Baby girls Talitha and Elizabeth Hoverson, twin daughters of Kris and Mari Hoverson, were originally due to be born in December of this year (2026).
Then, on August 6th, around 18 weeks gestation, it was discovered that one of the twins (who Kris and Mari have now named Talitha Hope), has a posterior encephalocele. In simple terms, this means that now, at around 30 weeks, little Talitha's brain tissue is mostly outside of her skull. While she is currently stable in the latest scans, her condition has not improved. It is highly likely that Talitha will not survive long past birth.
The other twin, baby Elizabeth Joy, is healthy and growing normally. However, because the twins share a placenta, if Talitha were to pass away in utero, that would severely affect Elizabeth's development, possibly resulting in death or lifelong disability for her as well.
For the maximum safety of both girls, Kris and Mari are taking their doctors' advice to move from Mandan, ND to Minneapolis, MN (6 hours away), to be near the Children's Hospital there, around November 11th. After testing and scans, a C-Section will be scheduled sometime after that, sometime between November 12th and 21st.
The future is uncertain, but it appears that they will have to stay in Minneapolis for at least two months.
Whether or not Talitha lives past birth, Elizabeth will undoubtedly have to remain in NICU for quite some time, since the C-Section is happening six weeks before the due date. Currently Kris is working 80 hour weeks before he quits his job in Mandan around October 30th. At that point, they will be preparing for the move to MN.
We are asking for your support for our brother Kris and his wife Mari, for living expenses while Kris is unable to work due to caring for his wife and daughters at the Children's Hospital. Your gifts and support will help Kris and Mari cover housing, groceries, and other expenses during these months without income in Minneapolis.
When tragedy strikes, we know God's love is there for those who are suffering, right along through it. Kris and Mari know this. Let's show it to them tangibly by praying, sharing, and helping them shoulder these financial needs, so they can focus on being there for their current toddler and the unborn twins they will soon be welcoming into the world.
Growing up with Kris, we knew he was always a very independent, self-reliant, and helpful person. Now is our chance to be helpful to him in a time of need. If you are able to join us in this effort, we would be forever grateful. Thank you for reading. You are a blessing!
Sincerely, Caleb, John, and Zeke Hoverson (brothers of Kris, uncles of Talitha and Elizabeth)
P.S. For updates on the twins' journey, you can follow Mari's CaringBridge here.
