Heather needs our help!

Heather Ojeda is our daughter, grand-daughter, sister, niece, cousin, and friend. It’s been a long hard road for Heather and her family. It all started with the birth of Little Roman almost 5 years ago. A miracle baby, he was not expected to survive the many large fibroids in Heather’s womb. She was told that she could never carry another baby. However, when scheduled for a hysterectomy four years later, it was discovered that she was pregnant. The medical community couldn’t believe it. “I’ve never seen this in my 35 years of practice” commented one OB doctor. A baby just couldn’t survive. All of this was taking a huge toll on Heather. She survived countless trips to the ER with pain, fever, nausea, gestational diabetes, and the worry that the baby wouldn’t survive the limited space in the uterus. There was worry of risk for still born after 37 weeks. But, survive the baby did, and on September 11, 2023 at 38 weeks, our Little Ella Fox Ojeda came into our world at 8 pounds and 2 ounces.

Little did we know, the trouble for Heather was just starting. The bleeding from the C-section would not stop. Then, after more emergency surgery at Shelby hospital for a partial hysterectomy, she was airlifted to Atrium Main Hospital in Charlotte, a specialty hospital. The bleeding would not stop. Another major surgery, complete hysterectomy, resulted in blood pressure plummeting to 70/40 with heart rate of 156!. She had lost 2 liters of blood and transfusions were ongoing. Twice intubated, we nearly lost her 4 times. 

It is now September 25th, Ella is 14 days old, and our Heather remains very fragile having undergone two more very difficult procedures just today. She has seen Little Roman and Baby Ella only twice since this nightmare started. With all the surgeries, a large blood clot has lodged between her lungs and heart. Too risky to remove surgically, it is being treated with blood thinner. It is a delicate balance to control bleeding while trying to dissolve the clot.

Heather and her husband, Armand, need help and a lot of it. Armand has taken all of his sick leave and is now without pay to take care of Roman and newborn Ella. He is doing a wonderful job. Debbie (Heather’s mother) has been a champion never leaving her side except to help with the babies, arrange for lodging for the family so that Armand could be with her. The hospital is an hour and a half from home. Her twin sister Meghan has stayed with her as much as possible also reporting back to family and friends. Heather will not be able to return to work for many months, and bills are accumulating — medical bills, daily expenses, and all expenses associated with having a new baby. Please consider helping Heather. Your prayers and support are appreciated more than our family can express.

With much love and heartfelt appreciation,

 

Heather’s Family