On April 2nd the varsity boys and girls lacrosse had a game to help raise money for the NICU at Community North Hospital. With all this money, it could help change someone’s life. At this game we had a specific reason for raising money, Steffi Fleagle lost a precious soul to a condition called micro preemie.
“Eliana was born at Community North, and their Maternity and NICU team gave us incredible care,” said Fleagle.
“At 20 weeks, everything looked healthy. But around 24 to 25 weeks, she developed fetal growth restriction, which meant she could not grow as expected in the womb,” said Steffi Fleagle. “She was born just shy of 26 weeks, weighing less than a pound. Babies born that early and small only have about a 30% chance of survival.”
Fleagle lost her baby girl, Eliana just within three weeks of her birth. With this and other hardships, God can teach us lessons.
“I wish she were still here, and I miss her every day,” said Steffi. “But every day I spent with her in the NICU was a gift from God.”
At the end of this game, we ended up raising 3,651 dollars for the NICU at Community North.
“I was not surprised about how much money we raised,” said Emma Reichert. “I think that the community that surrounds both the boys and girls program is a very loving group of parents who will do anything to support someone in need.”
Through the community you can really see how much people are willing to be there for someone. But it can also allow the community to bond together through hardships.
“It was important because it was really nice to kind of bring the two cultures together of boys and girls lacrosse,” said Dalton Fertig. “Kind of make it into one united team.
At the end of the day we are all here for one another and willing to show it.
“The generosity of the HSE Boys and Girls Lacrosse teams, their families, and our community truly moved me,” Said Fleagle. “I know those funds will help other families going through similar experiences.”