Erick and Annie’s Story

Erick and Annie had long dreamed of building a family together, and when their son Devon was born, they embraced parenthood with tenderness and devotion. From day one, they approached every challenge with care, advocating for their son’s well-being with both love and urgency throughout his 99-day NICU stay. Erick became Devon’s full-time caregiver, while Annie stepped into the role of the sole provider, balancing work with the demands of a newborn with extraordinary medical needs. Despite these challenges, the family remained proactive, pursuing every available resource and opportunity to support Devon’s health and development.

While their son was in the NICU, their landlord sold their rental home, and the family temporarily moved in with Erick’s parents. Once they transitioned to a new home, double rent payments and security deposit depleted their savings. LEAVEN provided essential assistance by covering a rental payment and connecting the family to community resources, including UMOS for employment opportunities that fit their son’s medical schedule, Energy Services for utility support, and St. Joseph’s Food Pantry for basic needs. This support gave them the stability to focus on caring for Devon without the added stress of housing insecurity.

LEAVEN’s collaborative, wrap-around support connects families to resources when they need it most. For families like Erick’s, it allows parents to focus on experiencing and celebrating the joys of parenthood—the very reason they dreamed of building a family.