When Brittany Faulkner of Shelby, NC, stepped onto the serene, wooded campus of Rathbun House, the mom of four had no idea that the hospitality house existed, much less that it was only five minutes from Mission Hospital.

Brittany was diagnosed at 34 weeks with preeclampsia, which causes elevated blood pressure that can be dangerous for the mother and her developing baby. According to the Cleveland Clinic, preeclampsia is the cause of about 15% of premature deliveries, which turned out to be the case for Brittany and her baby, Hudson Knox.

Hudson was born on Easter Sunday, 42 days before his due date, and he stayed in Mission Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for 17 days. With Brittany living over an hour away from the hospital, Rathbun House provided a place for the mom to stay free of charge while only being minutes away from her baby. “Everything about the Rathbun House is so special, Brittany shares. “Rathbun House made it possible so that I did not have to travel over 3 hours daily, allowing me to spend as much time as possible with my baby. Rathbun’s staff and peaceful setting supported me, and I am so grateful to have stayed at such a caring place. Brittany, Hudson, and the entire Faulkner family are doing well, and the Rathbun House will continue to serve NICU families like the Faulkners, thanks to the support of WNC Bridge Foundation and its donors.

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