CAPE CORAL, Fla. — What was supposed to be one of the happiest days for a Cape Coral family quickly turned into a nightmare.
Teri Gregg-Donaldson and her husband, Oak Gregg-Donaldson, were excited about their newborn's arrival.
After weeks of around the clock care, Teri delivered their baby boy, Rowan, on Wednesday.
"Prior to this, she was in the hospital due to pregnancy complications for seven weeks," said Rachel Anderson, a family friend.
Weighing just over 4 pounds, Rowan was born at thirty-two weeks.
While celebrating the life of her newborn, Teri received the heart-breaking news.
"Less than 24 hours after her baby was born, her husband Oak passed away in his sleep," said Anderson.
Oak leaves behind his wife, Teri, and eight children, including four siblings that the family adopted.
Anderson says the death of Oak and the medical bills have left the Gregg-Donaldson family facing tremendous financial hardship.
The family still does not know the cause of death.
"Teri has shared that Oak was able to meet his son the day he was born, so he did meet him before he passed away later that evening," said Anderson.
Rowan remains in the neonatal intensive care unit at Galisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida, where he is doing well but is expected to stay for a lengthy period of time.
Anderson says a Go FundMe account has been set up to help the family cover medical expenses and bring the family a Christmas miracle.
You can access the Go FundMe account by clicking here.
"What we are trying to do is to get this family a van by Christmas. So when we bring the Christmas eve dinner, we would love, as a community, to also be able to have a van for them," said Anderson.
A Mealtrain account was also set up for the family, click here to view.
