This is a real real estate family—Brette is an agent, and Katie is a consultant and productivity coach. The start of 2026 was an exciting time in life, as they’d just moved to a new and bigger market, their son was starting kindergarten, and they were preparing for the birth of a long-awaited daughter.
On January 30th, at just 35 weeks pregnant, Katie was admitted to the hospital for high blood pressure and suspected severe preeclampsia, with plans to induce labor (35 weeks is considered premature, but safe and stable). Their daughter, Sutton, was born on January 31 and immediately admitted to the NICU.
Once admitted, they determined that Sutton’s due date was incorrect and she was actually only 32-33 weeks. She spent five weeks in the NICU, where she gradually grew strong enough to come home. During that time, she developed an infection and was diagnosed with tracheomalacia, a condition in which weakened cartilage in the trachea causes the airway to collapse during breathing or coughing.
A Long 35 Days
The doctors and specialists emphasized the importance of Brette and Katie being present in the NICU to support their daughter’s growth and healing. Between the rigorous NICU schedule and caring for their 5-year-old son, Katie was unable to take on consulting projects or new coaching clients.
They rotated care times at the hospital every day, beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at midnight, for 35 days.
Once they were able to finally take their daughter home from the NICU, life had to adjust not only to having a newborn, but to a newborn that required frequent doctor’s appointments to monitor her growth.
Financial Burdens
Brette & Katie are in a rebuilding phase. As they are getting settled into their new market, their businesses are not yet generating consistent income.
“While we watched our daughter fight for her life, we also watched our medical bills skyrocket to astronomical numbers. Both of us being in real estate, it made it really difficult going through this time and working while also trying to tend to both of our kids’ needs. The day that our grant was awarded to us, not only was it a financial relief, but it also felt like a giant hug from every single associate who’s donated in the past.”
How’s Sutton Today
We’ll just let you see for yourself!
How You Can Help
KW Cares helped ease some of the financial burden of Sutton’s NICU stay by covering a portion of her medical expenses. Having a premature baby can be an incredibly frightening and overwhelming experience, and no family should have to worry about the added stress of medical bills while focusing on their little one’s health and strength.
We’re here to help with that.
Your gifts to KW Cares help families like Brette & Katie. Please donate today!
“I’ve watched KW Cares bless so many of our associates over the years, and even saw firsthand what a difference you make as I helped make calls for Hurricane Helene. It didn’t occur to me to reach out because I figured others have had it worse.
“We will never have the words to explain how grateful we are to y’all…This feels like 150,000 associates coming around us and making us feel loved and holding us up as our family recovers.”
