2 Years After an ‘Unimaginable’ Pregnancy Loss, One Mom Is Hoping for a ‘Miracle’ for Her 6-Month-Old in the NICU

Crystal Holba lost her baby boy at 26 weeks in 2024 after developing a severe infection. Nearly two years later, her daughter Remi was born prematurely at 26 weeks and has since faced several challenges in the NICU.

NEED TO KNOW

Crystal Holba lost her baby boy at 26 weeks in 2024 after developing a severe infection

Nearly two years later, her daughter Remi was born prematurely at 26 weeks and has since faced several challenges in the NICU

“Watching your child struggle to breathe, hurt, and endure so much is something no parent should ever experience,” she wrote in a GoFundMe

One mother is opening up about her intensely emotional journey supporting her daughter in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Crystal Holba, a mother from Texas, and her family experienced heartbreak in October 2024 when she developed a “severe” infection while pregnant, leading her to lose her baby boy at just 26 weeks. Now, nearly two years after the “unimaginable” loss, the family’s tribulations are not over.

Holba was “overjoyed” to discover she was pregnant again after losing her son, “but fear never left us,” she wrote on a GoFundMe page. Unfortunately, her pregnancy was marked by heavy bleeding, procedures, infection and hospitalization.

At 26 weeks, the same point in her pregnancy when she lost her son, she unexpectedly went into labor and required an emergency C-section.

“Remi entered the world weighing just 2 lbs., 1 oz. Since that day, she has known nothing but hospitals, surgeries, ventilators, monitors, medications, and endless procedures,” Holba wrote. “She has faced setback after setback, yet she continues to fight with a strength that amazes everyone around her.”

“Watching your child struggle to breathe, hurt, and endure so much is something no parent should ever experience,” she added.

Related Stories

As she has had to stay with Remi and support her “complex medical needs,” Holba has been unable to return to work, she wrote. Any funds donated to her family will go towards helping ease the “financial burden” of the hardship, including travel, daily expenses and specialized equipment and care that Remi will need.

Speaking with Fox 26 Houston, Holba — also mom to a 7-year-old boy — said she’s decided to open up about her challenging pregnancy journey because it can feel isolating, though it’s not a unique experience.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I want other people to hear this,” she told the outlet. “Lots of people have gone through this but haven’t told their story.”

Though the whole experience has been hard on her, Holba said she’s been inspired by Remi, whose resilience and strength give her courage of her own.

“Seeing her there fighting so much, it gives me that fight back,” Crystal said. “Because she’s so little, and she’s fighting, I’ve got to fight for her.”

Human Interest

Real People

Real People Parenting