In midwestern USA, a tight-knit family of five is negotiating their new life in a six-metre caravan. It might be small, it might be cramped, but they’re not complaining – they’re doing it all for their little girl.
At just 13 months old, Ruby Pearl has had more than her fair share of hardship. Born deaf, blind and with holes in her heart, the infant also has a deteriorating brain, glaucoma, obstructive sleep apnoea, chronic lung disease and epilepsy.
Ruby Pearl also battled various secondary illnesses and infections, meaning she’s has lived most of her life within the white walls of a hospital.
Ruby Pearl wasn't expected to live more than a few hours. Image: GoFundMe.
"This past May, when she had pneumonia, they had us call in our family to say goodbye to her," her mother Margaret VanTongeren told People. "They showed me the room they use for babies to die in and I just broke down. It's still hard to think about it – it was the worst moment of my life."
But Ruby Pearl recovered, defying the odds as she has done so many times before.
"I don't know what else to call it besides a miracle," Margaret told People. "She still struggled a lot after that, but she pulled through again. And now we're finally able to take her home with us this week. It's a huge milestone."
Image: Facebook/Prayers for Ruby Pearl.
Ruby Pearl's future remains murky - she wan't expected to survive more than a few hours - but her family are determined to ensure that her life is as happy, comfortable and filled with love as it possibly can be.
So much so, that's it's cost them everything.
Evicted from their home when they fell behind on rent payments, the family also lost their business, their dogs and even relationships with friends and family.
"People might think we have nothing, but that's not true," Margaret said. "We have each other. Yes, we're facing a huge challenge, but we still have hope and a lot to be thankful for."
The family now plan to tow their mobile home to Utah where there are specialist doctors and the climate is more suited to Ruby's lungs. They've started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for their journey and to help cover Ruby Pearl's medical costs.
"You never know what tomorrow is going to to bring, so we keep fighting right alongside her," T.J. told People. "There are still many unknowns about Ruby, but she is alive and a little warrior, even though the odds were stacked against her since birth."
To help this family, visit their GoFundMe page here.
Feature image via GoFundMe.
Top Comments
Seriously. Not trolling here. But if they new this in utero.... Why would they make their other children suffer... being evicted and transient because they didn't make the choice to terminate? And if the child somehow lives? And the parents age and die? Whose burden is it then? In my work, I have seen many elderely and ( young mid 50's) care for an adult child with a disability. The toll is devastating... I've seen parents and adult children both entering nursing homes together because there's no other choice.
Agreed.
This is the US we are talking about, quality of life and choices are seldom talked about. even if they had no other kids they would need a gofundme to pay the medical bills. It really is a difficult place to live or try to live.
Perhaps they didn't know the extent of her disabilities - not everything can be predicted before birth. Or perhaps they are just pro-life.