Jovie Maunders seems like a normal baby girl. She smiles, plays, and can brighten anyone's day. But unfortunately, she has been diagnosed with a disease keeps her in the hospital and is only taking her further away from her family.

Ten months old and still Jovie Maunders can't go home. She was born on January 29th and couldn't leave the ICU.  Eight months later, she was diagnosed with Microvillous Inclusion Disease.

"It's where, you know, you're small intestine has those little finger things inside of it that break up the protein and digest everything. Her small intestine does not have that," said Danielle Maunders, Jovie's mom.  

Jovie's mom, Danielle, who just turned 20, comes to visit every day and just can't get enough.

"You can't even tell she's sick. She's so happy. She's trying to actually stand up by herself now. So, she's great," smiled Maunders. 

But for a chance at a normal life, Jovie must be transferred to Pittsburgh Children's Hospital. There, she will wait for a liver and small intestine transplant, thousands of miles away from her family and home.

"It's a lot different than having your grand kids with you and going home. Here, it's like we have to go home," said Kathy Miller, Jovie's great-grandma. 

Jovie will need someone there, but Danielle can't be there all the time. She has a two-year-old at home to care for as well.

"It's hard, especially when you've got another one you don't get to see very often either because of your sick one," said Maunders. 

So to help family members get to Pittsburgh, Jovie's family held an auction.

"The money and the auction is for travel expenses for family and friends," said Miller.  

With an outpouring of support, they raised over $8,000, which brings them closer to their goal of making sure Jovie will never be alone.

They aren't sure when Jovie will be leaving for Pittsburgh. It will all depend on when a donor becomes available. Once there, they will stay there anywhere from four to nine months.

If you would like to help Baby Jovie and her family, contact Kathy Miller at (605)338-5431 or (605)359-4576. 

You can also send checks to :
Valley Bank
43rd and Louise
P.O. Box 88430
Sioux Falls, SD 57109

Make checks payable to "Benefit for Jovie".