Apryl’s Fight - Pfeiffer Syndrome

 My name is Jenene Mitchell and I have created this go fund me page to assist and support the newest addition to the Mitchell and Sachs family, our precious little Apryl.  Apryl and her parents Ruel Mitchell and Kali Sachs need our support through what is going to be an extremely tough journey both emotionally and financially. Apryl was born on the 29 March 2017 in Melbourne at the Mercy Women’s Hospital.  She was then transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne where she spent the first 6 ½ weeks of life.  This is obviously not what her parents were expecting her to be born, they though like them she would be a Darwin born and bred baby. Apryl was diagnosed with Pfeiffer Syndrome whilst Kali was 34 weeks, following the diagnosis Ruel and Kali were sent to Melbourne the following week were Apryl was delivered by C section at 37 weeks.  Apryl’s diagnosis was then confirmed as Type 2 Pfeiffer Syndrome.  With the Type 2 Pfeiffer Syndrome Apryl has a cloverleaf shaped head, blocked nasal passages, ocular proptosis and joint issues.  Apryl currently has a tracheostomy to help her to breathe and this will remain in until her major operations are finished.  Due to her tracheostomy Apryl is required to have two machines with her constantly, one for suctioning her tracheostomy and one to monitor her breathing and heart rate whilst she is sleeping as well as a spare suctioning machine in case the other one should break down.  Apryl is also the first tracheostomy baby that Royal Darwin Hospital have seen for 9 – 10 years, so Ruel and Kali are educating quite a few of the Nurses and Doctors at RDH with Apryl since her return to Darwin. I am hoping with this page that we can raise some funds to assist Ruel, Kali and Apryl with some much needed funds to assist them through what will be a tough and uncertain time.  Apryl will require several operations over the next few years, ongoing medical costs (including equipment, therapy, 24 hour care and travelling and accommodation costs for their Melbourne trips.  Ruel, Kali and Apryl will be required to make regular trips to Melbourne for these operations.  Her first trip will be when she is about 9-10 months for an approximately 10 hour operation on her skull. Apryl is a little fighter and has already proven the Doctors wrong.  Any support I know would be greatly appreciated by Ruel and Kali who are very proud first time parents of a darling little girl, who is loved by all her family.  Ruel and Kali thank everyone in advance for both their support and best wishes. I have added a link on Pfeiffer Syndrome if anyone is interested in reading more about it. http://www.medicinenet.com/pfeiffer_syndrome/article.htm