showing progress one tiny step at a time. Every little milestone — finishing a bottle, keeping his temperature up, or gaining a few grams — became a huge celebration. But the NICU journey has also been frightening. There were moments when Reynel held his breath and even turned blue, terrifying us as we watched alarms sound and nurses rush to his side. At one point, he developed aspiration pneumonia — a dangerous infection from milk entering his lungs while feeding. He had to fight through antibiotics and extra breathing support, but once again, he showed his strength and resilience. He’s also had weight struggles, losing 5oz in just two days, which meant daily weigh-ins and constant monitoring. When he became too cold and started having more breath-holding spells, the doctors placed him back in his incubator to keep him warm and safe. Through every setback, he has continued to recover and push forward. The doctors ran many tests to make sure he wasn’t fighting anything else, and thankfully, all of his recent infection screens came back negative 🙏. That gave us so much relief. Lately, he has been eating better, breathing stronger, and showing us more glimpses of the strong little boy he is becoming. One of the proudest moments was when Reynel passed his very first car seat test — a huge milestone for any NICU baby, because it means going home is within reach. Unfortunately, setbacks happened afterward, but we are requesting another test before discharge to be sure he’s ready. Even once Reynel is home, his journey won’t be finished. Because he tends to keep his little legs outward, he will need to follow up with a hip specialist to make sure his hips are developing properly. It’s just one more step in making sure he grows strong and healthy. This road has been long, emotional, and full of ups and downs, but through it all, Reynel has shown us what true courage looks like. We cannot wait for the day we finally get to bring him home, hold him without wires and machines, and begin life together outside the NICU. We’re sharing Reynel’s story because so many people have asked how they can help. The NICU journey comes with countless challenges and unexpected expenses — from hospital stays, to specialist appointments, to the time away from work that comes with being by his side every single day. Every prayer, every donation, every message, and every bit of love helps us more than words can express. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting our little fighter and believing in him. Reynel has already come so far, and with your love and support, he will continue to grow stronger every day. 💙👶✨