Owen's Medical Fund

Owen is a handsome and super smart 18-month-old boy. Owen has overcome so many obstacles in his life already. He is an identical twin and was born premature at 29 weeks. He is also a twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome survivor. This means their placenta was shared unequally by the twins, and Owen gave many of his necessary nutrients and blood supply to his brother Cooper.  Despite living in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for over three months, and being the "donor twin" he still grew up to be a strong and healthy toddler.  Owen had just begun walking and talking and doing all the other things 18-month-old boys do. 

One day, his mother noticed that Owen's eye was swollen. Owen was rushed to the emergency room.  They found that he had a tumor behind his left eye. Also after doing a full body scan they also found a tumor in his abdomen that is attached to his stomach, kidney, and liver. Owen was soon diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma and was given a 60% chance of survival. The cancer is also in his bone marrow in his legs and arms. The pain makes it hard for him to walk. He has finished his first round of chemotherapy and will be starting his next round of treatments on September 19th. He also just finished his emergency round of radiation to help shrink the tumors. Unfortunately, one of the tumors has caused permanent blindness to his left eye.

The doctors say that he will have to have at least six more rounds of chemo and radiation. He will also have to have surgery to remove the tumor in his abdomen and possibly the tumor in his eye.  Owen will have his stem cells harvested on October 1st for a bone marrow transplant down the road.  

Owen is one of 5 siblings, all of which are under the age of five. Jessica and her boyfriend Jordan and their families and friends have been working hard to help however they can.  However, your donations can help pay for Owen's medical bills and help keep a roof over the head of this family while they care for Owen in his time of need.  Every dollar can make a difference in this family’s life and we will all be forever grateful for your donations. This family has had it's share of struggles, and has never asked for anything.  Now is the time that your support is needed more than ever. 

Here is a quote from Owen’s Mother Jessica. This might help you better understand just a glimpse of what emotions this mother is feeling right now.

 

“My sweet baby O. I never in my life thought I would have twins, but seeing their two little hearts beating on that ultrasound at 6 weeks brought so much joy and fear to me. I was scared for their life through their fight with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome in my womb. I was scared for their life when they were born at 29 weeks. But now... Now I am heartbroken, I’m helpless, I’m terrified for my baby.. But I am not hopeless. My little O man has overcome every obstacle life has thrown at him in his 18 months of life. And I know he will overcome this obstacle, it will be a very long and hard road, but he will overcome this.”

-Jessica Gunter

Thank you all for your prayers and donations to help this beautiful little boy.