Main fundraiser photo

Help baby Bradley's mom with bills

On Saturday, January 16th I brought my 6 week old baby boy into the hospital because he was coughing and his breathing was so erratic. His chest was caving in every time he would breath. They took an x-ray and found pneumonia. Then the tests came back positive for RSV. The doctor told us we were being transferred to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis because he was too young for them to treat in Olivia.

We got to Children's Hospital at midnight and we sat in the ER for 2 hours as they did test after test, started an IV, and continued the oxygen air mask. Then the doctor tells me Bradley has a heart murmur. What? Didn't know this.

We finally got up to our room and got him comfortable. His respirations were in the 50s and sometimes the 60s. They didn't want his respirations over 60. Bradley's breathing got worse. They said that the peak day of illness is day 5. Tuesday was day 5. His respirations by this time were in the upper 80s. He was so incredibly pale and exhausted. He was working so hard at breathing. We then found out his lung had collapsed. 

At 2am Wednesday morning, Bradley was transferred to PICU, pediatric intensive care unit. While he was there, his heart rate dropped several times into the 30s within an hour and a half. They intubated him immediately.

During all of this, they also did an ultrasound on his heart to find out what the murmur is. He has a hole in his heart called VSD (ventricle septal defect), bi-cuspid aortic valve (two flaps instead of three), and a narrowing of his aortic valve.

We have been in PICU for 3 days so far. They will not release Bradley from intensive care until he is able to breathe on his own. The doctor will not start to ween him off of the ventilator for another 3-4 days. So, it will all depend on how long the weening will take. Bradley will then be brought to a different unit to be watched and to let his lungs heal. They are anticipating that stay to be around two weeks.

For those who know me, I don't ask for help. I am usually the one giving the help and putting myself last. Now that I am a mother of two beautiful children, I realize that I need to put our needs as first priority. With that being said, since I am staying at Bradley's bedside while he is here, I am not able to work and the bills aren't getting paid. I was just about to return to work this week as my maternity leave was extended 2 weeks already giving me 6 wks of unpaid leave. I will now be out of work for an additional 4 weeks with Bradley. There is no place I would rather be than at my baby's bedside. In November, I bought a house for my children and myself. The last thing I want is to get behind on my mortgage. 

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Today I celebrate my baby boy's 7 week birthday and I can't even hold him. We also have The Teddy Bear Squad at his feet in the crib watching over him at all times! God bless!




Donate

Donations 

  • Cindy & Jon Stoewer
    • $50 
    • 8 yrs
Donate

Organizer

Patty Volk
Organizer
Olivia, MN

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.