A benefit will be held next month to raise funds to help an Arnold family get their house ready to bring their prematurely born child home from the hospital. The “Bring Georgia Home Benefit” will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, at Kenny’s Bar and Grill, 7045 Hwy. 61-67, in Barnhart.
Georgia Adams, 19 months, was born at just 24 weeks on Aug. 24, 2023, and weighed only 1 pound 2 ounces. She stayed at Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur for 17 months, either in the neonatal intensive care unit or the pediatric intensive care unit. She currently is at Rankin Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in St. Louis County, her last stop before she can live at home with her family.
The fundraiser will include raffle baskets; a 50/50 raffle; attendance prizes; a silent auction; Shriner’s face painting and balloons; four live bands; sales of food and drinks; and a bounce house, depending on the weather.
“There's going to be a lot going on that day that’s going to be family-oriented, even though it is at a bar and grill. We definitely want people to know they can bring their kids,” said Brittany Gibson, 37, of Arnold who has been best friends with Georgia’s mom, Emily Braun, for more than 20 years and is helping with the fundraiser.
Gibson said the goal is to raise at least $20,000 between the event and the GoFundMe page that has been set up to help the family.
Braun, 34, of Arnold is asking businesses and people to donate items for raffle baskets and door prizes. Donated items will be accepted until April 13.
Georgia has lived her entire life in the hospital, her mother said. She is ventilator-dependent, has chronic lung disease and pulmonary hypertension. She has a ventriculoperitoneal shunt; level three and four brain bleeds and infantile spasms, or seizures. She requires 24-hour nursing care and therapy.
Braun said she and her son, Liam Braun, 12, currently live with her parents, Joann and John Hargraves of Arnold. The family must complete home modifications before Georgia may finally come home to live. Because Georgia is dependent on a ventilator to breathe, losing electricity in the home could cause her death, so the home must have a generator installed.
The family’s basement also needs remodeled to accommodate Georgia’s hospital bed, crib, medical equipment, toys and clothes. An ADA-compliant bathroom must be added to the space for the 24-hour medical staff, and later for Georgia to use.
Braun said because Georgia uses a wheelchair, the family also needs a new vehicle for transporting her, most likely a van.
“We don't know what our future is going look like right at this point. But as of right now, she's in a wheelchair. So we need something that's wheelchair accessible for her,” Braun said.
She said Georgia is a happy toddler who loves Minnie Mouse; hates wearing her glasses and hair bows; and loves spending time with her family and the nursing staff at the hospital.
Braun said the family is hoping to have the home modifications completed in time for Georgia to be home for her second birthday in August, barring no medical setbacks.
“Everybody is so ready for her to come home,” Braun said.
Gibson said Georgia has a positive personality, despite being in a hospital bed her entire life.
“She’s a sweet girl. She’s always happy, she’s always smiling,” Gibson said. “She is a true miracle.”
To contact Braun about donations, call 636-218-9359 or email gpeachy2023@gmail.com.
The family’s GoFundMe page may be found under the name “Support Georgia's Transition to Home Care.”