Caleb Salkeld's Fund - A CDH Journey
Donation protected
As some of you know, my sister Candice and her husband Tim welcomed their miracle baby, Caleb Brian Salkeld, on July 19, 2014. I am telling this story for them and most importantly their sweet baby, Caleb.
Tim and Candice received the heart-breaking diagnosis that their unborn son was diagnosed with a left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) at about 18 week’s gestation. CDH is a non-genetic birth defect with no known cause or cure for the disease. CDH occurs when a hole in the diaphragm fails to close and allows the contents from the abdomen (stomach, intestines, and/or liver) to migrate into the chest cavity, which affects the development of the heart and lungs. About 1,600 babies are born with CDH every year in the U.S., or 1 in every 2,500 live births. Although the projected survival percentages were 40%-60%, we learned early after the diagnosis that every experience is unique, no two babies are the same, and no case of CDH presents in exactly the same way with exactly the same outcomes.
Caleb was born at just twenty-eight weeks and has fought every day since to just beat the odds of both prematurity and CDH. He is eight months old and was recently transferred from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Johns Hopkins Hospital to Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital where he will remain while he continues to grow and heal. Caleb’s undergone several lifesaving surgeries and struggled through the recovery of two hernia repairs, the placement of a ventricular peritoneal (VP) shunt to relieve the pressure on his brain caused by hydrocephalus, and laser eye surgery to correct retinopathy of prematurity. He has fought through many bacteria, blood, and tracheal infections and still requires a ventilated tracheostomy, oxygen, and a feeding tube.
Caleb’s journey has been long, but he continues to amaze us with his fight each and every day. Tim, Candice, and big brother, Brody, have embraced Caleb’s diagnosis with open hearts and their strength through all of this has been admirable. We are reaching out today in hopes that we can help lessen the financial burden that has been placed on their family as the medical costs escalate and they plan for future expenses and around the clock nursing care for Caleb when he finally comes home.
Our family is extremely thankful for the overwhelming thoughts, prayers and support of family, friends, colleagues, the staff at Johns Hopkins and Mt. Washington, and even friends of friends who we have never met. Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you think may want to help. Any contribution or even just words of encouragement as they continue on their journey will be greatly appreciated. They would never ever ask for anything for themselves, but I know that just a little bit will go a long way…
To follow Caleb's amazing story, visit Caleb's CDH Story.
Much Love and Many Thank You's in Advance~
Melinda
Tim and Candice received the heart-breaking diagnosis that their unborn son was diagnosed with a left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) at about 18 week’s gestation. CDH is a non-genetic birth defect with no known cause or cure for the disease. CDH occurs when a hole in the diaphragm fails to close and allows the contents from the abdomen (stomach, intestines, and/or liver) to migrate into the chest cavity, which affects the development of the heart and lungs. About 1,600 babies are born with CDH every year in the U.S., or 1 in every 2,500 live births. Although the projected survival percentages were 40%-60%, we learned early after the diagnosis that every experience is unique, no two babies are the same, and no case of CDH presents in exactly the same way with exactly the same outcomes.
Caleb was born at just twenty-eight weeks and has fought every day since to just beat the odds of both prematurity and CDH. He is eight months old and was recently transferred from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Johns Hopkins Hospital to Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital where he will remain while he continues to grow and heal. Caleb’s undergone several lifesaving surgeries and struggled through the recovery of two hernia repairs, the placement of a ventricular peritoneal (VP) shunt to relieve the pressure on his brain caused by hydrocephalus, and laser eye surgery to correct retinopathy of prematurity. He has fought through many bacteria, blood, and tracheal infections and still requires a ventilated tracheostomy, oxygen, and a feeding tube.
Caleb’s journey has been long, but he continues to amaze us with his fight each and every day. Tim, Candice, and big brother, Brody, have embraced Caleb’s diagnosis with open hearts and their strength through all of this has been admirable. We are reaching out today in hopes that we can help lessen the financial burden that has been placed on their family as the medical costs escalate and they plan for future expenses and around the clock nursing care for Caleb when he finally comes home.
Our family is extremely thankful for the overwhelming thoughts, prayers and support of family, friends, colleagues, the staff at Johns Hopkins and Mt. Washington, and even friends of friends who we have never met. Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you think may want to help. Any contribution or even just words of encouragement as they continue on their journey will be greatly appreciated. They would never ever ask for anything for themselves, but I know that just a little bit will go a long way…
To follow Caleb's amazing story, visit Caleb's CDH Story.
Much Love and Many Thank You's in Advance~
Melinda
Organizer and beneficiary
Melinda Doten Salkeld
Organizer
Beaver Ridge, MD
Candice Salkeld
Beneficiary
