Point Pleasant Couple Doing Everything They Can To Save Baby

POINT PLEASANT – James Stoeckel and his wife, Alayna, were "over the moon" when they found out they were having another baby. Now they're dealing with what he calls "many bumps in the road."

What they're trying to do is save their child's life.

Doctors found a congenital heart defect in the child, Stoeckel said. This came after Stoeckel had to change jobs, start a new one, move twice and deal with expenses.

So they've turned to the public in their time of need, posting a GoFundMe page to ask for financial help so they can help themselves as they struggle with the travel and the money.

By Friday evening, they beat their $5,000 goal, raising more than $4,000 in two days.

Most importantly, they want to save their baby and make sure their other son, who's been praying every night, has a brother.

"Our son, without surgery to correct this, wouldn’t survive after birth," Stoeckel said.

They're traveling back-and-forth to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. And even their car isn't right.

So every time they go, they don't even know if they're going to get there or not.

"Due to everything we have been going through, we have exhausted all the help we can get from family, churches and even the state," Stoeckel said.

And, on top of all that, they will have to move again. The family will have to relocate to Philadelphia for birth, surgery and recovery.

That will take at least a month, Stoeckel said.

The family is doing all they can while trying to care for their first child, James, who's almost 2 years old. Stoeckel says his namesake is praying every night even though "he can’t really understand what’s going on."

The couple is asking for help to get back on their feet until Stoeckel can get back to work after the baby is home and healthy.

"We would more than appreciate any help, and when we are back on our feet, we will gladly give back to another family in need," he said.