Support Emma's Journey to Recovery
Donation protected
I have started this to help alleviate some of the financial strain that my son, Donny and his wife, Lauren are feeling as they are at their daughter's side in the most difficult of times providing her strength and support. In the midst of all the downtime from work for both Donny and Lauren, Donny's work van was out of service for repairs for 5 weeks, even further restricting their flow of income, and drastically limiting his ability to work. Though they have medical insurance, while off, they had to pay Cobra insurance out of pocket from Lauren's employer with an individual exorbitant deductible for Emma, along with standard co-pays as well. The financial strain on this family of five is overwhelming.
Emma went for basically a routine doctor visit and he noticed she was sitting oddly, ordered x-rays, and discovered she had idiopathic scoliosis, a curvature of the spine. She was fitted for her brace for scoliosis and though she was reluctant at times, she diligently wore her brace, very responsibly tracking her time on her phone app, and being as compliant as she could in wearing her brace at least 18 hours a day.
This journey started the end of January, very quickly escalating to one horrific scenario after another by March. After this initial diagnosis of scoliosis, she was then referred to an orthopedic surgeon who ordered an MRI because he felt there was "something more". Her MRI showed a Chiari malformation type I of the brain (brain tissue that extends into the spinal canal) with an extremely large syrinx (fluid-filled cyst) in her spinal column running from C3 to T10 (mid-neck to mid-back), as well as scoliosis. Emma not so fondly called it her "bubble". She was immediately referred to a pediatric neurosurgeon. At this point, Emma had no idea how drastically her world was going to change.
On March 12th they met with this surgeon who ordered many MRI's, described what and how he would do a surgery called a cranio-cervical decompression with duroplasty. Meaning that they would surgically make room for her brain that was being compressed, causing much more than just her "bubble" and this new-found scoliosis, but could be life-altering if no intervention was taken.
On April 15th with her parents continuously by her side, Emma underwent surgery, staying in the ICU for a couple days. She struggled with nausea and vomiting but her goal was always to just get home. As they say "there's no place like home", and here she continued to progress, though it was painfully difficult to move her head, each day was better than the last. Until this past week Thursday, when Emma first became ill at school vomiting and then the headache started and rapidly progressed to the point where her surgeon had her brought to the Emergency Room at Hope Children's Hospital and expedited the CT that showed she now has fluid and increased pressure on her brain. This Saturday an emergent drain was placed at the top of her skull called an EVD (external ventricular drain) to decrease the pressure in her brain. Based on an upcoming repeat MRI and analysis of the fluid to rule out infection, she will move forward with surgical placement of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP shunt) which will permanently decrease the excess fluid and pressure in her brain.
This journey has been evolving and I diligently pray that we are rounding the road to recovery and some sense of normalcy. Emma has been inspiring in her attitude, optimism, strength, and perseverance. Facing all fears head-on with an appetite for healing. I know God is always here providing for us no matter how lost you feel, I see it in this little soul who is stronger than all of us.
Life as we know it is never easy and sometimes you need the assistance of others to help you on this journey. My son Donny and Lauren Costantino have faced a health scare with their daughter Emma, that no parent and an 11-year-old child should have to endure.
Thank you for your consideration, whether it's monetary, kind words, or just sharing the Go Fund Me, we are appreciative of all the support in a very complex time.
Co-organizers (3)
Teri Costantino
Organizer
Worth, IL
Lauren Costantino
Beneficiary
Dominic Costantino
Co-organizer