Ava Grace Medical Expenses

Ava Grace was born @ 26 weeks and 2 days on February 16, 2012. Her first 31 days of life were spent close to home in the Great Falls, MT NICU. On March 18th Ava and mom were flown to Seattle Children's Hospital. Ava had her first of 4 surgeries that very afternoon. Her and mommy were in Seattle for 3 months, her Brother's and Dad came out to see her and mom over Easter Break.

Thanks for Helping me to purchase a ticket home for the Cub Scout Pack Mtg. and so I could spend time with Robert and the Boys and watch them cross over from Tiger to Wolf and Webelo I to Webelo II.

Ava and Mom got to return to our home NICU on June 15th, 2012. Before returning home she had surgery to remove 4 cm of her bowel due to perforations which resulted in an ostomy for several months, she also had her PDA clipped shut, laser eye surgery to correct ROP in her right eye, and finally they took down her ostomy.


Ava is still in the NICU celebrating 7 months with us. We continue to incure unexpected expenses (larger gas bill from running back an forth several times a day) and new challenges to entertaining Ava as she grows. They moved her into a new bigger room as we don't know how long she'll be in NICU. More baby Einstein DVD's she loves watching them on the portable DVD, we also would like to purchase some small toys she can learn to hold and transfer between hands.

11/24/2015
Ava has overcome many obstacles. She has weaned off the vent and had the trach removed.  She had the trach stoma surgically closed.  She does have some damage to her trach that at this time is not hindering her progression. She has is on her second set of ear tubes, as she has very tiny ear canals.

She continues to learn new words with sign and verbally. She is attending Pre-School 3 days per week and making great progress developmentally. She doesn't let her size get in her way. :)

She continues physical, ocupational and speech/feeding therapy.  At this time she is working towards learning to eat orally and will return to Seattle Childrens for 3 weeks for testing and intensive feeding therapy in early 2016.  We will have to spend the entire 3 weeks in Seattle close to the hospital, we are not guarranteed that we will be able to stay at the Ronald McDonald house. We will have to cover food, lodging and gas while traveling to and from Seattle, and while we are there.  Insurance does not cover these expenses either.  Her Dad hopes to spend at least one week with us and Grama will help too. At this time we are unsure of transportation (air/auto), as Ava and I will need to be able to get to and from the hosptial during our stay.

Thank you for any and all support it is greatly appreciated.