Apollo Strong

***Please review the many updates that have happened since posting this GoFundMe Page!***


Sweet little Apollo was brought to the local hospital on October 1st, 2017 due to a fever that wouldn't break, just one day shy of turning 6 months old. He spent a month in Marshfield Hospital where a lot went wrong. He nearly died due to their lack of knowledge of what was going on with him. Lindsay fought Marshfield so hard to transfer him to a children's hospital it was becoming nearly impossible. The second time they got transferred to ICU in Marshfield, she put her foot down and told them she was going to get a lawyer and call the media if they didn't transfer him. Within 24 hours they were transferred to Milwaukee Children's Hospital and have been there since November 1st. It was at the Milwaukee Children's Hospital where sweet Apollo was diagnosed with SMA. 


Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disease affecting the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement. Most of the nerve cells that control muscles are located in the spinal cord, which accounts for the word spinal in the name of the disease.

It's been an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs: Since being diagnosed, and having one of his lungs collapse due to an infection and being filled with mucus, a variety of treatments began.  From CT Scans, pushing air into lungs, turning 7 months old, Plan B's, clearer X-rays, shots of Spinraza, holding his head on his own, turning 8 months old, being taken off oxygen, using Bi-pap machine for 4 hours at a time, being able to go on a stroller walk around the unit, breathing treatments, not-so-good X-rays, a visit from the Milwaukee Bucks!, clearest X-rays to date, oxygen dropped to 80's, lungs cloudy and left lung is partially collapsed, more Spinraza, 102 fever, able to move his legs, Hayek turtle shell to shake the mucus out to open the lung, infections grown in lungs, high heart rate, fever, and sedation wears off all the time, a new mask to help open his lungs, better x-ray with breathing treatments every 4 hours and has almost lost a pound. 

Lindsay's heart breaks when he cries cause he can’t cry with sound due to these masks, just tears streaming from his eyes and he looks at her like "mom, take this off my face".

Lindsay has been at Apollo's side every day. She has 4 other kids at home, ages 14, 11, 9, and 3 who also need her. She hasn't seen them since Christmas Day and hasn't been home since October 1st. 

To date: Lindsay has spent $15,000 at just one hospital, and is racking up costs from hospital stays at the current hospital, as well as $125,000/shot for Apollo. He has had 4 of those shots already.  

Anything helps, whether it's $5 to $100 to help cover her skyrocketing (and doesn't seem to be slowing down) hospital bills and shots for Apollo. Let's all come together and be #apollostrong and #fightSMA


A HUGE Thank You to those who have shown support to Lindsay, Apollo and their family in every way a person can show support, from prayers, to gifts, to visits, to cards, to care packages, etc. It is all much appreciated! 

For those who want to send something to Apollo and Lindsay, you can send it here: 

Attn: Apollo Laven
5th FL ICU #512 - Lindsay D'Amico
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
8915 W Connell Court
Milwaukee, WI 53226

**Updates will be added as we receive them!**