Hi, my name is Esteban and my wife’s name is Annica. We are asking for help with our daughter Brooklyn and the pile of bills that are adding up from her illness.

 

Brooklyn was born August 23rd, 2021 at 5lbs and 11oz. We first found out she had a muscular VSD while she was in the womb. At that point they said it was extremely tiny and there should be no problem with it growing closed as she got older. They were 80% sure we wouldn’t have problems.. two months after birth she was scheduled for an echocardiogram to see if it had closed. While waiting for that appointment she had started to show us that she was struggling with gaining weight. Her pediatrician had put us on an increased calorie diet. October 20th we went to the ER for Brooklyn having 102.4°F. Two days late Annica’s mom radar was going off and we headed back in. They told us if we were to be admitted we could get an “emergency” echocardiogram the next day. The next day we get the echocardiogram done and they inform us it’s a very large hole. They compare the hole size to her aorta. Imagine a quarter 75% of that quarter is a hole. They diagnosed her with failure to thrive and a now large muscular VSD. As of the 22nd of October we’ve spent most of our time at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati. 

Brooklyn is looking at a 90% chance of getting open heart surgery rather soon. Ideally they would like her to gain 3 pounds for them to feel more comfortable with the surgery but that doesn’t look like a possibility with how tiring it is for her to consume 70mL’s. Additionally her weight has plateaued thus resulting in almost no growth. 

 

We have been lucky enough to make it this far, but unfortunately we have gotten to the point the cost of the hospital and our normal monthly bills are more than what we can bring in with having 2 other children. 

 

Anything at all is greatly appreciated. Even if you cannot donate; prayers are extremely welcomed. Thank you for helping give us some piece of mind as our daughter fights for her life and ability to grow as a normal child.