Luna's Medical Fund

For our little champ, Luna.
She wanted to come early, at 26 weeks. The doctors in Mexico were able to stop the premature labour, with a week in the hospital and medications. Luna almost didn’t make it, but then, at 41 weeks, after a very tough delivery, she joyfully arrived.
Soon after, at around 3 months, we noticed that she was not developing like other beautiful babies. She did not grab, smile, babble, or sleep full nights. The family called her our serious baby. The pediatrician suggested neurology, and Luna started her travels. From Tulum, to Playa del Carmen, to Cancun, to Merida, looking for help and answers.
No diagnosis could be found. Blood tests, CT scans and all were performed. Calcifications on the brain were discovered. Physical therapy was suggested, and Luna’s parents took her twice a week for a one hour therapy session in Merida. 3 ½ hours going and 3 ½ hours coming back. Each took their one day off to bring her, paying for the trip, gas, tolls and the therapist.
A wonderful benefactor, contacted the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, and they agreed to have her come for testing. Fundacion Tulum, a foundation that helps children from Tulum, offered to defray some of the costs. Luna received help from the Canadian consulate to get her emergency passport, and off she went to Florida for 2 weeks.
Nicklaus Children’s have welcomed little Luna and her parents, performing all tests, necessary. The costs are very expensive. Luna’s dad is Mexican and her mom Canadian living in Mexico. Needless to say, there is no insurance covering these costs. $30,000 has already been spent for airfares, accommodations, and hospital tests. The MRI contained the calcifications on the brain, and they discovered that Luna’s brain stem was thin. Then, a sleep test and EEG were done, and they saw that Luna was having seizures.


Now Luna has been prescribed prednisone to stop the seizures. She is no longer able to travel back to Mexico, because her immune system is compromised by the drug. They need to monitor her, for up to 6 weeks in Miami. The family must wait until she is stable enough to travel.
The parents worry now, that the services required for Luna, occupational, speech, physical daily therapy, on and on, will not be available in the area of Mexico, where they live, and will have to move home to Canada. Those expenses will be costly, also. Mom and Dad will have to give up their jobs. They are concerned that dad might have to stay in Mexico, while waiting for sponsorship, to Canada, and that the family will not have health insurance for 3 months. But, Luna will not be able to wait. She needs care now.
If any funds are collected and are unused for Luna’s care, we will donate them to the Fundacion Tulum. Words cannot express our gratitude, for you are giving Luna a fighting chance.
Thank you for taking the time to hear Luna’s story
The Luna Elizabeth Ramirez Barnett Family