Let’s Move Mountains for Baby Matthew Lee Bellow
Donation protected
Dear friends and family,
We'd like to share a story about our wonderful friends, Donovan and Danielle Bellow and their sweet baby boy Matthew Lee, who need our help.
A recent routine ultrasound alerted doctors of a potential complication with Danielle's pregnancy, and in follow up she was sent to Michigan Medicine Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor to meet with a specialist. At 32 weeks doctors at Mott diagnosed baby Matthew with a very rare condition called vein of Galen malformation, a type of blood vessel abnormality within the brain that causes a rush of high blood pressure into the veins and creates additional stress on the heart. He currently pumps roughly twice the amount of blood than the average baby heart just to get blood to the rest of his body. The added stress to his tiny heart has also increased his risk for heart failure. After this diagnosis and a series of tests, doctors decided it was time for Matthew to be born. On Monday February 25th, Danielle was induced and on Tuesday February 26, 2019 at 10:41pm, the Bellow family welcomed their third child Matthew into this world 5.5 weeks early, weighing 5.1lbs. Delivery was smooth and the family was even able to hold Matthew before he was taken for monitoring. He defied odds by not needing a breathing tube, instead using a CPAP machine to assist him. The day after he was born he graduated to only needing a nasal cannula, and was holding his oxygen numbers.
Since then our little fighter has continued to make steps forward as he spends his time in the NICU. He surpassed his birth weight and is off oxygen. However, Matthew experienced a setback, as it was discovered that he had developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a condition in which the bowel lining is damaged. It can happen in premature babies such as Matthew, but his vein of Galen malformation makes him more susceptible to develop NEC. As a result of these complications, he is now on 2 antibiotics, has a nasal cannula at room air (not supplementing oxygen), receives nutrition exclusively through IV (no feedings), and has a tube to empty his stomach so that his digestive system can rest. He will also have x-rays done every 12 hours to monitor his gut. Eventually, Matthew will need a series of brain surgeries to repair the vein of Galen malformation. Doctors would like him to grow as much as possible before this can happen, but will continue to closely monitor his heart in the meantime.
Baby Matthew has a long road ahead of him and Danielle and Donovan have asked friends and family to keep praying for their family. We believe there is more we can to do help Matthew and the Bellow family.
Unfortunately, Matthew's courageous fight to overcome these physical challenges comes with a great financial burden. Even with the best insurance, medical costs add up quickly, as does the time away from work to provide the care and support he needs. We ask you to consider helping us take some of the stress away from this family as they help their baby boy fight for his life. Donovan and Danielle are amazing parents and genuinely good people who would do anything for those in need. It is our time to come together and do something for this wonderful family.
If you are able, please help us make this happen with a monetary donation. No contribution is too small; Anything you can do would be greatly appreciated and never forgotten. We also ask you to help us spread the word by sharing their story with your friends and family on social media.
Thank you so much,
Jacquelyn & Joe Ingweiller
We'd like to share a story about our wonderful friends, Donovan and Danielle Bellow and their sweet baby boy Matthew Lee, who need our help.
A recent routine ultrasound alerted doctors of a potential complication with Danielle's pregnancy, and in follow up she was sent to Michigan Medicine Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor to meet with a specialist. At 32 weeks doctors at Mott diagnosed baby Matthew with a very rare condition called vein of Galen malformation, a type of blood vessel abnormality within the brain that causes a rush of high blood pressure into the veins and creates additional stress on the heart. He currently pumps roughly twice the amount of blood than the average baby heart just to get blood to the rest of his body. The added stress to his tiny heart has also increased his risk for heart failure. After this diagnosis and a series of tests, doctors decided it was time for Matthew to be born. On Monday February 25th, Danielle was induced and on Tuesday February 26, 2019 at 10:41pm, the Bellow family welcomed their third child Matthew into this world 5.5 weeks early, weighing 5.1lbs. Delivery was smooth and the family was even able to hold Matthew before he was taken for monitoring. He defied odds by not needing a breathing tube, instead using a CPAP machine to assist him. The day after he was born he graduated to only needing a nasal cannula, and was holding his oxygen numbers.
Since then our little fighter has continued to make steps forward as he spends his time in the NICU. He surpassed his birth weight and is off oxygen. However, Matthew experienced a setback, as it was discovered that he had developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a condition in which the bowel lining is damaged. It can happen in premature babies such as Matthew, but his vein of Galen malformation makes him more susceptible to develop NEC. As a result of these complications, he is now on 2 antibiotics, has a nasal cannula at room air (not supplementing oxygen), receives nutrition exclusively through IV (no feedings), and has a tube to empty his stomach so that his digestive system can rest. He will also have x-rays done every 12 hours to monitor his gut. Eventually, Matthew will need a series of brain surgeries to repair the vein of Galen malformation. Doctors would like him to grow as much as possible before this can happen, but will continue to closely monitor his heart in the meantime.
Baby Matthew has a long road ahead of him and Danielle and Donovan have asked friends and family to keep praying for their family. We believe there is more we can to do help Matthew and the Bellow family.
Unfortunately, Matthew's courageous fight to overcome these physical challenges comes with a great financial burden. Even with the best insurance, medical costs add up quickly, as does the time away from work to provide the care and support he needs. We ask you to consider helping us take some of the stress away from this family as they help their baby boy fight for his life. Donovan and Danielle are amazing parents and genuinely good people who would do anything for those in need. It is our time to come together and do something for this wonderful family.
If you are able, please help us make this happen with a monetary donation. No contribution is too small; Anything you can do would be greatly appreciated and never forgotten. We also ask you to help us spread the word by sharing their story with your friends and family on social media.
Thank you so much,
Jacquelyn & Joe Ingweiller
Organizer and beneficiary
Jacquelyn Ingweiller
Organizer
Ortonville, MI
Danielle Bellow
Beneficiary